The Mark Morris Dance Center will be closed December 23, 2024 – January 1, 2025.

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Intergenerational West African Series

Intergenerational West African Series

11:37 am by Savannah Cooper

Description: West African Dance explores the fundamentals of West African culture and tradition through music and dance. The musicality, traditions, and various techniques introduced in these classes will connect with dance techniques of Africa and its diaspora including, but not limited to, the dances of Mali, Guinea, and Senegal, afrobeat, afro house, and more. Students learn to execute polyrhythmic patterns and practice multiple types of call & response cues performed both verbally and physically. Our intergenerational classes welcome dancers of all ages to explore the use of weight, body isolations, and dancing with the drummer.

Intermediate/Advanced West African

2:47 pm by Laura

A class for those with experience with West African Dance – this high energy class explores traditional dances from West Africa. Each week one or two new dances are explored. The start of a class builds on traditional West African dance techniques, followed by practice across the floor, and culminating in a final phrase. This class is accompanied by live music on traditional instruments such as the djembe and the djun-djun.

Open Level West African

5:42 pm by Laura

Let go of the work week with a high energy African Dance class led by Broadway performer (and Beyoncé collaborator) Ismael Kouyate.

Open-level.
Accompanied by a live percussion ensemble.


Intermediate West African

5:41 pm by Laura

A class for those with experience with West African Dance – this high energy class explores traditional dances from West Africa. Each week one or two new dances are explored. The start of a class builds on traditional West African dance techniques, followed by practice across the floor, and culminating in a final phrase. This class is accompanied by live music on traditional instruments such as the djembe and the djun-djun.