The African Drum and Dancing session with Soul in Motion, held on Sunday, 9/8, brought an engaging and memorable afternoon. As members of the workshop made their way to the Tustin studio, the resounding beat of the drums welcomed them, along with the friendly faces of our instructors. For African dancing, we had Terryn Nelson as our main instructor and three other members of the Soul in Motion group. In the drumming section, Michael Friend, the Artistic Director/Founder, led our drumming ensemble.
Attendees were given no time to dilly-dally as we got into the groove right away. If you were one of the drummers, you were handed a pair of drumsticks as well as your very own drum. If you were a dancer, you were handed your lappa if you didn’t have one already. Warming up consisted of our drumming instructors giving us a beat to follow while the dancers stretched to the movements. Even before the workshop began, there was palpable energy and excitement in the room.
As the workshop went along, the attendees were filled in on the background of the dances and drumming that were being performed. The dance was performed by the Malinke people from Guinea. Terryn described African dances as “grounded movements” and mentioned how they had a connection to the earth beneath them. Our drumming instructor explained that at certain times, the dancers determined the tempo and rhythm the drummers followed. This was evident if you looked carefully; you could see that, at certain points, the dancers were the ones leading the drummers.
After more dances were taught, a fun, impromptu dance circle came and went, and our session came to a close. One important ending ritual is the dancers giving praise or thanks to the drummers. They did so by gracefully bending their upper body down while their legs remained straight, all the while stretching their arms and fingertips to the floor front facing the drummers. This act of commendation and praise was described not only as for the drummers but also to honor the animals and trees that died to make the heads of the drums and the wood of the drumsticks.
The workshop was seen as an overall success, as attendees felt like they were given a chance to engage with the Soul in Motion group more than previous years. Some members of our group were of West African descent and mentioned how events like these make them feel more connected to their culture. All in all, it was a wonderful community building experience that was a safe space for all to attend and feel welcome.
If you would like to know more about the Soul in Motion African Dance and Drum group, you can visit their website here.
And if you missed this event, no worries! Find out what else the Griot Institute has planned for the Bucknell community by visiting our events page here.
—Mercy Ifiegbu