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July 07, 2023 4 min read

Wula Drum is offering a FREE two-day event in NYC to promote its annual Drum and Dance Retreat that has been gathering for the last 24 years!

Come for two days of free drum and dance classes with Master Drummers and Dancers from West & Central Africa: On July 29th, we are hosting Dance Classes at RWS Global, and on July 30th, Drum Classes at the Wula Drum Shop. Read the Schedule below for details.

This event is a sampler of what it is like to attend our 5-day intensive, located in the beautiful mountains of Honesdale, PA, held on September 20th-24th, 2023. Learn more about the Wula Drum & Dance Retreat.

NO NEED FOR REGISTRATION
Don’t have a drum? Drums available with donation

Event Schedule: 

July 29th DANCE CLASSES @ RWS Global: 37-12 35th St, Studio 1 – Queens, NY 11106 

 
11:00 - 11:45 N’ballou Bangoura: Kids- Family Guinean West African Dance Class 
Bring your family to the dance floor, enjoy live drummers and learn traditional steps/dances from Guinea, West Africa
12:00- 1:15 Marie Basse: Senegalese Dance
Come learn sabar dance from the country of Senegal! Live drumming provided
1:30-2:45 Ismael Kouyate: Guinea Dance
Enjoy drummers from Guinea while you learn traditional dance steps from Guinea, West Africa, a great work out and an enriching experience!
3:00- 4:30 Andonche Loubaki: Congolese Dance 
Come learn traditional movements while enjoying rhythms from live Congolese drummers
 

July 30th DRUM CLASSES @ Wula Drum Shop: 35-18 37th St (Basement), Long Island City, NY 11101

11:00- 11:45 M'bemba Bangoura: Kids Drum Class
Drum class for kids! Come learn the basics of the traditional music of Guinea, West Africa 
12:00-1:00 Mamadou Guisse: Sabar 
Come experience an introduction to Sabar music with Mamdou Guisse from Senegal
1:15-2:15 Andonche Loubaki: Congolese Drum
Loubaki will teach you how to play Congolese drums in this hour introduction
2:30- 3:30 M'bemba Bangoura: Krin Class 
Krin is a log instrument from Guinea, it is played with sticks and it is melodic. Come learn the basics at Wula with M’bemba
3:45–4:45 M'bemba Bangoura: Djembe/Dundun 
Come hear how the drums from Guinea talk to each other! M’bemba is the artistic director of Wula Drum and the Resident Artist at the Annual Wula Drum and Dance Retreat

 

Locations:

July 29th:

RWS Global: 37-12 35th St, Studio 1 - Queens, NY 11106

July 30th:

Wula Drum: 35-18 37th St, Basement, Long Island City, NY 11101 


This event is FREE for the public! And gives an example of what it is like to attend our 5-day intensive, located in the beautiful mountains of Honesdale, PA. Get more info about the 24th Annual Wula Drum and Dance Retreat

 

On July 29th & 30th, come meet (some of ) the Teachers from The Annual Wula Drum & Dance Retreat! 

N’Ballou Bangoura: Kids/Family Guinea Dance Class

N’ballou has taught at numerous places such as Dance theater of Harlem, Asase Yaa School of the Arts, Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Professional Center for the Arts and so many other local elementary and high schools.

Marie Basse: Senegalese Dance 

Marie Basse was born in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. She began teaching at the age of 12 as a member of the Ballet National of Senegal. She has won numerous awards for her commitment to the community and accomplishments in dance.

Andonche Loubaki: Congolese Dance & Drum Class 

Andonche Loubaki began his dance career in Brazzaville, Congo in 1998, with the choreographer Louis Causete. Andoche continues to share music and dance of the Congo with his performing company called Mfouambila which means groove. For more than 20 years, he has been giving African percussion training.

Ismael "Bon Fils" Kouyate: Guinea Dance Class   

Ismael "Bon Fils" Kouyate is a Guinean dancer and singer. He was born in Guinea, West Africa to a long line of griots, the oral historians that preserve the history and culture of Africa through songs, stories, music and dance. He began dancing professionally at the age of 12, when he was recruited by Les Percussions de Guinee' to perform in their international tour

M'Bemba Bangoura: Youth Djembe, Adult Djembe, Krin Classes

M'Bemba Bangoura has traveled the world as a performer and teacher of the Djembe drum, and he is revered for his high level of mastery. He has taught hundreds of students, many of who are now teachers themselves. He has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies worldwide.

Mamadou Guisse: Sabar Class

Mamadou Guisse was born in Senegal, West Africa. At age of 10 years old, he began studying African drum with his grandmother, Maimouna Keita. This training with his grandmother gave him a wealth of information about the culture, songs, history & rhythms of Mali, by the age of 16 years old, he was playing professionally with various dance companies. At the age of 21, he joined the Mandingue Epac Dance company, which is one of the largest dance companies in Senegal. He has also studied extensively with Gimba Diallo (song & rhythm), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Drum craft & repair).