Camp Fareta West African Dance and Drum Camp 2010 -- an introduction

Highlight 1: Youssouf Koumbassa, Dance 1 min 30 sec

Youssouf Koumbassa, from Guinea, West Africa, who is the artistic director of Camp Fareta, in a red t-shirt, demonstrates some steps. He watches what the dancers are doing and demonstrates again and again, moving through the space to see everyone. He says his characteristic "Soft, not too hard." At one point he stops to answer a question and then demonstrates again. He watches as one side of the dance space does the step, demonstrating again for a boy in the front, before moving to the other side of the dance space.

Highlight 2: Marie Basse-Wiles, Dance 1 min 10 sec

Marie Basse-Wiles, of Senegalese and Malian descent, in the white lapa and yellow t-shirt, is talking about the two dances she is going to teach, bougarabou and lindjin. She talks about the ethnic groups that traditionally do these dances and the cultural reasons the dances are done. Some of the natural beauty of Camp Hye Sierra can be seen in the background.

Highlight 3: Mangue Sylla, Drum 1 min 30 sec

This is drum class with Mangue Sylla, from Guinea, standing in brown and white pants and shirt, demonstrating and singing the rhythms. He starts with the dundun (bass drum) parts and then plays the djembe while correcting the dundun parts, then both parts play together.

Highlight 4: Sabar Orchestra 45 sec




Left to right, the Senegalese drummers, Ibou Ngom (in red), Cheikh M'Baye (in white) and Mbor Faye (in black) are playing a sabar rhythm and Cheikh is soloing; Aziz Faye is getting ready to lead the dancers across the floor. At one point Marietou Camara, one of the artists from Guinea, who is taking Aziz's class, runs over and taps Cheikh on the head to acknowledge his skill. The drummers also sing along with the rhythm they are playing.

Highlight 5: Aziz Faye, Dance 20 sec

Aziz Faye, from Senegal, in front of the group, leads the step he has just taught, throwing his legs higher than seems humanly possible, and then signals the dancers to begin.

Highlight Extra: Alseny Soumah, Dance 30 sec

Alseny Soumah, from Guinea, in navy pants and white t-shirt, dances with the beginning-level class, doing the choreography he has just taught. Karamba Dioubate, in the front left wearing a purple and white tie-dye shirt, is soloing and playing the breaks for the dancers.

Highlight Extra: Village Life 30 sec

In the marketplace and "village center" -- two campers greet two of the artists, Djeneba Sako wearing brown and seated on the left and Wadaba Kouroma in a multicolored outfit on the right. Then we see two drum students talking with Moussa Traore, who is sitting between them, wearing blue. Shortly after, we see Karamba Dioubate in a green shirt talking with two campers. These are small examples of the ways artists and campers have an opportunity to interact at Camp Fareta outside of classes.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• West African Dance
• Camp Fareta
• Youssouf Koumbassa

[michaelpluznick]

Wonderful, thanks for posting!

[SuperTruthful]

Youssouf master teacher, love him.