Performances

Ammaya Dance & Drum includes master West African drummers and dancers, and a diverse group of professional artists. The ensemble offers a fun, high-energy and participatory educational program for concerts, festivals, school assemblies and family events. With highly favorable reviews, they have been presenting performances regularly throughout the New England area at public venues, public and private schools, colleges, libraries, senior residences, and more. By watching and participating, audiences are exposed to West African cultural traditions. They take something very special with them: African dance, rhythm and song!

The following is a general outline of our performances. We vary and customize each show according to the setting and what audiences want.

• Opening the show, the ensemble gives a performance of West African drumming, song and dance in traditional costume. The opening piece is exciting and dynamic, giving audiences a great taste of the culture and art form.
  
  
• The lead drummer then shares about the background, purpose and technique of drumming in West Africa.
  
  
• The audience can then try the drumming themselves! The ensemble drummers will teach several simple rhythms that people can play informally in a group. In this way, participants can learn rhythms and experience the polyrhythmic nature of African drumming.
  
  
• The ensemble dancers will then lead some African dance movements for the audience. People may come up and dance informally in a group, learning simple traditional movements and having some fun together!
  
  
• Next, the lead drummer will teach a beautiful call and response West African song from his home country. People get to sing along and learn a traditional song from Guinea or Mali.
  
  
• Our program usually concludes with another performance of traditional dance and drumming from Mali, Guinea, or Senegal, West Africa. At the end of the piece, everyone in the audience is invited to dance and drum again together in a rousing finale!