Join Bamidele Dancers & Drummers, of Young Audiences of Massachusetts, for an interactive dance workshop for children and their families. Accompanied by a live drummer, participants will practice movements from a dance or two from West Africa and a song for the dance they are taught. Every dance in Africa is done for a specific occasion with its own movements that tell a story and its own song, rhythm and instrumentation.  

Register below. Zoom link will be emailed to registrants one hour before the program begins.

This vacation week program is free and open to the public and is not recorded. If you register but later find you cannot attend, please remember to cancel your registration to make space for others.

Artists Bio:

Founded in 1983 by Bamidele Osumarea (1947-1995), the Bamidele Dancers & Drummers are now led by Marilyn M. Sylla. The ensemble includes Sekou Sylla, dancer, acrobat and drummer from Les Ballet Africains, the National Dance Company of the Republic of New Guinea, West Africa; as well as performer and recording artist, Jamemerrell Stanley.

Marilyn and her ensemble have studied and performed in West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and Europe. Marilyn and Sekou have served as adjunct faculty at Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Greenfield Community College. Bamidele Dancers and Drummers is a Young Audiences of Massachusetts ensemble.