West African Drum and Dance Workshops
Curious about West African drumming or dance? Led by Master drummer Professor Fana Bangoura, explore the rhythms from Guinea on the djembe, dune, sanaban, and kenkeni. Participants will work on performance skills, drumming, and choreography.
Come prepared to play and move!
Born in Conakry, Guinea, master drummer and dancer Kerfala (Fana) Bangoura began his professional career in 1990. He has performed with numerous private ballets in Guinea, including the Macaca Ballet, Kounkoré Bamba Ballet, and Ballet Fareta, where he received his attestation and diploma – a certification of artistic excellence – in both drumming and dance, enabling him to work with the national performing ensembles of Guinea. Named “Master Drummer” by the Guinean Ministry of Culture in 2008, he was a featured djembe soloist for two of Guinea’s national groups, Percussions de Guinée and Les Ballets Africains, for over 8 years. Since his arrival in the United States in the spring of 2009, Kerfala has worked extensively as a performer and educator. With his performing group, Mounafanyi, he opened Portland’s African Film Festival in 2010, and has also won a grant from Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC).He has taught at the University of Oregon and the University of Rochester, as well as RIT. Fana leads the West African Performance Ensemble (PRFL 283)
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
This is an RIT Only Event
Interpreter Requested?
No