2019 WORKSHOPS

African Dance Workshops with 
FARA TOLNO (US/Guinea)

Experience the infectious traditional rhythms and dances of West Africa!

FRIDAY MAY 17
DRUM workshop | $35 cash/door
7 to 9pm | All Levels
African Drums & Arts Crafts, 618 Dundas St. W. Toronto (Dundas / Spadina)

SATURDAY MAY 25
DANCE workshops | $20 per workshop cash/door
2 30 - 4pm | Beginner Level
4 30 - 6pm | Intermediate / Advanced Level 
Pia Bouman, 6 Noble St, Toronto (Queen / Dufferin)

SUNDAY MAY 26
DRUM workshop | $35 cash/door 
12 30 - 2 30pm | All Levels 
DANCE | $20 cash/door 
3 - 4 30pm | All Levels 
Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan Street, Guelph

Fara Tolno is one of the most influential African artists of this generation, actively increasing the professional recognition of African Dance in North America. He brings an innovative perspective to African dance and music, steeped in his knowledge of Guinean culture. Fara spent nine years as the lead drummer for Les Merveilles de Guinea (The Wonders of Guinea) under the tutelage of West Africa’s most influential director and choreographer, Kemoko Sano. Fara has performed with many of the world’s premier musicians including Mamady Keita, Burning Spear, Neil Young, Sekouba Bambino, Otis Taylor, Joe Cocker, Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita Habibe Koite, B.B. King, Oumou Sangare, and many more. Fara teaches and tours around the world on the African international dance scene. ​
SHAYENNE PRODUCTIONS offers tailored dance and drum workshops in French and English to schools, organizations, community centres, corporate events and the workplace. 

Our dance instructor, Lua Shayenne, teaches traditional and contemporary African dance (Guinea, Mali, Ghana) workshops with live percussion. The workshop is adapted to all levels.
Lua leads a free flowing warmup to start the session followed by sequences of movement accompanied by live drumming. Emphasis is given to developing a musical ear and coordination. Lua shares the name, the cultural and social context of a specific dance from West Africa and her accompanying percussionist introduces the students to the instrument he is playing, its origins and how it is made.
BEGINNER LEVEL: New to African Dance or need to develop your understanding African rhythms? Then this level is for you! You will learn the fundamentals of dances from Guinea, Mali and Ghana with a special focus to understanding the accompanying rhythm. The workshop starts with a warm up to ground the body, focus on the use of the spine and upper and lower limb coordination. You will learn basic steps across the floor followed by a routine at the centre.
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVEL: Already have experience in African Dance? You will learn longer and more complex sequences with an emphasis on technically detailed movement qualities. This level challenges your strength, coordination and power of the body whilst using a dynamic combination of footwork.
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