Nii Akrong African Dance and Drum for Repertory
The Nii Akrong African Dance and Drum for Repertory draws on phrase-combinations, and gestures of daily life events. Students explore Gyil or xylophone applications, that reflect and represent Ghanaian, Mande, and Yoruba traditions, among other traditional repertoires – unique movements and meanings, historical contexts, songs and chants as well as coordination of the hands. For an example of related drum technique, students will learn to use their palms and fingers against the backdrop of specified postures that open an array of drumming techniques (tone, slap, base, muffle, mnemonic-combinations/interpretation), which are useful to knowing the unique time lines and upbeat of West African rhythms, and are the roadmap to understanding the dance form. This innovative technique builds the skills necessary for most of the above repertoire as the similarities and differences spread across villages in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ga, Ewe, Akan, Zulu, Mande and Yoruba ethnic themes will be discussed in their traditional contexts. Discussions, guests, audio visuals and texts that shed light on the pieces will be incorporated. Students will learn by careful observation and by doing – in a friendly teamwork environment. This accessible course is responsive to student needs and abilities and will inject a broad foundational knowledge necessary for the future development of a holistic person/performer.
Permission of the instructor or in class audition is encouraged. The instructor will assign students specific weekly readings/tasks from the reading list, personal recordings, internet sites and rich exposure of a lived tradition in Africa.
The Nii Akrong African Dance and Drum for Repertory draws on phrase-combinations, and gestures of daily life events. Students explore Gyil or xylophone applications, that reflect and represent Ghanaian, Mande, and Yoruba traditions, among other traditional repertoires – unique movements and meanings, historical contexts, songs and chants as well as coordination of the hands. For an example of related drum technique, students will learn to use their palms and fingers against the backdrop of specified postures that open an array of drumming techniques (tone, slap, base, muffle, mnemonic-combinations/interpretation), which are useful to knowing the unique time lines and upbeat of West African rhythms, and are the roadmap to understanding the dance form. This innovative technique builds the skills necessary for most of the above repertoire as the similarities and differences spread across villages in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ga, Ewe, Akan, Zulu, Mande and Yoruba ethnic themes will be discussed in their traditional contexts. Discussions, guests, audio visuals and texts that shed light on the pieces will be incorporated. Students will learn by careful observation and by doing – in a friendly teamwork environment. This accessible course is responsive to student needs and abilities and will inject a broad foundational knowledge necessary for the future development of a holistic person/performer.
Permission of the instructor or in class audition is encouraged. The instructor will assign students specific weekly readings/tasks from the reading list, personal recordings, internet sites and rich exposure of a lived tradition in Africa.
- Teacher: Isaac Akrong