[Wadabo_updates] Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye - Dance Classes & Call to Dancers

Dear African Dance & Music Community,
News from Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye...

1 - Dance Classes: Cancellations & NEW CLASS

2 - Call to Dancers: Dance w/ Boston Afro-Ballet

1 - DANCE CLASSES:

Yengu Multi-Ethnic Dance Workshops - No classes in April...
Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm, $12 | The Brookline Academy of Dance - 136 Westbourne Terrace, Brookline

Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye will be in Africa for the month of April. Yengu Workshops will be CANCELED APRIL 1ST THRU APRIL 29TH AND WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY, MAY 6TH. 

NEW DANCE CLASSES IN CAMBRIDGE - Starts May 10th
Every Saturday, 6:30-8:00pm, $12 | STARTING SATURDAY, MAY 10TH|  The Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple Street, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye will be starting a new dance class in Cambridge in May. More information to follow.

2 - CALL TO DANCERS:

The Boston Afro-Ballet
Open call to Dancers | Starting in May, 2008 | Contact Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye at 617.894.1100 or artcomple@yahoo.com
Founded in 2007 by Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye as part of Naatangue African Arts Consortium, Boston Afro-Ballet has openings for dancers with knowledge and a passion for traditional and contemporary West African dance. Participate in a shared experience with a vital company of performers. Through live theater, BAB presents dance, song and drum in compelling performances that inspire, nurture and ignite healing. All inquiries are welcome. Company rehearsals will be held starting in May at the Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple Street, Central Square, Cambridge, MA.

Peace, prosperity, & harmony
See you all in May,
Jam Ak Jam,
Mamadou Lynx N'Diaye

[Wadabo_updates] Open Call to Dancers - Audition w/ Pape N'Diaye

Dear African Dance & Music Community,

OPEN CALL FOR DANCERS TO AUDITION WITH PAPE N'DIAYE FOR NDAJE FESTIVAL SHOW
Friday, March 28th, 9:00-10:00pm | Cambridge YWCA, 7 Temple Street, Central Sq., Cambridge | Show date: Saturday, June 28th, 2008 | Contact Pape at 323.684.8298 to Register | www.papendiaye.com

Looking for dancers of all ethnicities,  18 yrs +, who are proficient in Traditional West African & Contemporary (African & European/American Modern) dance. Please pre-register with Pape N'Diaye, dancers should arrive warm and ready to dance in appropriate dance attire, bare feet. Rehearsals start April 4th, and will be held on Fridays 6-7:30pm and Sundays 3:30-5pm at the Cambridge YWCA. Show date is Saturday, June 28th as part of the annual Ndaje African Dance Conference (June 26 - 29th, 2008).

[Wadabo_updates] Jean Appolon Class dedicated to Alex Ferdinand, 3/22

Dear African Dance & Music Community,

This Saturday, March 22nd
Jean's Haitian Dance Class
is dedicated in loving memory to
Alex Ferdinand,
our dear friend and fellow dancer.

Alex passed away last year and Jean wants to remember her in dance and
light. Please wear all white and bring your positive energy as an
offering.

Dance class is every Saturday, 1:30-3pm, $13 www.JeanAppolon.com
at the Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave, Central Sq Cambridge
www.dancecomplex.org

[Wadabo_updates] Afro-Cuban Music & Dance

Dear African Dance & Music community,
Afro-Cuban music & dance events & classes in the near future...

1 - Dance Classes: with Reynaldo Gonzalez - Spring schedule

2 - Music: Show with Larry Harlow & the Latin Legends - 3/28

3 - Dance Party: Cuban Salsa Night w/ LIVE music - 4/4

1 - Dance Classes:

Afro-Cuban Dance with Reynaldo Gonzalez
Every Sunday, 12noon-1:30pm with LIVE Bata drumming & singing| The Dance Complex - 536 Mass Ave. Cambridge |$12 - NO CLASS ON 4/6, 5/11 & 6/22 | www.DanceComplex.org
Come celebrate Cuba's African heritage with Reynaldo Gonzalez, former member of the world renown dance company, AfroCuba de Matanzaz. The class teaches the dances of various Afro-Cuban ethnic traditions, including Yoruba (Lucumi), Arara, Conga, etc., accompanied by live drumming and singing. In addition to dances of the Orisha, Palo Monte, etc., secular dances such as rumba and comparsa (carnival) dances are also taught.

2 - Music:

Larry Harlow & the Latin Legends
Friday, March 28th| 2 shows 8pm & 10pm | Scullers Jazz Club - DoubleTree Hotel, Storrow Drive & Mass Pike Exit |$25 tickets | 617.562.4111 or www.ScullersJazz.com
Come see a living legend of Afro-Cuban music. Go and dance salsa all night after the show with Miami club featuring Javier Arroyo and his Salsa Night Band at Cambridge Hyatt's Presidential Ballroom. For information visit www.SalsaBoston.com

3 - Dance Party:

Cuban Salsa Night w/ LIVE Cuban Salsa Music
Friday, April 4th| 9pm Dance Lessons| 10pm-1:30am Dance Party & LIVE Performance|Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center -85 West Newton Street, Boston |$15 tickets |  www.DespeloteDance.com
Despelote Dance presents an entire evening of dance & live music - party Cuban style. Come learn Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino, Cuba's hottest dances, at 9pm for FREE! Next party is Friday, June 6th, so mark you calendars.

[Wadabo_updates] 2nd Annual Ndaje Festival in Boston - June 26-29th 2008

Greetings African Dance Community!

 

Pape N'Diaye is back from Senegal and ready to promote his 2nd Annual Ndaje Festival in Boston June 26-29th 2008! He is trying to make this festival even better than the last one and he needs your help in putting together the artist line-up!

 

Take a few minutes to sign up on the Ndaje Festival Email List and type in your vote for the artists who will teach and perform at this year's four-day Ndaje Festival!

 

More festival info at www.papendiaye.com!

 

See you at the Festival!

 

Ndaje Festival 2008

ndajefestival@papendiaye.com

www.papendiaye.com/ndajefestival

[Wadabo_updates] African Hip Hop Conference @ Harvard - Today & Tomorrow

Check it out: http://www.africanhiphopproject.org/Conference/

The opening night last night was nice, and fairly well attended. The website is a bit not fully complete, in terms of information, but the most interesting things for this WADaBo list  are probably the following (all are free & open to the public):
Friday night, March 14th: Africa Night at 8:00pm
YALDA, Harvard College
African Music Night
LOCATION:SOCH Performance Hall, 5th floor, Hilles Library
INFORMATION: rbizimun@gmail.com Open to all.

Saturday, March 15, 2008    
Panel @ Littauer 140- KSG, 79 JFK Street
10:30 – 12:00 pm: African Traditional Music and New Musical Creations.
Patty Tang – Professor, MIT and performer of Senegalese Music, Positive Black Soul, Nder et le Setsima Group, and Lamine Touré & Group Saloum
Mulatu Astatke - Ethiopia
Youssou N' Dour – Vocalist, Senegal
Moderator: Kay Shelemay – Professor of Music and African and African American Studies, Harvard University

Saturday, March 15:
Closing Concert @ 9 pm
Saturday night concert: Gokh Bi System

[Wadabo_updates] African Music, Dance, & Events THIS WEEKEND (3/13-16)

Dear African Dance & Music Community
There is sooooo much happening this weekend:

1 - MUSIC: The Well (3/13 Toad), SambaLolo (3/14 Matt Murphy's), Group Saloum (3/14 Lizard Lounge),   - Info below.

2 - DANCE: Pape N'Diaye classes (3/14 YWCA & 3/16 Dance Complex), Dance Auditions w/ Pape N'Diaye (starts 3/14), Afro-Contemporary w/ Melissa Alexis (3/15 Dance Complex)  - Info below.

3 - EVENT: Ifa Divination Studies Conference (3/14-16 Harvard University) - Info below.

1 - MUSIC:

THE WELL
Thursday, March 13, 10pm | Toad - 1912 Mass Ave. Cambridge | No cover | www.ToadCambridge.com
Reggae that is dubbed out, light-hearted, heavy and raw. This is the future of roots rock, with tweaky jungle to make you flip kick and jumprope non-stop screaming while feeling as good as a Marvin Gaye tune. The Well is: Jimmy Trapella (vocals), Mike Weater (bass), Kristopher Rex Hussmann (keys), and Jeremy Gustin (drums). Visit www.MySpace.com/TheWell

BOUBACAR DIABATÉ & SAMBALOLO
Friday, March 14th, 11pm  - Last Show until May| Matt Murphy's Pub - 14 Harvard St Brookline | No cover, Food until 10pm | www.MattMurphysPub.com

This is the last show until Bouba returns from Mali in Mid-May, so don't miss out! SambaLolo, featuring Boubacar Diabate, West African Griot from Mali, combines traditional rhythms with modern influences to form a unique style of contemporary Malian Griot music. Singing in Bambara, Diabate tells stories of common shared human experiences such as of love, life and humanity. Through the age-old West African tradition of Griot storytelling, Diabate brings the audience on a musical journey that is embellished with accents of Jazz, Blues and Reggae. For more information about Boubacar Diabate and SambaLolo visit www.myspace.com/sambalolo

LAMINE TOURE & GROUP SALOUM
Friday, March 14, 9:30pm | The Lizard Lounge - 1667Mass Ave. Cambridge | $10  | Food until midnight | www.LizardLoungeClub.com

Group Saloum is: Lamine Toure (sabar and lead vocals), Paa Seck (sabar), Moha Seck (sabar), Michael Lewis (drums), Raja Kassis (lead guitar), Akili Jamal Haynes (trumpet, percussion and backing vocals), Walid Zairi (bass), Ben Ricker (keyboards), Kimani Lumsden (percussion), Josiah Woodson (trumpet, flute and guitar), Iginaijah Maxwell (backing vocals), John Vanderpool (sax) and Sarah Privler (trombone). For more info, visit www.LamineToure.com or
www.MySpace.com/GroupSaloum

2 - DANCE:

PAPE N'DIAYE RESUMES FRIDAY DEJMBE DANCE  & SUNDAY SABAR DANCE CLASSES THIS WEEKEND
Friday, March 14th, Djembe Dance, 7:30-9:00pm, $12 | Cambridge YWCA - 7 Temple St, Central sq., Cambridge

Sunday, March 16th, Sabar Dance, 1:30-3:00pm, $12 | The Dance Complex - 536 Mass. Ave, Central Sq., Cambridge | www.DanceComplex.com

Pape is back from Senegal, please come out and welcome him back to Boston!

OPEN CALL FOR DANCERS TO AUDITION WITH PAPE N'DIAYE FOR NDAJE FESTIVAL SHOW
Show date: Saturday, June 28th, 2008 | Contact Pape at 323.684.8298 for audition schedule | www.papendiaye.com

Looking for dancers of all ethnicities,  18 yrs +, who are proficient in Traditional West African & Contemporary (African & European/American Modern) dance. Auditions will be held starting this weekend, March 14th, and will be held open through mid-April. Rehearsals start late March, show date Saturday, June 28th as part of the annual Ndaje African Dance Conference (June 26 - 29th, 2008).

AFRO-CONTEMPORARY DANCE WORKSHOP SERIES WITH MELISSA ALEXIS
Saturday, March 15th (until 3/29), 3:00-4:30pm | The Dance Complex - 536 Mass. Ave, Central Sq. Cambridge| $13|Info 617.224.7213 or lifeforcedance@gmail.com | www.DanceComplex.com

Come & explore the Contemporary African dance movement! Afro-contemporary Dance is a claws that combines the spirit and technique of West African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, and Contemporary dance styles. After a full-body warm-up, we will travel across the floor and do center work, including choreography. Open to all levels; you are encouraged to bring your sense of expression to a soulful, fun, high energy class. Wear comfortable clothing and bare feet/flat dance shoes.

3 - EVENT:

SACRED KNOWLEDGE, SACRED POWER AND PERFORMANCE: IFA DIVINATION IN WEST AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
Friday - Sunday, March 14th - 16th | Tsai Auditorium, Room S010, CGIS-South - 1730 Cambridge St., Cambridge| Space is extremely limited, Free & Open to the public | To register email amcgee@post.harvard.edu

This international conference will provide a forum for renowned scholars in African and African Diaspora studies to explore the body of deep knowledge implicit in Ifa divination among the Yoruba of West Africa, as well as their descendants in Africa and the Americas. It begins with the recognition that Ifa is not only a body of knowledge, but also a religious and cultural practice. "Sacred Knowledge" will highlight the ways that Ifa texts and their brokers are dynamic and ever changing, shaped my politics, cultural histories, and social rituals. It will also address the transport and spread of Ifa knowledge and cosmologies and will contribute to the development of a theoretical and empirical language for advancing the state of Ifa scholarship.

[Wadabo_updates] Open Call to Dancers - Audition w/ Beat Tree 4/5

Dear African Dance & Music Community,

OPEN CALL TO DANCERS - AUDITIONS WITH BEAT TREE DANCE
Saturday, April 5th, 4:00-5:30pm | The Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave. Cambridge | Registration begins at 3:30pm | www.BeatTreeDance.com

Eclectic dance group heavily influenced by West African, Afro-jazz, Afro-Cuban, Haitian, Hip-hop and modern. Looking for dancers, male and female, with experience in these styles to start rehearsals immediately. Our next large production is in late October-November with several possible performance opportunities in between.

Please email to reserve a space: beattreeconcert@yahoo.com. Bring your contact info, a headshot and resume and be prepared to work with our choreographers. If you'd like to present a short example of your own, please remember to bring your own "sounds". This is not a paid gig, but the experience will be well worth your time.

ABOUT US : Beat Tree is a diverse collective of dancers, choreographers, musicians and spoken word artists. We acknowledge African dance as the mother of all dance and want to create a new movement vocabulary that incorporates elements of contemporary and traditional dance styles. Our choreography speaks directly to our cultural history and our immediate experiences.

[Wadabo_updates] Afro-Contemporary Class series w/ Melissa Alexis - STARTS SATURDAY 3/8

Dear African Dance & Music Community,

Afro-Contemporary Dance Class Series
with Melissa Alexis
4 Saturdays, March 8th - 29th
3:00pm-4:30pm At The Dance Complex
4 classes $45 (due 3/8) or $13 per class

Come & explore the Contemporary African dance movement! Afro-Contemporary dance is a class that combines the spirit and technique of West African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian and Contemporary dance styles. After a full body warm-up, we will travel across the floor and do center work, including choreography. Open to all levels; you are encouraged to bring your sense of expression to a soulful, fun, high energy class. Wear comfortable clothing and bare feet/flat dance shoes.

Questions? Contact Melissa at 617.224.7213 or lifeforcedance@gmail.com

Melissa Alexis had been performing and teaching dance for more than 16 years. Among other genres, she has trained in modern, ballet, West African, Afro-Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban dance under the tutelage of such choreographers/teachers as Ronald K. Brown, Lamine Thiam, Yvonne Daniel, and Roseangela Silvestre. She has performed with companies in New York City and Massachusetts including Bousso Dance Company, Bamidele Dancers & Drummers, and Ballet Folklorico in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

[Wadabo_updates] Music This Weekend - SambaLolo & The Superpowers

Dear African Dance & Music Community,
Two great opportunities THIS FIRDAY night to witness the exquisite music of West Africa & the African Diaspora:

1 - Boubacar Diabate & SambaLolo @ Johnny D's Lounge, Somerville
2 - The Superpowers @ Bill's Bar, Boston
********************************************************************************************

1 - BOUBACAR DIABATÉ & SAMBALOLO w/ I-LEVEL (reggae)
Friday, March 7th, I-Level @ 9:30, SambaLolo @11pm | Cover  $10 |Johnny D's Lounge, 17 Holland St. Davis Square, Somerville www.JohnnyDs.com|  Dinner reservations in advance guarantee a seat for the show | For reservations call 617.776.2004.

SambaLolo, featuring Boubacar Diabate, West African Griot from Mali, combines traditional rhythms with modern influences to form a unique style of contemporary Malian Griot music. Singing in Bambara, Diabate tells stories of common shared human experiences such as of love, life, struggle, and transcendence. Through the age-old West African tradition of Griot storytelling, Diabate brings the audience on a musical journey that is embellished with accents of Jazz, Blues and Reggae. For more information about Boubacar Diabate and SambaLolo visit www.SambaLolo.net or
www.myspace.com/sambalolo

Next Show: Friday, March 14th @ Matt Murphy's Pub, Brookline Village - www.MattMurphysPub.com


2 - The Superpowers (formerly AfroBeat Society) w/ Rubblebucket Orchestra (reggae - members of John Browns Body)
Friday, March 7th, doors open at 8:30pm | Bill's Bar - 5.5 Lansdowne St, Boston, 617.421.9678 | 18+ $12 adv/$15 door | Tickets at www.RockOnConcerts.com or 866.468.7619 www.BillsBar.com

The Superpowers is an 11 member, 21st Century AfroBeat Dance Band. Voted Best World Act in the Phoenix 2007 Best Music Poll and 2006 Boston Music Awards, The Superpowers have been hailed by critics "poly-rhythmic juggernaut". They have played packed houses throughout the Eastern US and shared the stage with internationally renowned artists including Sierra Leones Refugee All-Starts, John Browns Body, Aphrodesia, NOMO and Audible Mainframe. In the past year The Superpowers have played nearly 100 shows at festivals, bars, clubs, farms and community events, rallying to end the violence in Darfur, raising money for development projects in Zambia's Meheba refugee settlement and supporting Fair Trade in South America. www.myspace.com/thesuperpowers

[Wadabo_updates] African Dance with Mamadou "Lynx" N'Diaye

Dear African Dance & Music Community,
A reminder about Lynx's new dance class in Brookline:

NAATANGUE AFRICAN ART CONSORTIUM Presents "YENGU"

A MULTI ETHNIC AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP

taught by master drummer and dancer,

MAMADOU "LYNX"  N'DIAYE  

 

Every TUESDAY, From 7:30 PM to 9:00PM, Cost:  $10

At BROOKLINE ACADEMY OF DANCE

136 Westbourne Terrace, Brookline MA.

Studio: 617 277 1139 Cell:617 894 1100

Email:artcomple@yahoo.com

 

Come learn more about African dance and spirituality through an extraordinary program brought to you by

MAMADOU "LYNX" NDIAYE. DANCE is eternal; dance is rooted in the origins of humankind. Experience

the many physical, psychological and social benefits of AFRICAN DANCE SPORT. In our dance classes and

workshops supported by live drumming and African music while you are trained or retrained in African dance.

You will also learn the origin and tradition behind each individual dance, as well as the meanings of different

ethnic dances and their significance.

 

MAMADOU "LYNX" NDIAYE is a former member of the national theater of SENEGAL (West Africa).

He is an ethnomusicologist, master drummer and dancer, choreographer and actor, who has been advising and

supporting the African art community in Boston and New York for over 10 years. As Lynx says,

 

"I live by this:

A CLEAR MIND AND A HEALTHY BODY

 

MEN SANA IN CORPORE SANO

 

UN ESPRIT SAIN DANS UN CORPS SAIN

 

XEL GU LEAR YARAM GU WEAR."

[Wadabo_updates] Next Samba workshop April 20th

Dear African Dance & Music Community,

Time to samba!!!!!!! It's time to get ready for the next Samba Dance Workshop!  Danielle Lima is coming up from New York to show us how tho shake it!  Mark your calendars for April 20th and be ready to work it!

What: Samba Workshop with Danielle Lima (bio below)

Where: Dance Complex  536 Massachusetts Ave. Central Square, Cambridge www.DanceComplex.org

When: Sunday, April 20th, 3PM to 5PM, Studio #3

What should I wear?: Dress as you would for an aerobics or high energy dance class and be comfortable.  Jeans and high heel shoes not recommended.  You might want to bring water.

Cost: $20 Advanced sign up (cash or check), $25 (cash only) Drop-in the day of workshop

How do I pay?: Advanced payments can be made in cash or by check at our dance classes or by sending a check (checks must arrive by April 17th and confirmation email will be sent upon receipt). 

Saturday Dance Class: Dance Complex 1:30PM to 3:00PM

Tuesday Dance Class: Green Street Studio 185 Green St. Central Sq., Cambridge 7:30 - 9PM.

Please include a note with your email address so I can send you a confirmation email.
By check via snail mail: please email sambista74@yahoo.com for address.  

BIO:  Danielle Lima

Danielle Lima was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She started dancing at the age of 7 at the Dance School Centro de Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There she studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, national and international folkloric dance. Ms. Lima also performed for several years with G.R.E.S. Beija-flor, the largest samba school of Rio. Ms. Lima appeared in numerous television shows in Brazil, such as Xuxa and Domingao do Faustao. In 1998, she performed contemporary pieces in the Opera O Guarani with The Rio Dance Company. Committed to maintaining her cultural roots, Ms. Lima continued to perform traditional folkloric dance as lead dancer with Rodry Baiano Dance Group. In 2000, Ms. Lima joined the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus, where she worked
with Choreographer Tony Stevens for over 3 years. Later, Ms. Lima relocated in New York City where she taught modern and ethnic dance workshops at the Harlem YMCA. Ms. Lima joined Djoniba Dance & Drum Center as a teacher of Brazilian Samba in early 2004. In 2005, she founded the Brasileirando Dance Group, a company that aspires to disseminate Brazilian folkloric and contemporary dances. Brasileirando has performed at the Lincoln Center, Socrates Park 20th Anniversary, The Soho's Art Parade in New York City and at the Dance Conference in Saint Louis. Currently, Ms. Lima is a Teaching Artist in the Dancing Classrooms Program at the American Ballroom Theater and teaches in the Arte Capoeira Center. Ms. Lima's original teaching style and creative choreography includes a mixture of fitness and dance, incorporating traditional and contemporary Samba from Rio and Bahia.