Congolese Dance Workshop

635 Phelan Avenue,San Jose CA 95112

26 March, 2023

Description

The incredible Donna McCraney returns to the Bay Area Master Drummer Massengo on the Drums! Our culture is such a soulful vibration…a mosaic groove of our art, sacred meditation, our Drums and healing circles through African dances and music of the diaspora. We embrace it because we can’t help but surrender to our beautiful attire and songs and dances that evoke a deep vivid emotional colorful expression that captures the depths of the soul and propels us to move our bodies. This Congolese Dance and Music Workshop will be taught by Donna McCraney and Massengo Constant. Presented by San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild and Tabia African-American Theatre Ensemble. All levels of dancers and cultures are welcome to participate in this lively and energizing session. A fun workout for the body, mind, and spint.Please wear tennis, dance, or comfortable shoes! The workshop will be a 90 minute session will consist of: Opening (Welcome and Introduction)Music – Welcome songWarm UpMovement/MusicMbongi DanceConclusion Originally from Kansas City, Missouri Donna began training in Afro Cuban and Afro Hatian Orisha dances under the direction of Joseph Stevenson. She relocated to San Francisco, California where she was a principal dancer with the company, Black Light Explosion. She continued studies in Congolese Dance under the direction of Malonga Casequlord, Titos Sompa and Massengo Constant in conjunction with, Fua-Dia-Congo. After 10 years of Congolese instruction in traditional dances and music from Congo Donna began teaching Congolese dance and founded children’s Dance Company called, Bala-ba-Kongo in East Palo Alto, California. The company had the privilege of performing for the late Katherine Dunham and the late Nelson and Winnie Mandela. This workshop is part of Belonging: Celebrating Community, Heritage and HERstories, brought to you by History San José and Mosaic America