AKWAABA- WELCOME TO GHANA!

CULTURAL LINKS AFRICAN MUSIC & DANCE STUDY TOUR

        

African Music & Dance Study Tour

Overview

Dance all day and night with our African Dance, Music and Cultural tour!  All classes are taught by Ghanaian master dancers and drummers who will teach you regional dances, songs and their meanings.  With our pact itinerary, you will participate in daily dance, song, and drum classes and attend performances.

 

Set among the fishing villages of Kokrobitey, approximately 25 km west of the capital of Accra, the Academy of African Music and Arts in conjunction with Cultural Links African Music and Dance Study Tours offers a 2-4 week intensive study into the cultural dances of Ghana’s many dances to give students a rich and cultural experience through dance.  You will explore and delve into the unique and ever-present interconnectedness between African dance, stories and spirituality and how these Africanisms survived and found their way all over the globe.

 

Your daily agenda includes 3-4 hours of drumming, dancing and singing, all taught by master teachers, resident company members and trained dancers.  Class size will be limited to 10-15 students so that the teacher-student ratio can be maximized for student learning, leaving plenty of time for questions and teacher feedback.  The scenic backdrop -Atlantic Ocean, villagers and fishing boats provide a peaceful and serene setting for the workshops.

 

Students will learn several rhythms from Ghana’s varied ethnic groups.  In addition to drumming, included in this tour is the option to study other instruments like the atenteban (bamboo flute), balafon (wooden xylophone) and to learn about other styles of Ghanaian music such as highlife and hip-life.   This dance and music study tour also offers conversations with current choreographers and performers of various dance companies to learn more about the historical and cultural context of the various rhythms and songs being taught.

 

The African Dance, Music and Cultural Tour presents opportunities for arts enthusiasts to immerse themselves in tradition and to collaborate in a culminating performance alongside dancers and teachers for an unforgettable experience.   In the evenings, enjoy performances held in various locations around Kokrobitey or take a guided walk into town and enjoy the youth as they improvise a mix of traditional and contemporary street dance, or join one of the pop-up night spots for a drink, grilled fish and conversation with the locals.

 

Participants will also take basic language classes in Akan, Ewe ,Fanti and Ga.  This tour is wrapped in the history and rhythmic vibration that is Ghana.  In addition to dance and music classes, visits to historical sites are also included such as the ruins of Cape Coast and Elmina Slave Dungeons, the mausoleum of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (1^st president of Independent Ghana), National Theater and University of Ghana’s Dance Ensemble and day trip to Kumasi’s National Theater.  Performing opportunities and collaborations with local dance companies can also be arranged for your performing group.

 

Our Cultural Links staff, guides and safe drivers will take care of you as we travel through the lens of African Music, Dance and Culture!  Each tour takes into account the natural rhythm and life cycles of this African nation.  Therefore, our travel itinerary is flexible and relaxed so that you will have opportunities to take in some of the local festivals and events that take place during your stay in Ghana.

 

African Music & Dance tours are for both the dancer and non-dancer as it is a true cultural immersion that will satisfy all participants.

All levels welcome!

Instruction and class materials include:

• Ghanaian Language Class (Twi/Ewe/Fanti etc..)

• Ghanaian History Class

• Dance & Drum Class

• Hand-outs

• Instructor fees

• Two orientations w/workshop materials (Before leaving USA, participants are orientated on such topics as Ghanaian currency; Health & Safety Abroad; and various areas of interest.)
  

Site Visits:  Entrance fees into the following locations.  There are many things to see and do and therefore this is a sample list.

• Boti Water Falls

• Manhyia Palace

• W.E.B. Dubois Center

• Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum

• Center for Plant Research and Medicine

• Botanical Gardens

• Elmina Slave Dungeons

• Cape Coast Slave Dungeons

• Last Bath- Asin Mansu

• City and rural bus tours & sightseeing

 (Activities and classes subject to change.)

 

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