Workshops

You are invited to learn!

During the week you will get in total 10,5h of workshops plus taster classes!

The aim for this week is not only to take you on a Afro Swing journey from traditional African Roots to Swing but also to give you a taste of different styles of African dances, traditional as well as urban plus invite you to play and sing! Since the exchange is situated in Mozambique, traditional Mozambican dances will dominate the class schedule, but there will also be classes in dances from South Africa, Congo, Angola and Urban Mozambique plus a drumming and singing class! During any dance class you can choose to join the drummers and learn how to play instead of dancing.

Workshops

Introduction to African and Mozambican Rhythms and Movements (1h15min)

Teachers | Eugénio Macuvel and Vitoria Vick
Day | Tuesday

To warm up your body to these new rhythms this class will focus on connecting to the drums, ground yourself to the earth and shake lose all the tensions in your body to prepare yourself for a week full of dancing.


 


The Afro Swing Connection  (1h15min)

Teachers |Judith Novela and Paulo Inácio
Day | Tuesday

We will take you on a journey researching Afro Swing – the African roots of Authentic Jazz! With rhythm as our guide, we will better understand the African heritage of these “rhythm dances” we call within the swing genres and their shared traditions of expression. African American social dances have, first and foremost, been an expression of emotion or social allegory rather than something created for the stage. Using the feeling in our body from the previous class we will explore how we can not only see the visual African roots in Swing but also the rhythmical, emotional and spiritual traditions Swing has inherited from Africa.

Traditional Mozambican Dance (1,5h)

Teachers |Eugenio Macuvel and Sonia Vembane
Day | Wednesday

In this class we will be introduced to one of Mozambique’s many traditional dances. Count on being challenged physically and rhythmically while singing at the same time!


Mozambican traditional dance XINDIMBA

Teachers / Eugenio Macuvel and Sonia Vembane

Xidimba is a happy dance that expresses the joy of young people. It is characterized by the songs and steps that symbolize the talent, and gift of each young practitioner, based on criticism and immoral acts to society.
Xidimba is originally from the province of Cabo Delgado and its practiced in times of ceremony parties, such as initiation rites, weddings, baptisms, and other events

Teachers |Judite Novela and Paulo Inacio
Day | Wednesday

Marrabenta – Marrabenta is Mozambique’s most popular dance developed in the 1950’s when conventional instruments came into the hands of Mozambican musicians and their traditional rhythms. It was the dance that brought the Mozambicans and the Portuguese colonizers together in the dance parties just like Swing back in Harlem at Savoy Ballroom.

Afro Contemporary 

Teachers |Vasco Sitoe
Day | Thursday

Afro Contemporary explores the origins of dance which are heavily influenced by sub-Saharan Africa and the traditional movements of its diaspora. African dance influences can be seen through every western dance style practiced today, including contemporary.

Ngalanga Dance

Ngalanga is a celebration of life and love and invites us to shake until we get high.

Teachers |Vasco Sitoe Erzenia Tamele
Day | Thursday

Traditional Mozambican Circle Dances (1,5h)

KASSAWE

Teachers |Nyles Cossa and Agnes Jantine
Day | Thursday

When a celebration or party is taking place, the most common way to dance in Mozambique is to start a circle dance that normally comes with specific rhythm and a set of steps or dance moves. Even though there are specific moves to each rhythm there is also space for individual expression and improvisation just like in Jazz dances from the Swing era. The dances can be danced in a circle on the square or around the fire at night. In this class we will learn the dances Ngalanga and Makwaya. Ngalanga is a celebration of life and love and invites us to shake until we get high. The story of Makwaya is that when dancing we are imitating very proud ducks that get into fights; indirectly ridiculing fighting men.


Traditional Mozambican Drumming and Singing (1,5h)

Teachers | Augusto Manhica and Nelson Manjate
Day | Thursday

There are numerous rhythms from across Mozambique and each rhythm is followed by a song and different movements. In traditions from across Africa, the rhythm trickles through everything: how people walk, sweep the house, work in the field or stir the pot. In this workshop two very talented artists, Augusto Manhiça and Nelson Manjate will give you another piece in the rhythm jig saw puzzzle: they will teach you how to play different traditional instruments, explore poly rhythms and singing.

 


AMAPIANO

Teachers |Antonio Macuvel e Victoria Vick
Day | Friday

A popular dance genre known as Amapiano evolved in South Africa. It’s an original and dynamic dance form recognized by its peppy music and vibrant dance steps. Jazz, house, and kwaito. these all are merged in Amapiano music, which is famous for its spreadable, catchy, and deep melodies.


Express your feelings by dancing with Kristien Maus

Teachers |Kristien Maus
Day | Friday

Urban and Traditional African Taster Classes (2h)

Teachers |To be announced 
Day | Friday

 

Pandzula

Teachers |Paulo Inacio ”Yola” 
Day | Friday

Pandzula – Pantsula is a highly energetic dance form that originated in the black townships of South Africa during the Apartheid era. It developed into a form of social commentary for black South Africans and has undergone several transformations with the country’s changing political tides. Pantsula dancers dance to express and represent the daily lives in the townships using the latest South African House Music. It is based on advanced fast footwork where similarities can be seen to both Tap Dance and the Charleston.

Four 30 min dance workshops  with more than 5 different teachers! Get a taste of different African styles – traditional and urban for the Moonlight Dance Party.

Teachers |Emily Vartanian
Day | Friday

 

 

 


 

 

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