Led by ethnomusicologist and Tufts University music professor David Locke, the Agbekor Drum & Dance Society gave campers a great performance, and a few lessons in African drumming! Their show marked the seventh week in the NewCenter’s summer long performance series, Explore World Arts (to learn more about the program, see here).
Agbekor brought along a few star performers – including a young dancer and musician from Ghana, currently studying at Berklee College of Music and selected through a pan-African competition. With intense rhythmic drumming and beautiful traditional dancing, campers were mesmerized by the performance: though it didn’t stop them from dancing in their seats! To close the show, campers and counselors were invited up onto the stage, where they formed and participated in a Ghanaian circle dance, learned hand and leg movements, and even a few chants! After the dancing, Professor Locke explained the origins of different instruments, the culture that they came from, and the function and meaning of the dances.
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