A Sensational Celebration
‘We did it!’ Celebrating our African Drumming and Dance Workshops.
We have had a wonderful couple of weeks with the rhythm of the drums pumping a vitality and joy around the school. These workshops have absolutely driven our COVID cares away, and we feel strong, positive and connected. Our Drumming and Dance workshops came to and end with a sensational expression of celebration as we danced and cheered with Kofi and Appiah. As we were not able to perform a concert due to maintaining COVID safe Ngh Bubbles, Kofi and Appiah just ‘whipped up’ a mini Festival performance for us on the oval during lunch time for the whole school to enjoy. The students presented Kofi with beautifully illustrated posters they had made. These shared their thoughts about how special the workshops have been for them. Kofi and Appiah were very moved by the sincere, heart felt appreciation expressed, and they look forward to returning in 2023.
I am immensely impressed with the commitment the students have made in their learning. They ‘raised the bar higher’ with power and precision in their Drumming routines, and quickly picked up the ‘oh so cool’ African Hip Hop moves with Appiah. Dancing just to the sound of drums taps into a raw energy that is irresistible and it feels awesome. In each of the workshops Kofi and Appiah performed music on so many different instruments: the Balafon, Kalimba, Kora, Calabash drum and different shakers, and invited the students to dance free style, or with Appiah’s African routines, or in the traditional Bamboo Dance. We shared quiet reflective time as Kofi told stories and played his Kalimba. We marvelled at Appiah’s strength, skill and energy as he performed traditional dances, some of which are about displaying the craftsmanship of the woven fabric of the costumes being worn for the dance. To contrast this style, Appiah galumphed about the stage in the ‘Gum-boot’ dance. The students were enthralled!
The Preps Flying as kites 
The rhythm game:’Round the World’ 
The freedom of drumming outside.
Presentations of appreciation 
Appiah and Kofi with the student’s beautiful ‘Thank you Posters’.
Kofi and Appiah, and also the dancer Kwame who joined us in 2018, have a very special place in our school’s heart, and we have made lasting connections which continue to grow each time we engage with the drumming program. Everyone across the school was fabulous, but I’d like to make special mention of our super Yr 5/6s! For these students, this Drumming/Dance program was their third series of work shops. The routine our 5/6s of 2016 performed was perfected over 8 workshops, this year, we achieved the same level of precision and power in 4 sessions. The students go right in and build on the competencies of the previous Drumming/Dance workshops. It’s a fantastic and inspiring achievement to witness. Bravo everyone.
My sincere thanks to everyone who has worked behind the scenes to support this years African Drumming/ Dance program: to the students and their families, our super teachers and Leadership Team and Admin Guardian Angels!
Tomorrow we look forward to another celebration of our student’s achievements as we gather for a series of Instrumental Music Neighbourhood Concerts. Please check in with Compass as these will be streamed live.
Keep checking in with how rhythm and movement are a nourishing part of you day, and enjoy the next couple of weeks. All the best, Cheerio, Deb
Jasper’s Drumming ‘Thank you’ illustration 
Our drumming hands: beat the rhythm and feel the Chi flow!