Why Choose an African Dance Workshop?

If you’ve never attended the one or more of our African dance schools workshops before, you might never have considered the numerous ways African Drumming and Dance can aid children’s well-being, health and potential to be successful.

Here are four reasons a workshop can help create an environment that is successful in your classroom:

1. African Drumming and Dance brings cultural topics to life!

This African Drumming and Dance workshop offers a fun activity for Black History Month, an Africa topic or to include in an event such as a Cultural Diversity Day.

It’s an unforgettable moment for students and teachers alike, as they perform the first rumble with the African Djembe handdrums. Each student who plays their drums made by hand they will discover a complete world of tradition, history and culture – not just simply by reading or listening instead of actively playing and participating. In this way, they learn about the traditions and the culture from West Africa. To quote a recent Headteacher at one of our schools “It’s the hands-on, interactive activities like African drumming which children really are able to take away and retain from the cultural aspects because they take part of the music instead to simply being spectators.’

2. African Drumming and Dance boosts children’s confidence!

It’s a frequent occurrence during workshops. A child who is struggling in maths and literacy or is shy and uninterested in the classroom, transforms in a drumming session. It’s like they’ve discovered the thing that ‘pulls’ them emotionally and gives them the feeling of relief.

African Dance is also a excellent way for children to develop their self-confidence. Dancers typically perform in front of an audience either alone or by one or two other dancers. In our workshops, children are invited to dance to their friends inside our drum circle. The part that they dance in is entirely optional for pupils and we will provide gentle encouragement by affirming that the experience will make them feel good afterward. After a few of the more confident students have given it a try, we start to see several other kids eager to give it an attempt. In this manner, those who are the most reluctant and shy children amass everyone by getting into the circle and sharing their enthusiasm with the rhythm! The happiness on their faces following the session speak volumes about their sense of accomplishment!

3. African Drumming and Dance gets children active , and improves their brain!

African Drumming and Dance is an amazing way allow children to exercise and channel their energy. African Djembe drumming helps build endurance and strength within the upper body. In addition, dance improves cardiovascular fitness and provides a full exercise for the body. Obviously this is great for enhancing children’s fitness and well-being, but research has shown that the exercise helps sharpen the mind; results in happier kids and enhances the performance of children in different subjects like literacy and maths.

4. African Drumming and Dance improves listening skills – not just in music!

It’s something that you will hear a teacher saying in music classes”listen!”. It’s a the reason that good listening is essential. As with all forms of music, learning African drumming can help develop various listening abilities. For instance, the ability to focus listening on an individual pattern in a poly-rhythmic piece music (multiple rhythms are played simultaneously) or the development of the ability to feel rhythms when listening to the rhythm of a steady pulse.

Whatever kind of listening required, there is a common personal attribute that becomes essential for any musician who is just beginning their career – the ability to give oneself the time to think and reflect on the information that has been listened to. Experienced African musicians who learn something completely new always allow themselves to listen before beginning playing, since they know that their minds can easily make faulty assumptions about what they’ve heard basing it on what they are aware of. However, children can find it difficult to stop playing right away!

The good thing is that children can not only increase their understanding of music through African Drumming, but can use the same skills to social situations – such as in conversations. If you take the time to listen to what someone is talking about, you can prevent your internal conversation from making assumptions. You should really take in what is being said and build a stronger impression of trust. This is known as active listening, an essential life skill for children to master from an early age!

If you’re a student who would love a day of African dancing and drumming classes for your students or are planning some kind of Africa Topic or Black History occasion coming up and you think we could help, we’d love to hear from you.