Delou Africa facilitates quality year-round artistic education that’s developed by a collective of professional artists and educators who are committed to providing a platform to showcase and educate the general public on the rich traditions of Africa through cultural expression.
Our standards-based artistic educational programs are readily tailored to meet the specific needs of the communities in which we serve. The programs are designed to expand the knowledge base of the student with regards to African dance, drum and music styles, with emphasis on technique, execution, cultural expression and the purpose and meaning of traditional African dance, drum and music. Delou programs are conducted on or off-site. Our off-site programs workshops on the move are conducted at different venues such as, schools, churches, libraries, performing and cultural art centers, dance studios and corporations. Along with education, our workshops are geared towards physical activities that promote social development, unity of the mind, body and spirit, health and mental wellness and an overall positive experience.
Workshops can be individually designed to include:
- Music
- Dance
- Song
- Rhythm and Movements
- Lecture and Demonstration/History
- Arts & Craft/Mask Making/Beading
- Rites of Passage
- Instrument construction
- Storytelling
- Map Activities
- Residency
- Drum Circles
Program Details
Discovering Rites of Passages through Traditional African Dance
Delou Africa offers three Artistic and Educational Dance Programs that are accompanied by live drumming and music. They are designed to break down movements and demonstrate how drum rhythms play a significant role in the development and discipline of the African dance form.
- Community Dance Class: A continuous platform for cultural expression and growth
- Dance Intensive Workshops: Two hours of technique, execution and choreography
- Workshop Series: African dance & drum taught by world renowned guest artists every 4 months
- Discover the different elements of music
- Understand music by ear
- Learn basic traditional notes
- Identify traditional notes
- Learn traditional rhythms
- Learn songs in an African language
- Discover the interesting facts of African music, culture, resources and history
- Explore why music is considered the universal language
Music is sounds that are organized in a meaningful way to create rhythm, melody, and harmony
Elements of music:
- Sound – the auditory sensation that is interpreted by the ear
- Frequency – Energy waves such as electricity or vibration
- Amplitude – Loudness of sound
- Beat – musical timing which can be long or short according to rhythm
- Rhythm – The whole feeling of movement in music, with a strong implication of both regularity & differentiation for example; inhale and exhale.
- Tempo – Speed of the beat
- Acoustic – Musical instrument whose sound is not electronically modified. Operated by or utilizing sound waves.
- Sine Wave – The most perfect type of sound that can only exists in the laboratory
Educating the general public on the rich traditions of Africa through cultural expression.
DANCE AFRICA, MIAMI
DanceAfrica, Miami hosted by Delou Africa’s Annual African Diaspora Dance & Drum Festival of Florida: South Florida’s #1 cultural arts destination festival. Delou Africa, is a proud recipient of a Knight Foundation Arts Challenge in support of our efforts to increase our annual festival audience and establish the festival as “DanceAfrica Miami”, one of the many cities on the nationwide African festival network. Our three-day cultural arts and educational event expands cultural engagement through a variety of program components for the entire family. Participants enjoy African, contemporary and Caribbean dance, drum and music workshops, yoga, the Better Living Health Fair & Symposium, beach events, an artisan marketplace along with a free Children’s Village featuring dance, drum, arts & crafts, African folktale, and back to school book bag give-away. Our festival concert extravaganza features national and local renowned dance, drum and music artists that performs on DanceAfrica, Miami’s main stage which is historically sold out. [ CLICK HERE for Details ]
KWANZAA PROGRAM/ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Our annual Kwanzaa program is a free year end event that celebrates family, community and culture. Activities include: community African dance & drum class, community harvest table presentation, African folktale/storytelling, children’s talent showcase, spoken word, community dance & drum circle of expression, music and refreshments.
LECTURE SERIES
Seminar/educational series, featuring experts in music, dance and health/wellness.
MASQUERADOLOGY
The art and history of mask making. An interactive workshop and performance series for children and adults. This program will serve as a cultural and communal journey of transformation through geographical and cultural awareness for our diverse community to experience and enjoy. Designers, artists and historians will teach participants the art of authentic costume making focusing on mask traditions of Africa, the Caribbean and America depicted through folklore, dance, drum, steelpan, music and stilt walking. Participants will also learn the history and ethics of Caribbean Carnival and experience its festive nature through fantasy and storytelling. Participants will showcase and exhibit their creations, craft and talent at cultural, social and civic venues. Throughout the African Diaspora carnival masquerade is portrayed as a language of global and cultural expression. Masqueradology will implement projects to further explore and discover the evolution and journey of various mask forms.
RITES OF PASSAGE FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES
Includes informative educational forums on Rites of Passage.
SPRING COMMUNITY SHOWCASE
This annual showcase features local artists and organizations.
TRADITIONAL AFRICAN INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION
Participants learn how to build and maintain traditional African instruments.