Belfast Dance Studio wil welcome master drummer Namory Keita and master dancer and drummer Seny Daffe from Guinea, West Africa, for a one night only drum and dance class on Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Drum: 5:30-6:30 p.m. and dance, 6:45-8 p.m. The classes are open to all, no experience needed.  

The event is the result of a collaborative effort with Belfast Dance Studio, the Dance Hall in Kittery and Embody the Rhythm in Portland. 

Both teachers are extremely jovial and knowledgeable about their culture, the rhythms and their meanings as well as the expressive dance movements and songs that tie them together. Students are welcome to attend either drum or dance class, or both.  If a drum is needed, you must contact Namory to reserve your drum at Namorydrum.com.  

Dancers are welcome to simply show up at class in loose comfortable clothing, traditionally this dance is done with bare feet, and traditional cloth, but anything comfortable is appropriate. Cost is a sliding scale of $20-$25 per class and cash is greatly appreciated. 

Here is a little history about these two artists:

Namory Keita was born in 1982 in the village of Sangbarala, Guinea. At age 7 he began drumming, becoming the lead drummer for his village in 2006.

Members of his family are well-known drummers. His brothers, Solo Keita, living in Japan, and Nansady Keita, in England, grew up drumming with Namory under the tutelage of his uncle, Famoudou Konate, one of the most famous West African drummers in the world.

Namory recorded his first CD in 2010 named Kolafolo, meaning the ‘Beginning of Everything’. He is a featured artist on recordings by Solo Keita, Billy Konate and Diarra Konate to name a few.

As an international teacher and performing artist, Namory has been invited to many places to share his culture including Germany, Poland, France, Canada, and Portugal. Since coming to America in 2010, he has played with Famoudou Konate, Mamady Keita, Bolokada Conde, Moussa Traore, Mamady Kourouma and the list goes on.

Namory plays for the world renowned West African dance teacher Youssouf Koumbassa, the Kouraba Festival in Canada, Cirque Zuma Zuma, ILAP, and many other noted musicians and venues throughout New England and the U.S. and abroad.

Namory Keita, Master Drummer, is a sought after teacher and performer with a unique style and a wealth of traditional knowledge very rare to find outside the villages of Guinea. His resources include not only his wonderful ability to engage any audience but also his relationships with dancers and drummers locally and around the world.

Seny Daffe was born in Conakry, Guinea. He began studying dance and drum at the age of ten. He is a versatile musician and plays the djembe, krin, bolon, gongoma, sangban, balafon, and doundouns. He is also a very talented singer and comedian, and is widely known and acclaimed to this day in Conakry as a big star!

Daffe has a wealth of performing experience in traditional and Contemporary Dance and Drum. He has been a member, director, and composer for Messages of Boulbint-African Rhythm Tap Company, Ballet Bassikolo, and Seny Daffe Company. He also toured extensively in West Africa, Europe, and the United States and has performed with renowned artists Mamadi Keita, Fatoubou Camera, Abou Sylla, and Bahaly Camera.

Since coming to the United States in 2006, he has traveled the Eastern coast from Florida to Vermont working with several companies and well known artists. He is now a member of Jeh Kulu. Seny plays regularly for Jeh Kulu dance and drum classes, and assists in musical direction and choreography. He is a multi-talented and dynamic performer who is gaining a reputation in the U.S. for his electrifying doundoun playing and rich and powerful voice.