Afrotonic

Reminder: we have a break for dance classes. They start again on Tuesday 24th September!
Can't wait to see you all 💃 🕺 🥰

We have taken the plunge and formed an Afrotonic team for the pushup challenge this month. Thanks to Laure Anne for always inspiring us to do better.
Together we are stronger 💪 💜🥰
This physical challenge reflects people’s mental health challenges. My personal journey is dedicated to all those afflicted by depression, self sabotage and suicidal thoughts. Also dedicated to those same individuals’ families… ‘Thankyou’ never seems enough, but is a powerful word!

**EVERY PERSON WHO DONATES $35 or more goes into an Afrotonic draw to win a 2 class pass , drawn at the end of our push up challenge **

Please donate if you can, show support to one another always 🥰
Love and light 😍 🌞 🫶

3,249 push ups = acknowledgement of the 3,249 people who died of su***de in 2022.

The money goes towards research in mental health, support people and families, organisations and trained professionals to provide the support etc

https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraisers/teamafrotonic?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0mV4DQquKX-HVu5MOnI8D9wfzK6ZlNIPEnY6ceIr987XeWi6aNUdhCD74_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

Donate to level-up mental health in Australia Help raise funds for much-needed mental health services and initiatives by donating to my page. I’m completing The Push-Up Challenge to support this great cause and would love your help to reach my fundraising target.

Happy Africa day one and all! 💜🔥🪘💃🏻
Waaaaay to many amazing African inspirational individuals in my life, past and present, to name here… love, light and grooves to u all 💜
I give thanks to mother Africa for everything she gives, has given and will give # # #

Fun Afrotonic grooves at MAP multicultural night tonight 🪘🔥💃🏻💜
Thanks team! 👌

Hi beautiful grooving peeps, just a reminder for those who couldn’t make it last Tuesday:
- am back to teaching as per normal after wa2wa and having to ‘pop’ back to France- see u sat in North Perth!! 💜🪘💃🏻🔥
- this coming Tuesday as a once off the Palmyra venue is booked from 7 so class is 6-7pm with drummers then 7-8 we can still do some run throughs and stretches /catchups 💜😍 but just no drums

Tuesday nights are made for dancing wherever i am 🙂 🔥💃🏻🪘😀 💜
Thanks Laure Anne for teaching while I’m away and thanks to Jo for welcoming me to class as a once off 🤩🙏💕🥰💜

One week ago we were well in full swing - the grooviest west African drum and dance get together we’ve had in aaaages in Perth. Afrotonic we made wa2wa happen!! :))
Now am waiting in the cold and rain for a bus in London - so i thought I’d take a moment to reflect. I’m soooo grateful to all the wonderful artists who came and taught, performed and supported one another. I was reeling for days and still am. Thanks to every one of the perth crew putting travellers up, and of course all attendees too who came and made for an unforgettable experience for all 💜🪘🤩🔥💃🏻🥰
Everyone chipped in to clean up and move gazillions of drums and make my dream come true 💜🥰🤩
Too many people to mention and can’t seem to tag but I’ll start with a few 💜 Mohamed Mitzi Alma Odai Michael Djibril Paul (Akwaaba) Michael (Marimba magic) Shane (Shangara jive) Kawaka Warren Laureanne Love and grooves to u all xx
A few snippet vids in the comments xx

Attention dancers and drummers for this weekend.

Reminder for things to bring:
- your water bottle 💦
- snacks for fuel 🥳
- lunch and dinner 😋
- different outfits for the evening or between classes 🪩
- sports towel to wipe that sweat off 😅

Things to know:
- address is Royal Park Hall:
180 Charles Street, west Perth
- parking available on site. Carpooling is always encouraged !

- You can order food delivery for lunch and dinner but be aware there isn't much time for extended lunch break if you're doing both dance and drum

- if you need a drum for drumming workshops please make sure to message Roan so she can set aside a drum for you (hire is $20 for whole weekend)

- any questions : comment here or message Roan Johnson Licht

We cannot wait!!

Updated program for wa2wa coming up this weekend!
And the Saturday night show

2 more days until our sold out wa2wa workshops! Not counting 🤣🌟

We are blessed with our Perth based artists teaching and performing this weekend:
📷 1 Kofi (Paul) Akwaaba African Drumming, Art and Craft from Ghana who is performing on Saturday night show. Paul runs workshops and performs around WA all year round and the Afrotonic dancers regularly dances at their show.

📷 2 Michael Boase who has spent extended amount of time in West Africa among other places to learn and live the music he teaches and performs. Michael will be teaching Guinea style drum classes

📷 3 Marimba Magic : a super fun marimba workshop and performance led by Michael O'Shaughnessy.

Check out this STUNNING piece that my brother Kawaka Art custom made for me ❤️🪘💃🏻🔥🤩👌

Introducing you to Djibril Diagne for a mind-bending Sabar (traditional Senegal rhythm) workshop at wa2wa. Djibby is a master Griot (traditional story teller in West Africa), sabar and djembe player, and a rich and strong ambassador for the many cultural traditions of Senegal. Djibby spent years touring internationally with the Senegal Ballet, and is well known and highly respected in the leading cultural circles of Senegal.
Djibby has lived in Australia for almost 15years and together with his son Oumar, is now a proud Australian citizen. He is one of the original drummers that Afrotonic dancers started performing with. He remains strongly connected to his roots, his country and family, supporting his wife and extended family and returning to Senegal as regularly as he can.

Come check out the amazing crew from Togo at the freo street arts festival this long wkd!!
Supported by none other than our Senegalese master drummer Djibby (who is teaching at wa2wa!)
https://www.streetartsfestival.com.au/programs/afuma/

All the way from Argentina we have the amazing Alma Velasquez Huichulef who is coming to Perth in April for our WA2WA fest to teach traditional West African dance. Alma is a dancer, percussionist, choreographer & Body Expression Teacher specialising in dances from the West Coast of Africa as well as Consultant in Interculturality & antiracism.

Alma has the most welcoming warmth to her, has a wealth of cultural knowledge and teaching experience and brings enthusiasm and love to her classes. She has trained for many years in Guinea, West Africa with the most renown teachers.

We are counting days now until the wa2wa festival ! Alma just moved to Brisbane a few months ago from Argentina and we cannot wait to welcome you to Perth, Alma! Alma Velasquez Huichulef African Dance with Alma - Brisbane

Ladies and gentleman we present you the one and only djembefola Mohamed Bangoura, aka Bangourake Bangourake Drum & Dance , drum and dance master from Guinea, West Africa.
Bangourake is from a family of griots (traditional story tellers in West Africa) and has been teaching all over Australia and the world for over 30 years.
His is an incredible drum teacher who ensures you feel uplifted by the music, no matter your level.
Mohammed is based in Sydney and we so look forward to hearing his infectious smile and laugh to our wa2wa festival in April 19th-21st.
Safe travel, Bangourake and see you next month!

https://www.facebook.com/events/814442037194001

And here is the stunning Mitzi McRae from Melbourne!

We love Mitzi's energy and we cannot wait for you to experience her dance classes and her graceful and powerful style! Mitzi McRae is the founder and leader of Melbourne Djembe

Mitzi has studied West African dance for over 20 years and has travelled to Africa (Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal, Gambia and Mali) and to the US to further her knowledge by learning from the masters. She is a natural teacher and over the 10 years of teaching African dance she has developed a unique style which provides a relaxed and open environment which is cherished by her students.

Mitzi has been hailed as one of Australia’s best non-African female dancers and captures the energy, vitality, joy and strength of the African dance style. Many of her students have been attending classes for as long as she has been teaching!

See you soon, Mitzi!

With Wa2wa booked out now for dancers and only a few spots left for drumming, it is time we introduce our awesome guest artists.

Here is Odai Affotey, dynamic world-class performer and teacher from Ghana. His passion for sharing his traditional African drumming and dancing with the Australian community has made him a sought after performer and teacher. Odai travelled the world with different dance troops before settling in Australia.

Odai has a smile and warmth to him that lights any space he walks into. We are very lucky that he is coming back to Perth to teach for the wa2wa!

See you soon, Odai!

Link to our event in comments!

Some of us have been very lucky and privileged to travel to Guinea , West Africa, to learn directly from the grand djembefola Mohamed Bangoura Bangourake Drum & Dance . Dance and drum for 4 weeks in January, home made spicy meals, lots of laughter, exploring and learning new skills. Thank you Mohamed for such an amazing enriching experience 💝

Perth , we have the one and only amazing Bangourake coming in April to teach drumming so you can learn straight from the master, coming to us!!! Get your tickets quick!!! Ill link the event in the comment too.