Community Gamelan Classes

The Robert E. Brown Center for World Music offers community members the opportunity to learn and play traditional Balinese Gamelan music under the direction of I Ketut Gede Asnawa, a master gamelan musician and composer at the University of Illinois. A gamelan is an orchestra consisting mainly of keyed metallophones, gongs, and drums, often functioning as accompaniment to dance, dramas, and other Balinese performance arts.

As part of the center’s outreach programming, these Monday evening classes from 6pm to 8pm are open to all, free of charge, with no prior experience required. Classes are located in Room 1188 of School of Music at 1114 W. Nevada Street, with the closest entrance located on the Oregon Street side of the building. No credit is offered and registration is not needed for these classes. However, participants join the ensemble with an understanding that members need to attend regularly in order to enjoy the responsibility of making music in an orchestra where everyone depends on the contribution of every player.

Community Gamelan Classes

The Robert E. Brown Center for World Music offers community members the opportunity to learn and play traditional Balinese Gamelan music under the direction of I Ketut Gede Asnawa, a master gamelan musician and composer at the University of Illinois. A gamelan is an orchestra consisting mainly of keyed metallophones, gongs, and drums, often functioning as accompaniment to dance, dramas, and other Balinese performance arts.

As part of the center’s outreach programming, these Monday evening classes from 6pm to 8pm are open to all, free of charge, with no prior experience required. Classes are located in Room 1188 of School of Music at 1114 W. Nevada Street, with the closest entrance located on the Oregon Street side of the building. No credit is offered and registration is not needed for these classes. However, participants join the ensemble with an understanding that members need to attend regularly in order to enjoy the responsibility of making music in an orchestra where everyone depends on the contribution of every player.

Community Gamelan Classes

The Robert E. Brown Center for World Music offers community members the opportunity to learn and play traditional Balinese Gamelan music under the direction of I Ketut Gede Asnawa, a master gamelan musician and composer at the University of Illinois. A gamelan is an orchestra consisting mainly of keyed metallophones, gongs, and drums, often functioning as accompaniment to dance, dramas, and other Balinese performance arts.

As part of the center’s outreach programming, these Monday evening classes from 6pm to 8pm are open to all, free of charge, with no prior experience required. Classes are located in Room 1188 of School of Music at 1114 W. Nevada Street, with the closest entrance located on the Oregon Street side of the building. No credit is offered and registration is not needed for these classes. However, participants join the ensemble with an understanding that members need to attend regularly in order to enjoy the responsibility of making music in an orchestra where everyone depends on the contribution of every player.

Community Gamelan Classes

The Robert E. Brown Center for World Music offers community members the opportunity to learn and play traditional Balinese Gamelan music under the direction of I Ketut Gede Asnawa, a master gamelan musician and composer at the University of Illinois. A gamelan is an orchestra consisting mainly of keyed metallophones, gongs, and drums, often functioning as accompaniment to dance, dramas, and other Balinese performance arts.

As part of the center’s outreach programming, these Monday evening classes from 6pm to 8pm are open to all, free of charge, with no prior experience required. Classes are located in Room 1188 of School of Music at 1114 W. Nevada Street, with the closest entrance located on the Oregon Street side of the building. No credit is offered and registration is not needed for these classes. However, participants join the ensemble with an understanding that members need to attend regularly in order to enjoy the responsibility of making music in an orchestra where everyone depends on the contribution of every player.

24th Annual African Festival of the Arts - Chicago runs Labor Day Weekend
August 30 - September 2 in Washington Park Chicago. Please visit the website for more information and tickets.

The annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival celebrates the diversity, beauty, and joy of music and arts from cultures around the world.

The Festival is proudly based in downtown Bloomington, Indiana and named in part for Indiana musician Lotus Dickey (1911-1989).

A wristband is your passport to multiple performances each showcase night, at multiple venues. Stages range from the Buskirk-Chumley Theater to standing-room-only street tents, to churches where traditional music shines.

Design your own Lotus experience: Fit every performance into your schedule, dashing from venue to venue, or savor just a few. Keep your options open for the unusual and the unexpected.

Lotus offers both ticketed showcases and free events for all ages. Saturday’s Lotus in the Park is packed with live performances, hands-on art projects, and interactive workshops with Festival artists.

West African Dance Classes with Djibril Camara

About the Classes: Open to beginners through advanced. Offered every Sunday evening.

The classes introduce attendees to dances from Guinea, in particular. Dances from other West African countries are also presented. Yankadi, Macru, Soli, Dundunba, Lamban, Sinte, Triba, Koukou and more are among the dances taught. Live drumming accompanies the class. Class begins with a warm up with live drumming, instruction in particular steps associated with a dance (w/o drums), dancing those steps (drumming), and solo circle (drumming).

What to Bring: Water, wear comfortable dance/workout clothes, and shoes are optional.

About Djibril: Djibril Camara teaches these classes. He is originally from Guinea in West Africa. He has danced professionally for 17 years and was the principal choreographer and dancer with the Ballet du Afrique Noir, touring throughout Africa, Europe and the U.S. He has been introducing various U.S. communities to the joys of African dance for over 5 years. He has lived in Champaign-Urbana for the past 3 years.

West African Dance Classes with Djibril Camara

About the Classes: Open to beginners through advanced. Offered every Sunday evening.

The classes introduce attendees to dances from Guinea, in particular. Dances from other West African countries are also presented. Yankadi, Macru, Soli, Dundunba, Lamban, Sinte, Triba, Koukou and more are among the dances taught. Live drumming accompanies the class. Class begins with a warm up with live drumming, instruction in particular steps associated with a dance (w/o drums), dancing those steps (drumming), and solo circle (drumming).

What to Bring: Water, wear comfortable dance/workout clothes, and shoes are optional.

About Djibril: Djibril Camara teaches these classes. He is originally from Guinea in West Africa. He has danced professionally for 17 years and was the principal choreographer and dancer with the Ballet du Afrique Noir, touring throughout Africa, Europe and the U.S. He has been introducing various U.S. communities to the joys of African dance for over 5 years. He has lived in Champaign-Urbana for the past 3 years.

West African Dance Classes with Djibril Camara

About the Classes: Open to beginners through advanced. Offered every Sunday evening.

The classes introduce attendees to dances from Guinea, in particular. Dances from other West African countries are also presented. Yankadi, Macru, Soli, Dundunba, Lamban, Sinte, Triba, Koukou and more are among the dances taught. Live drumming accompanies the class. Class begins with a warm up with live drumming, instruction in particular steps associated with a dance (w/o drums), dancing those steps (drumming), and solo circle (drumming).

What to Bring: Water, wear comfortable dance/workout clothes, and shoes are optional.

About Djibril: Djibril Camara teaches these classes. He is originally from Guinea in West Africa. He has danced professionally for 17 years and was the principal choreographer and dancer with the Ballet du Afrique Noir, touring throughout Africa, Europe and the U.S. He has been introducing various U.S. communities to the joys of African dance for over 5 years. He has lived in Champaign-Urbana for the past 3 years.

West African Dance Classes with Djibril Camara

About the Classes: Open to beginners through advanced. Offered every Sunday evening.

The classes introduce attendees to dances from Guinea, in particular. Dances from other West African countries are also presented. Yankadi, Macru, Soli, Dundunba, Lamban, Sinte, Triba, Koukou and more are among the dances taught. Live drumming accompanies the class. Class begins with a warm up with live drumming, instruction in particular steps associated with a dance (w/o drums), dancing those steps (drumming), and solo circle (drumming).

What to Bring: Water, wear comfortable dance/workout clothes, and shoes are optional.

About Djibril: Djibril Camara teaches these classes. He is originally from Guinea in West Africa. He has danced professionally for 17 years and was the principal choreographer and dancer with the Ballet du Afrique Noir, touring throughout Africa, Europe and the U.S. He has been introducing various U.S. communities to the joys of African dance for over 5 years. He has lived in Champaign-Urbana for the past 3 years.