Wednesday, February 17, 2010 was a full day on the itinerary. First there were 2 simultaneous dance workshops held at the Blaise Senghor Cultural Center offered to local dancers and musicians, lunch, tour of the performance venue—Sorano Theatre—and a 2 hour rehearsal. All before returning to the hotel to freshen up and head back to Blaise Senghor Cultural Center for an outdoor atmosphere filled with joy, dancing and drumming.
Sabar is a flirtatious social dance of the Wolofs in Dakar, Senegal. Sabar is also the drum family that consists of 5-6 drums played by well skilled and synced musicians. Included with the Sabar orchestra, one will find a talking drum or tama being played as well.
We arrived at the center and immediately began to converse with familiar faces from the workshops and were introduced to more from the community. Over several conversations the drummers began to play different rhythms which called the community to the party. Right at sunset, it was a full circle mixed with the young and old, dancers and non-dancers, vendors, and more. All for one purpose: a SABAR PARTY!
Sabar is a flirtatious social dance of the Wolofs in Dakar, Senegal. Sabar is also the drum family that consists of 5-6 drums played by well skilled and synced musicians. Included with the Sabar orchestra, one will find a talking drum or tama being played as well.
Musicians prepare for the SABAR
We arrived at the center and immediately began to converse with familiar faces from the workshops and were introduced to more from the community. Over several conversations the drummers began to play different rhythms which called the community to the party. Right at sunset, it was a full circle mixed with the young and old, dancers and non-dancers, vendors, and more. All for one purpose: a SABAR PARTY!
Dancers doing "The Obama"
One change of the rhythm sent young ladies running the full perimeter of the circle of people waiting to see who would dance first. One female after another took turns showcasing their finesse and fancy footwork in the sand. The excitement increased as more dancers took center circle. Seemingly plain but not quite, dancers came over to invite Evidence to take part in the circle. At that time a new rhythm and dance began called “The Obama.” We watched then joined in. I realize in that moment an exchange between the Senegalese and Evidence was taking place. We had a warm welcome since our arrival in the first workshop with the young adult dancers, but what made the exchange special is that I (we) immediately felt like a part of the community. As the night went on males, females, young and old were all celebrating and living in the moment.
Sule-Joel Adams
