In partnership with the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, the NSU Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will host an interactive workshop exploring the musical sounds and moves of Ghana, West Africa.
Workshop on West-African Music
Led by Lydia Luce, graduate of Berklee College of Music
Tuesday, January 28
5:00–6:00 p.m.
Performing and Visual Arts Wing, Room 309
Don Taft University Center
In this presentation, Luce will discuss the music, dance, instruments, and dress of the Ga, Dagomba, and Ewe people of Ghana. The relationship between the dancer and the drummers in these regions is symbiotic. For example, during the song “Kponlogo,” the drummer uses a basic rhythm to cue the dancers, who then change their movements. Moreover, each song tells a story and the dance embodies its meaning. Luce will dissect various songs, uncovering their meanings while teaching bell patterns (gankogui), shaker patterns (axatse), and basic dance movements.
About the Artist
Lydia Luce is a 2013 graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied West-African music and minored in African studies, travelling to Ghana twice for study. As part of her workshop, Luce will present videos she recorded while studying in Ghana.
The workshop is free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Bill Adams, D.M.A., associate professor and coordinator of performing arts at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, at (954) 262-8025.