Students feel the beat in Western Africa drum class

At every college institution in Mississippi, there is the typical English Composition, College Algebra, and biology courses.  However, it is uncommon to find an institution that offers an African Dance course that concentrates specifically on West African dance and West African drumming.

            

Photo by Lindsay Marter

This semester, Delta State University has made its first African dance course available.  The class focuses on traditional West African dance and drumming.  The drumming instructor is Karen Fosheim and the dance instructor is Cheryl Townsel, both of whom have been to Africa and studied the dance and drumming there.

            
According to Fosheim, the course is for everyone, experienced or inexperienced.  Fosheim said students can choose to be a drummer, a dancer, or both. “All of it is a great physical workout” said Fosheim.

            
In the course, drummers use traditional African rhythms while the dances also come from Africa, said Fosheim.  “All of the dances and all of the rhythms played by the drums have a basis that goes back thousands of years or so.  All of these rhythms had a purpose,” Fosheim continued.

           
 Fosheim specifically described a dance called the Ku Ku. The Ku Ku was done after fishing to celebrate a successful trip.  Now, the Ku Ku is one of the most known party rhythms, said Fosheim.

           
 According to Fosheim, the class started with eight dancers the first week of school and progressed to seventeen dancers by the second week.  Forsheim said that size, shape, or any other limitations are no factors in this course.  Students are encouraged to just do what they can.

           
 Katie Gibson, a senior music education major, said, “I enjoy this class because it’s very physical and I feel like I’m getting a workout.”

            
As the class progresses, Forsheim said students will see the connections between West African dance and modern day dances such as hip hop.  According to Forsheim, students should take this course because it is fun, builds a sense of community, and it is great physical exercise.

            
 Brian Thomson, a drummer in the African dance class, said he enrolled in the class because he believed it would help him with finding grooves and beats, which in return will benefit him as a musician. “As a musician, I’m just interested in a lot of different styles and I want to be as broad as I can and this class really helps with finding beats,” said Thomson.

           
 Stephen Chew, another drummer in the African dance class, said other students should enroll in this class because it is a great stress reliever.  “It’s a really good way to work out the stress on a Monday because the class meets on a Monday night,” said Chew, “My favorite part of the class is when we come together with the dancers and play.  It’s just amazing how everything interacts together like that. It’s really great,” said Chew.


According to Forsheim, African Dance is an official credited class.  They have been doing the drumming class since the spring of 2008 and are now incorporating the dance along with it. Forsheim said that the class is divided into the drumming specific class and the dancing specific class.  The dance class meets on Monday evenings from 7:15 to 8:30 and the drumming class meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00.

Photo by Lindsay Marter

Forsheim also said there is no written work in the course and the performances take the place of test.  The class does several performances and workshops.  According to Forsheim, the class is getting ready to do a literacy festival on Sept. 11, 2010 and will be organizing school performances soon.