Spend The Summer Dancing, Drumming, And Creating With Cumbe
The time has come for young artists to unleash their imagination! Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance invites children to an unforgettable summer experience where they can learn about African-rooted music and dance from across the Diaspora.
Designed for children ages 3-7, campers will explore their creative voices through dance, movement, song, percussion, and visual art. Housed in the culturally vibrant spaces of Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Cumbe’s Dance, Drum & Imagination Summer Camp offers a small program where student groups are limited to thirteen children so teachers have a chance to really get to know every young artist.
Each two-week session has an exciting theme rooted in the movement, music, and stories of Africa and its Diaspora.
During Tricks and Tales (July 5-14), children will laugh, learn and create while following the mischievous exploits of Anansi the Spider, Brer Rabbit and other tricksters from African and African-American folktales.
Little ones can also take a Train Ride Through the Diaspora (July 17-28) where they’ll explore the rhythms and customs of NYC’s culturally rich communities such as Harlem’s Senegalese Sabar, the South Bronx’s American Hip Hop, Flatbush’s Caribbean Carnival, and Astoria’s Brazilian Samba.
Summer camp concludes with creating “movement for a movement” in Dance to the Afro Beat (July 31-August 11). This camp session draws inspiration from the life and music of Afro Beat pioneer Fela Kuti, contemporary African popular music, and Nigerian folk tales. Read more about the weekly themes and activities here.
At the end of each two-week session, families will be invited to a closing showcase where they can witness all that campers have explored. Campers will collaboratively produce this show, learning how to work with others and share ideas as they create a performance experience they can be proud of.
Cumbe is invested in tapping into children’s amazing capacity for imagination and wonder while introducing them to the joy and vitality of dance, song and rhythms of the African Diaspora. Cumbe believes children learn through fun and play, and every lesson is designed with that in mind.
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about the program, meet the teaching artists and get a taste of the camp experience on Saturday, April 22 from 2:00-3:00pm at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. This free information session is the last opportunity to connect directly with the Cumbe team before early bird registration ends on April 26.
You can register on site and lock in a 10% discount. Additional discounts are also available for siblings and children who register for four weeks or more.
Cumbe’s Dance, Drum & Imagination Summer Camp promises to be a summer experience that children will hold onto for years to come.
Info Sessions with Cumbe staff are free and open to the public from 2:00-3:00pm at Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation (1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY) on April 22, May 13, and June 3. Registration is available now on Cumbe’s website .
This post was sponsored by Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance. If you would like to reach our readers, please contact us.
