Random 5 Friday

For as long as I can remember, we have been going to Sankofa performances at SUNY Brockport.

Sankofa is a drumming and dancing ensemble that is related to one of the top dance departments in the country, and every spring they put on a spectacular show.  

The musical director, Khalid Saleem, is a very community minded person and holds open drumming sessions every Saturday from 1-4 at the Strasser Dance Studio.  Anyone can attend.

1. Several years ago I decided I wanted to participate and bought my first djembe drum,

 which led to me getting a sangba (middle sound).

 Along the way I got a Turkish drum (which I only play at chorus rehearsals)

 and eventually invested in a very well made djembe that Khalid had shipped over from Africa.

 As we often do drumming at home with the grandchildren, I made a bass drum from an old plastic 55 gallon drum.

2.  These are some of the people I drum with.  Most of them are near my age and come from the Rochester/Brockport area.  (I am in the red)  The two in the front were participating in an International dance workshop at the college and stopped in for some improv dancing.

3.  In the spring there is a half-marathon held in Rochester and we drum for it.  They place us at the top of the biggest hill so we can motivate the runners and we are shown great appreciation as they pass by.  There are thousands of participants and we don't stop drumming until the last person gets up the hill.

 4.  This year we made our debut at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event held in Rochester.  It was amazing!!!!  The entire time, individuals or groups would stop by and dance in front of us.  Over 10,000 people participated and they raised nearly a million dollars.

 

5.  If you are ever in the Brockport area around the first of May,  I invite you to go with me to see Sankofa.

To view more Random 5 participants,  click on A Rural Journal in my sidebar.