Workshops

Ally and Julia Milao have both studied at the world famous Bagamoyo College of Arts in Tanzania. Nowadays they live in Jyväskylä, but they have also founded a group called Sisi Majitu that aims to create a new kind of centre for culture and arts in Bagamoyo.

Ally is a versatile artist, who currently concentrates on playing and building drums. Julia has specialized in dance, theatre and acrobatics – she started teaching dance already during her studies in Bagamoyo!

Video from a dance workshop in Tampere, January 2013:

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Warm up for the Fest Afrika gigs and learn the latest moves with Aino Hujanen! We will be having fun Afro Caribbean style – dancing reggaeton, dancehall and soca – spiced with some moves from urban African dance styles. Your body and legs will get some serious workout while dancing to the latest pop hits from the Caribbean and Africa. You might hear the same songs in Klubi on Friday and Saturday!

Aino Hujanen is one of the founders of Dance School Makumba and an experienced teacher of salsa and other Latin American and Caribbean dance styles. You can read more about Aino on the Makumba website.

Makumba dancers on stage in Klubi at Fest Afrika Winter Jam 2013:

Afro Caribbean Party, Fri at 17.30 – 19.00, for dancers of all levels. Dance shoes/sneakers recommended for this class.

The special guest of the 2013 Fest Afrika workshops is Pape Moussa Sonko from Senegal. Pape Moussa is currently the number one dancer in Senegal’s vibrant dance scene. He is a member the National Ballet of Senegal and has danced on stage with all the biggest Senegalese pop stars and in their music videos – including the world famous Youssou N’Dour! He also choreographer for the dance company Waato Siita in Dakar and a respected dance teacher, with students from all over the world. Pape Moussa is particulary known for his sabar solos and choreographies.

Here is Pape Moussa dancing in the video clip of probably the biggest hit of 2012 in Senegal:

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