Residencies

Enhance your children’s scholastic experience by enlivening the classroom with hands on learning taught by professional teaching artists who integrate classroom themes into their creative arts programs to reinforce academic concepts and excite learners! Residency programs are typically two to four weeks long and expose students to the joyful and passionate cultural arts of Guinea, West Africa through fun and interactive lessons in traditional and contemporary music and dance. Participants learn how to sing in the call and response style, dance energetic movements with group choreography and play a variety of handmade traditional instruments including drums and shakers.

West African Cultural Arts Institute's artists Alseny Yansane & Andrea DiPalma Yansane are listed on several Artist in Residence rosters throughout the state of Oregon. To set up an art residency in your community visit the links on the side bar to the right to get more details on each art organizations’ fabulous residency packages. If you’d like help connecting with the art organization that best fits your school’s needs please contact us.

• Integrates academic concepts and classroom themes with music and dance

• Inspires creative approach to learning and problem solving

• Stimulates learners through fun and interactive games and lessons

• Introduces musical concepts, increases music and dance vocabulary, awareness and appreciation

• Enhances team building skills through activities that improve active  listening, cooperation and group awareness

• Exposes students to diverse culture and tradition expanding world views and acceptance of differences

• Improves health through exercises that strengthen, build physical endurance, increase flexibility and confidence

 Assemblies

Let your spirit soar as Alseny Yansane, former artist with the world renowned Ballets Africains, transports you to his native country of Guinea, West Africa through traditional music, dance and song. Alseny Yansane is one of the freshest and most dynamic acts to be found on the cultural arts scene throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond since his arrival in February 2007. He is joined by artistic partner Andrea DiPalma Yansane who really helps bridge the cultural gap by sharing stories and cultural tidbits learned on her seven year sojourn in West Africa.

Together they offer exciting performances that dazzle audiences of all ages with powerful dance movements, daring acrobatics, melodious songs, exhilarating percussion music and brilliant costumes. These energy infused performances inspire participants to express themselves creatively, push their physical limitations, take artistic risks and open up to new cultural experiences. With the smattering of traditional instruments and dances from every geographical region in Guinea represented, spectators are given a unique opportunity to discover the richness and diversity of this art form.