Workshops with Amadou!

Please pass the word. Let's drum in the New Year with some positive beats.

Amadou Camara, our friend and mentor from Guinea will be  in town next week to kick off Fenix's Master West African Drum Series Workshops. For those of you who haven't met Amadou, he is a patient and caring teacher and has been drumming since childhood.  He was a member of one of Guinea's Ballets and has spent the last seven years performing and teaching in California.

First workshop will be on Friday, January 13 at 7:00 pm.

This is a fast-paced 2 hour workshop for Intermediate/Advanced drummers.

Workshop will be held at the Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange, 3313 Julliard Dr, Sacramento 95825.

Fee is $15 at the door.

A second workshop will be held on Saturday, January 14 at 3:45pm at Sierra 2, 2791 24th St. This is a Mixed level session and beginners are welcome.  This workshop is include in the fee of monthly paying Fenix students.  For all others, the fee is $15.

HAPPY 2012!!! Location Change and Schedules

Hello Fenix Fans! What a great 2011 we had. Fenix made news, both on Channel 3 and in the Sac Bee in celebration of Kwanzaa! Check out the picture that was on the cover of the Bee:

Way to go Ashanti!

Here is our schedule of classes for 2012...Please note that Saturday's classes have been moved back to The Sierra 2 Center and Monday and Tuesday's classes to the Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange.  Classes will continue at these locations until we find another venue to accommodate our expansion.

SAVE THE DATES FOR THE LITTLE BIG SHOW! FRI, MAY 4, and SAT, MAY 5 at the ARTISAN THEATER on Del Paso!!!

Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th St, Sacramento 

Saturdays - 3:00 pm - Kids' Acrobatics

                  4:00 pm - Mixed Level Djembe Drum

                  5:00 - 6:30 pm - Mixed Level West African Dance
Tuesdays - 1:00 pm Senior Drumming ($5 drop in, $20 per month)

Brazilian Center for Cultural Awareness - 3313 Julliard Dr, Sacramento

Mondays - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Intermediate Level Djembe Drum

                8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Intermediate Level West African Dance

Tuesdays - 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Mixed Level Congas

                 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Brazilian Batucada

Davis classes begin in February 2012

We still have some gift certificates  in $30 and $50 denominations.  They will be available until JANUARY 10TH.  Order now and save. 


New rates go into effect in January. As a reminder, these are:

For EXISTING monthly paid students, this change will not take place until January 2012.  

Effective January 1, 2012 new fee will be:

         $45 per month for 1 class per week

         $70 per month for 2 classes per week

         $95 per month for 3 classes per week

         $105 per month for unlimited classes per month

Drop in $15

Special family rates available

KWANZAA 2011

2011 Kwanzaa Celebrations in the Sacramento Valley

2011 Kwanzaa Celebrations (please always confirm info)

(Please bring a dish to share at the Kwanzaa celebrations)

• Saturday, December 17, 2011-Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration from:2:00pm- 3:30pm at Celebration Arts Theater, 4469 D Street, Sacramento, CA 95819. Join us for our Pre-KWANZAA celebration featuring the Celebration Arts Chorale, poetry, storytelling, drama, and more! For more info call (916) 455-2787.

• Fenix Drum and Dance Company presents “Kwanzaa Events” For more info visit: http://www.fenixdrumanddance.com or www.saclibrary.org

Fenix Drum and Dance Company Events:

                                         

 Thu Dec 15 Del Paso Heights Library 3:00 pm

                   Kwanzaa program "Once upon a Kwanzaa"

                   www.saclibrary.org

Wed Dec 21 Elk Grove Library 3:30 pm

                   Kwanzaa Program "Once upon a Kwanzaa"

                  www.saclibrary.org

                    

 Wed Dec 28 Valley Hi Library 4:00 pm

                   Kwanzaa Program "Once upon a Kwanzaa"

                    www.saclibrary.org

• Monday, December 26:  Monday, December 26, 2011 Kwanza Free Family Festival at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA from 12:00 pm to 4:00pm. Celebrated worldwide, Kwanza focuses on family, community, creativity, and the cultural traditions of the African Diaspora. At this museum-wide festival, the Crocker celebrates its collection of African art with music and dance performances, a unique studio art workshop, an arts and crafts marketplace, and more. Presented in collaboration with the Kuumba Collective Art Gallery and the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum. For more info visit: http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/programs-events/holiday-mondays/event/943-holiday-monday-kwanzaa-free-family-festival.

• Monday, December 26: Kwanzaa Celebration: Umoja - Join us from 1-4pm First Day at Carol's Books, 1913 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento  CA 95815. Celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa with drumming, dancing, storytelling and a host of other activities. Wonderful gathering time for friends and family and the community. Free books for kids and adults. Please bring a dish to share for the potluck dinner. For more info please call 916-205-3970

• Tuesday, December 27 from 6-9pm: Umoja Productions presents annual Children’s Kwanzaa with Roberts Family Development Center, 770 Darina Ave · Sacramento, California · 95815. For more info. contact : Maia Morton at maiaafrica@comcast.net

•  Wednesday Dec. 28th :Wo'se Community will celebrate  public Kwanzaa on Wednesday Dec. 28th 2011 at 6:00pm at Wo’se Community Chruch, 4311 Attawa Ave., Sacramento. For more info call (916) 476-6640

• Thursday, December 29: Ujamaa Community Celebration from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at Our World Cultural Center,2251 Florin Road, Suite 20. Hosted by Earth Mama Healing, Inc. & Divas for Jesus. For more info contact: 916-706-2838   email: ourworldculturalcenter@yahoo.com

• Join the Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley (BUFSV), the Brick house Art Gallery (BAG) and the Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC) Friday, December 30, 2011 for  2011 Kwanzaa Celebration from 6-9pm at the at the Brick house Art Gallery,2837 36th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817.  We are asking participants in this year’s Kwanzaa to bring a dish for the Karamu or feast, and bring NEW, UNWORN caps, neck scarves, and gloves for infants, children, women and men. On our MLK Day of service in January, we will assemble them into packets to be distributed to local homeless shelters. For more info call (916) 484-5025. 

• Saturday, December 31: Celebrate Kwanza at Sojourner Truth Museum Dec 31 from 4pm to 7pm. (see details below)
• Saturday, December 31: Celebrate Kwanzaa with a Brunch at Kuumba Collective Black Art Group at 11:00am
• Sunday, Jan 1, 2012:The Kwanzaa Celebration at the Center for Spiritual Awareness, 1275 Starboard Drive, West Sacramento, will be held on Sunday, January 1 at 4pm.

  More celebrations!!! 

Kwanzaa Community Celebration at Our World Cultural Center

2251 Florin Road, Suite 20

Sacramento, CA  95822

916-706-2838   email: ourworldculturalcenter@yahoo.com

www.ourworldculturalcenter.com

• Monday, December 26, 2011

Umoja Community Celebration

6:30pm – 9:30pm

Hosted by Michael Harris & Black Farmers

• Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Ujima Community Celebration

5:30pm – 8:00pm

Hosted by Dream Academy & Wii Girls Youth Empowerment & Leadership Programs

• Thursday, December 29, 2011

Ujamaa Community Celebration

6:30pm – 8:30pm

Hosted by Earth Mama Healing, Inc. & Divas for Jesus

• Saturday, December 31, 2011

Imani Community Celebration

4:00pm – 7:00pm

Hosted by Sojourner Truth Center & Brother 2 Brother Program

Images of our Fenix Family

Come and be a part of our family! See our Classes page to find your perfect day and time!

FENIX NEWS

FLYING HIGH

by The Fenixbird

WE ARE MOVING!

Effective September 1, 2011 Fenix Drum and Dance Co will be moving Saturday’s drum and dance classes to a new studio.  Monday and Tuesday night classes have already begun at the new location at Deane Dance Center, 3385 Lanatt St, Sacramento 95819 (C and Elvas).

See that blank white area in the middle of the sign on the building? Soon that will say "FENIX DRUM AND DANCE COMPANY!"

First class in our new studio!!!

Schedule  of  Classes is as follows:

Mon  7:00 pm - Intermediate Djembe Drumming

Tue   5:00 pm - Yoga for Health and Happiness

         6:00 pm - Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts

         7:00 pm - Beginning Conga Drumming/

                          Brazilian Batacuda

Sat     4:00 pm Beginning Djembe Drumming

          5:00pm Mixed Level West African Dance

UPCOMING PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Sat August 13  - 2:30 pm – Banana Festival, William Land Park (Cor Freeport & Sutterville)

Thu August 18 – North Natomas Library 3:00 pm

Sat August 20 – Belle Cooledge Library 1:00 pm

Sat Sept 17 – Sacramento Heart Walk 10:30 am William Land Park

Sat Sept 18 – Davis Farm Gourd Festival 11:00 am Sloughouse 

Fee Change

In an effort to keep up with increased costs,  we are forced to change our ridiculously low rates that we have maintained over the past five years.

For EXISTING monthly paid students, this change will not take place until January 2012.  

Effective January 1, 2002 new fee will be:

         $45 per month for 1 class per week

         $70 per month for 2 classes per week

         $95 per month for 3 classes per week

       $105 per month for unlimited classes per month

Drop in $15

Special family rates available

The new rates go into effect Sept 1 for NEW students so encourage friends and family to sign up in August to take advantage of the old rate for the remainder of the year.

Master Drum Workshop Series

The first of our Master Drum Series will be on Friday, July 22 at 7:00 pm at Sierra 2, 2791 24th St, Sacramento in the Dance Wing. (parking lot on 4th Ave)

 

Guest instructor is Boynarr Sow, an accomplished djebe drummer and dancer from Senegal.  Boynar also plays a variety of other traditional African instruments including the kora and the balaphone.

 

See our "Classes" page for details!

 

 

Little Big Show 2011 - SUCCESS!

We hope that you all were able to come see our show, May 14 at the Artisan Theater! It was great, we had two shows to full houses, and everyone did fabulous!!! I will be gathering the best photos to put on here, and there is a DVD of the show as well.

For now, here's a taste!

We hope you are READY!

There may be a couple tickets left for the 8 pm show!!!

Press Release! Big Show!

Fenix Drum and Dance to perform “Le Ballet Africain-Américain”
Contact: Angela James
Phone: (916) 607-9321

The Fenix Drum and Dance Company invite the public to join them in a celebration of traditional West African drumming and dancing, Saturday, May 14 at the Artisan Theatre, 1901 Del Paso Blvd in the Uptown Arts District.

Sacramento’s premier African drum and dance troupe will perform “Le Ballet Africain-Américain” at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door or by reservation.

The public is encouraged to act fast in purchasing their tickets. The Artisan Theatre was selected to provide the audience with a close up and intimate experience with the drumming and dances of West Africa.

“In order to provide the audience with an authentic experience, we deliberately chose a venue with limited seating. This means no bad seats and people will literally be able to feel the reverberations of the drums and see clearly the high energy moves of the dancers as they perform Le Ballet Africain-Américain,” said producer Angela James.

Choreographer, Olivia Yasmin and drummer, Ross Mele recently returned from a two month stay in Guinea, West Africa where they collected new dances and rhythms.

For reservations, the public may call (916) 205-3970 or e-mail fenixdrumanddance@yahoo.com.

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Fenix is geared up for a busy month of performances for Black History Month.  Presented at  ten Sacramento Public Branch libraries, these family oriented programs use music, dance and narrative to highlight the richness of the African-American artistic experience.

Programs include Fenix' signature programs "From Africa to the Americas",  a lively interactive medley of dancing, drumming and folktales and "Dance and Drum for Joy", a drum and dance circle that  keeps everyone tapping their toes.

"BlackScrap Music" gives the audience to play the diddley bow, spoons and other musical instruments fashioned from everyday materials by African-Americans.

Drums and a display of indigo dyed fabrics enhance the fascinating stories of indigo dye - from the 'blue men' of Africa to the blue jeans of today in "Indigo Blue". 

For a list of programs and locations, please go the the Events tab.

ALSO, SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR ANNUAL "BIG SHOW"!!

May 13 & 14, at the Artisan Theater, 1901 Del Paso Blvd. Stay tuned for ticket availability!

 We are practicing hard to bring you a great show!!! (See below...)