Sacramento Area Kwanzaa events!

Sacramento Area  2012 Kwanzaa Calendar

Highlighted events are events where Fenix will perform!

 Family-friendly Kwanzaa Celebrations (Revised)

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

6:00pm-9:00pm

Location: The Brickhouse Art Gallery & Arts Complex- 2837 36^th St., Sacramento, CA 95817

Sponsors: Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley (BUFSV), The Brickhouse Art Gallery & Arts Complex (BAG) & Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC)

Information: 916-484-3750

Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 5-8pm

ALL youths & families are invited to join us @ Our World Cultural Center for our Youth Kwanzaa Celebration. 2251 Florin Rd ste. 20., Sacramento, CA 95822

Information (916) 706-2838

Children’s Kwanzaa

Thursday, December 27, 2012

6:00pm-9:00pm

Location: The Roberts Family Development Center

Sponsor: Umoja Productions 

Information: Maia Morton;  HYPERLINK "mailto:maiaafrica@comcast.net" maiaafrica@comcast.net

Family Kwanzaa Concert: Big Dreams, Small Shoulders

Friday, December 28, 2012 at 2:00pm (Not a potluck event)

Location: The Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street

This year, the Crocker celebrates Kwanzaa with a special family-friendly performance of Crocker artist-in-residence Deborah Pittman's original multi-media performance piece inspired by Rockwell's iconic The Problem We All Live With. Advance registration is required. 916-808-7000

Free for Members: $3 College students and youth 17 and under $5 Nonmembers.

Family Kwanzaa

Friday December 28, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Del Paso Heights Library, 920 Grand Ave, Sacto, CA 95815

Sponsors: Del Paso Heights Library & Fenix Drum & Dance Company 

Information: 916-566-2144

Saturday, December 29, 2012

6:00pm-9:00pm

Location: The Brickhouse Art Gallery & Arts Complex- 2837 36^th St., Sacramento, CA 95817 

Sponsors: Wo’se Community Church and Sojourner Truth Multicultural Museum 

Information: 916-476-6640; truthreborn77@aol.com

Sunday, December 30, 2012

4:00pm-7:00pm

Location: The Center for Spiritual Awareness-1275 Starboard Dr. West Sacramento

Sponsor: The Center for Spiritual Awareness 

Information: 916-217-6042

Monday, December 31, 2012

1:00PM - 4:00PM

Celebrate with local African –American Artists

LOCATION: The Kuumba Collective Art Gallery, 1001 Del Paso Blvd #1, Sacramento, CA  95815

Information: (916) 613 0099

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Fenix Dance Studio- 2110 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

Sponsor: Fenix Drum & Dance  HYPERLINK "mailto:fenixdrumanddance@yahoo.com" fenixdrumanddance@yahoo.com

 HYPERLINK "http://www.fenixdrumanddance.com" www.fenixdrumanddance.com

Information: 916-205-3970

GENERAL INFORMATON: All Kwanzaa celebrations are free of charge, potluck and open to the general public. 

Potluck dishes: Only chicken, fish or turkey, we are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Please label all dishes accordingly, including any peanut additives.  Donations are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

*KWANZAA IS A FAMILY ORIENTED NON-RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION*

Reggae Party Dec. 15!

REGGAE DANCE PARTY AT FENIX STUDIO!

Come jam and dance, sober reggae party for 18 and up, Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8 pm!

Inside Store, Wings and Roots, and DJ Hi-Fi will be in the house!

Live bands, games and refreshments...no alcohol. Only $5!!! Invite as many friends as you can!

2110 Del Paso Blvd, Fenix Drum and Dance Studio.

18+ only, please.

December Break

Fenix is taking a well-deserved rest in December and regular classes will be suspended for the month. Regular classes will resume Saturday,  January 5, 2013.

We will feature special Happy Holidays Workshops in December:

Congolese Dance Workshop with Mischwa of Kucheza Ngoma Dance Co

Saturday December 8, 1:30 to 2:30 pm

Sliding scale fee $10 - $15

LIVE DRUMMING

OK Sacramento....if you've been waiting to try a Fenix class, this is IT!

New Living Social deal in Sacramento just out today! This will be the best $20 you ever spent on 4 music/dance classes....EVER! Get one for yourself and up to three to gift to others.

Fenix is my village.

Mark your Calendar for Fenix's Open House on January 1, 2013

Time to party! Join us at 1:00 PM on Jan. 1, 2013 (the final day of Kwaanza - Imani/Faith) at our studio at 2110 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento. We will be celebrating with music, dance, and food! This should be a rockin' good time!

Fenix is my village.

Drum & Dance Master Workshop - SUCCESS!

We all enjoyed Friday evening drum workshop with Lansana Kouyate of Guinea, West Africa....we learned rhythms to "Tiriba"which is a rhythm of the Laduma people from the Boke and Boffa area in the Western part of Guinea. It is a welcoming rhythm, played when people visit or for such celebrations as naming ceremonies. 

Fenix director Olivia and other students then enjoyed a wonderful balafon class on Saturday afternoon before the drummers and dancers arrived. We learned balafon accompaniment to one of our signature dances, Cinte. Maybe you will be hearing that in the near future, after we practice it a lot :-)

Then on Saturday night, guest instructor Tania Camara from Chico West African Drum and Dance Ensemble took us through many, many dance moves of Tiriba while the drummers practiced the rhythms from the night before. We all had a great time and got super sweaty!

Thank you Lansana and Tania, and thanks to everyone who came and had a blast! You can see all the smiles on the dancers' faces that West African dancing ROCKS!

Master Series: Lansana Kouyate teaches

Fenix is pleased to welcome Lansana Kouyate, master drummer and balafonist for more workshops in our Master Drum Series.

Lansana hails from Guinea West Africa and has presented several workshops here in Sacramento, the last one in July of this year.

Two drum and one balafon workshops will be presented at Fenix Studio, 2110 Del Paso Rd, Sacramento 95815

Friday, October 12 at 7:00pm

Intermediate Level (this is a fast paced workshop for more advanced students)  $15 at the door.

Saturday, October 13 at 3:45 pm
Mixed Level (beginners are welcome)  $15 at door

Sunday, October 14 Time TBD
Beginning balafon.  Pre-registration is required. 

Please call 916-205-3970

Click link for video of Lansana's  last workshop in Sacramento.

http://s401.photobucket.com/albums/pp92/fenixdrumanddance_08/?action=view¤t=lansanaworkshopjuly2012tiriba001.mp4

Sacramento World Music & Dance Festival - This Weekend in Old Sac!

Please come out on October 7 to the fabulous World Music and Dance Festival....tons of entertainment on 4 different stages, global village, food, fun, and right on the river in Old Sacramento. Fenix will perform three different times during this festival, including opening for the headliner, H'sao at the kickoff on Saturday night, Oct. 6, at the outdoor stage at Waterfront Park (Front & L St.)

Learn all about it at the Sac World Fest website. The schedule and location of performers on Sunday is here.

Here is the blurb about the Saturday night bonus kickoff show:

BONUS: The kick-off begins Saturday night, October 6th with a musical and visual extravaganza that will thrill and delight you with its color and energy with a “Spotlight On: AFRICA!” on the Festival’s Waterfront Stage in Old Sacramento.  This amazing evening begins at 6p.m. sharp; bringing us to an exciting and inspiring finish around 9p.m.  Tickets are $5 at the event.  All ages are welcome!

Special Guest Master Teacher

Experience the fusion of African, indigenous, and Spanish culture in this workshop of traditional dance from Vera Cruz, Mexico.

Fenix is pleased to welcome Andres Flores Rosas, master teacher from Vera Cruz will  teach the basic dance steps and share cultural information.  Andres is an experienced and patient teacher (he also has a sense of humor) and will keep  your toes tapping for the entire class. Absolutely NO experience is necessary, just wear shoes that produce sound (no tennis shoes).

Workshop is on Friday, September 14 at 7:00 pm at Fenix Drum and Dance Studio, 2110 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento 95815.  Sliding scale donations $10 - $20.   Families welcome. Drop-ins welcome.  Call 916-205-3970 or e-mail fenixdrumanddance@ yahoo.com for more information.

Check this link for some info on Afro-Mexicans:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Mexican 

Fenix takes part in Elk Grove diversity festival

Sac Bee Article

In March 4, 2011, two Sikh grandfathers in turbans – Surinder Singh, 65, and Gurmej Atwal, 78 – were killed on their Friday afternoon walk by a semi-automatic weapon fired from a pickup truck, police said.

On June 5, 2011, a gay man was punched in the face at the Strikes Family Entertainment Center, an Elk Grove bowling alley, by a man yelling anti-gay slurs. The suspect, Joel Baltazar Olivarez, pleaded guilty to felony battery with a hate crime enhancement.

Mohinder Singh, a 32-year-old engineer, worked the Sikh booth at Elk Grove Regional Park on Saturday.

He wore a bright blue turban – a symbol of spirituality, integrity and commitment to self-control, compassion, honesty, contentment and belief in the Almighty – articles of Sikh faith dating back to 1469.

He explained the word Sikh means disciple or student. Sikh men are named Singh, meaning lion, and Sikh women Kaur, meaning queen.

Singh, a 10-year resident of Elk Grove, said the slayings of the two Sikh elders didn't drive away any of the city's roughly 2,000 Sikhs.

"I knew it was a random act that could happen anywhere; the way the community got together made me want to stay here and support it," Singh said.

Sikhs displayed their dances, history and martial arts alongside performers with roots in Mexico, El Salvador, Vietnam, Laos, Brazil, Hawaii, the Philippines, West Africa and the Caribbean.

Four Sikh girls from Monterey Trail High School performed a Rajistani dance of north India to heart-tugging Bollywood music. Jaspreet Bhatal, 17, shimmered in a glittering purple dress.

"My girlfriend's grandfather was one of the victims," Bhatal said. "Why should I be afraid? We didn't do anything. Why judge us for somebody else's action?"

Her friend Jaskamal Kaur, 16, added, "We love the town. Because two people got killed, we need to spread the knowledge."

The Sikh tradition of defending the underdog was brought to life by Gatka Martial Arts, Sikhs dancing with kirpans, swords known as bestowers of mercy.

The Gatka dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Sikh faith was evolving in a time of social and political turmoil in north India, explained Dr. Gurtej Singh Cheema, the keynote speaker.

"People were being enslaved, and in order to seek justice and equality Sikh warriors would use their kirpans to subdue the oppressors and protect the weak," Cheema explained, noting Sikhs have long fought for freedom and justice. "In World Wars I and II, more than 83,000 Sikh soldiers died alongside Allied forces."

The young Sikh performers were captivated in turn by the Kalpulli Tonalteotl Azteca dancers with their plumed head gear and masks.

Patti Cobb, the "group mom" for about 35 young performers from Folklorico Calli Dance Academy of Sacramento, said all kids appreciate the different ethnic traditions that came to life Saturday. "You can't learn this in school," she said. "You have to see it, have to breathe it."

Or eat it – kabobs, tamales, Guamanian lumpia, curries, basmati rice, burgers, Hawaiian shave ice and Italian ices were all being consumed under the heritage oaks and coastal redwoods.

Long Tran, 45, was happy to be back in Elk Grove after eight years in Arizona. "They look at you differently, they profile you," said Tran, a Vietnamese refugee. "Here, we feel like we belong."
Elk Grovians include 40,261 Asian Americans, 27,600 Latinos, 17,172 African Americans and 12,101 who identify as mixed race.

"It doesn't seem like any group dominates," said Nancy Chaires, a Mexican American who's on the city's Planning Commission. "This is a healing event for the city."

Mayor Jim Cooper, an African American, marveled as little kids danced and giggled. "The thing I love about this is the children of Elk Grove don't know about ethnicity and races, they know their playmates as friends. This is teaching us to sing and have fun together as a family, share our similarities and put aside our differences."

The reward in the killings of the two Sikh men has climbed to $57,301.
Police are looking for a full-size gold or tan raised pickup truck with big tires, big wheels or suspension alterations significantly higher than a factory pickup.

Anyone with information about the crime should call Elk Grove police at (916) 714-5115 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-4357.

Updates to classes and events!

August and September Events



Sunday Aug 19      -  11:10 am   Banana Festival, William Land Park  
                                              http://bananafestival.sojoarts.net

Saturday Aug 25    - 1:00 pm Elk Grove Festival
                                              www.elkgrovecity.org/multicultural-festival/

Saturday Aug 25   -   4:00 pm Stockton Pride Parade

Sunday Sept 9       -   2:45 pm Runaway to Health and Beauty Expo
                                             http://www.runawayhealthbeautyexpo.com

Sunday Sept 23   -     11:00 am Gourd Festival, Davis Ranch, Sloughouse
                                            http://www.zslproductions.net/davisranch/


We have added some classes, please go to the "classes" page :)

Lansana's Master Drum Class Video

Enjoy!

Special Guest Teacher - Lansana Kouyate

On July 21, we will have a special guest teacher, Lansana Kouyate for the Saturday Drum Class.  Lansana hails from Guinea, West Africa and plays the balafon as well as the djembe.  He conducted a workshop for us in  April of this year and was a guest artiste at the May Big Show.

Drum class on Saturday 21 will start at 3:45 pm. Please arrive early so we can stat on time.    If you wish to speak to and get acquainted with Lansana, he will be available at the studio at 3:00 pm.

This special workshop is included in the tuition of monthly paid djembe students.  Drop in fee for this special workshop  is $15 at the door. Lansana will also be playing for the drum class.

This will be a mixed-level workshop so please pass the word and encourage other drummers to attend.  This is a great opportunity to receive first hand information and instruction from a master musician.

Private one-on-one lessons will be available on Sunday 22.  This will be ideal for those students who want a more in-depth experience and a chance to work on specific projects.  These private slots are limited so please  call early for an appointment time if you are interested.

Flashin' the Fenix in Guinda

Flash the Fenix! Ms. Olivia and Gyrlande at the Chedepo-Grebo Cultural Festival. This is a large extended family from Liberia that fled the war-torn country about 7 years ago and settled on a farm in Guinda, CA. We zipped up there on the fly to check it out. They performed traditional dances, singing, and drumming. It was kind of like being in Africa for a little bit! The food was very good, too.....I liked something called "Palm Butter" over my short-grain white rice....yum!

I don't know the significance of it, but in this dance each woman would try her best to sprinkle each man with what looked like talcum powder.

FLIPPING FOR FENIX!

We flip for Fenix! Fenix Acrobatics students (both 7 years old) flip out at the Placer County Fair, June 24. Come to Fenix Summer Camp and you might learn this cool move too! Details in the previous blog post....

Fenix Summer Camp Schedule

Fenix Summer Camp is off to a great start! We have so many fun things planned. Here is this week's and next week's schedule. All the sessions you see below, plus lunch, come to only $20 per day! You can also send your child with their own lunch and the cost is only $15 per day. Extended hours are also available. The schedule you see below is from 10-3:

Mon 6/18 Arts & Crafts - Instrument Making (Shakers) - Planting a Garden - Music in Motion - Creative Dance
Tue 6/19 Kid Friendly Yoga - Kids in the Kitchen - Community Service - Acting Silly - Acrobatics
Wed 6/20 Arts & Crafts - Planting a Garden - Music in Motion - Creative Dance
Thu 6/21 Kid Friendly Yoga - Kids in the Kitchen - Acting Silly - Acrobatics
Fri 6/22 Arts & Crafts - Instrument Making (Box Drums & Shakers) - Music in Motion - Creating Costumes - Putting on the Show

Mon 6/25 Kid Friendly Yoga - Arts & Crafts (Tie Dying) - Music in Motion - Creative Dance
Tue 6/25 Tending a Garden - Kids in the Kitchen - Community Service - Acting Silly - Acrobatics
Wed 6/27 Kid Friendly Yoga - Arts & Crafts (Tie Dying) - Music in Motion - Creative Dance
Thu 6/28 Arts & Crafts (Basket Weaving) - Acting Silly - Acrobatics
Fri 6/29 Arts & Crafts (Basket Weaving) - Music in Motion - Creating Costumes - Putting on the Show

Please let us know if you have any questions! You can come for just one segment, or stay all day! We'd love to have you.

Also please come to our African Drum Circle and Dance Presentation at the PLACER COUNTY FAIR on Sunday, June 24 at 12:30 on Community Stage. This supports the multicultural youth group. Everyone can come participate!!!

Fenix Summer Kids!!!

Summer's here and the kids are driving you crazy.  Get them out of your hair for a few hours for only $5 at Fenix Drum and Dance Company , 2110 Del Paso Blvd, 95815

OPEN MUSIC AND DANCE STUDIO

Mon to Fri. June 18  through  August 17

for kids 4 to 12yrs old

Sign up for part of the day, the entire day, a week, a month or just drop in.  No contracts needed.

SCHEDULE

10 am to 12 noon     ONLY $5

Kids participate in a variety of activities including:

·         experimental music

·         free-form dance

·         singing to the plants

·         reading to the animals

·         acrobatic routines

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm:  Lunch (you bring yours or get one of our nutritious packed lunch for $5)

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm   MUSIC MAGIC class ONLY $5 - Creating music with unusual instruments

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm   DANCE MOVES class ONLY $ 5- Creative movements to creative music

Parents and guardians can participate at no cost with registered child.

More info: 916-205-3970

FIREBIRDS - BIG SHOW 2012, and NEW CLASS SCHEDULE

Well, yet another wonderful show by Fenix Drum and Dance Company has come and gone. This past Friday and Saturday nights we had full houses for the Firebirds. We followed the show with a samba line into the Artisan Theater's art gallery where everyone - dancers, drummers, and audience - shook their booties to the rhythms! It was great!!!

We have a couple of new classes coming up, starting THIS MONDAY, May 7.

Here is the current schedule, brand new classes are in RED...then keep reading for some pics from the show:

SATURDAYS:

• 3:00   Junior Afro-Acrobatics (2-10 yrs)
• 4:00   Mixed Level West African Djembe and Djun-Djun (drums)
• 5:00   Mixed Level West African Dance

MONDAYS:

• 5:00   Afro Rhythm Tap (tap to the rhythm of the drums)
• 6:00   Afro-Caribbean Dance (folkloric and popular Caribbean dances including dances of the    Orishas, rhumba, bele, bongo, and calypso)
• 7:00   Intermediate West African Djembe (for the more advanced student who wants to take their drumming to the next level)
• 8:00   Intermediate West African Dance (learn the more complicated techniques of West African dance and how to develop moves for solo numbers)

TUESDAYS:

• 7:00   Mixed Level Latin Congas (ideal for beginners as well as more advanced players. Folklorico and jazz styles introduced)
• 8:00   Brazilian Samba Batucada (Brazilian percussion at its best. Use our instruments or bring your own)

Fenix @ Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24^th St., Sacramento, 95818

TUESDAYS:

• 1:00 pm   “Everyone Can Drum”- Senior Class

*******************

DAVIS

Fenix @ Davis Art Center, 1919 F St., Davis 95616

THURSDAYS:     

• 5:30 pm     Family style African Dance
• 6:00 pm      Beginning Djembe Drums

Fenix @ Fiesta Dance N Fitness, 915 3rd St., Davis 95616

THURSDAYS:     

• 7:15 pm     Brazilian Samba Dance
• 8:05 pm      West African Dance

NEW ADDRESS & NEW CLASSES!

DO NOT FORGET! WE HAVE MOVED TO OUR OWN STUDIO!

2110 DEL PASO BLVD!


OUR LITTLE BIG SHOW is
MAY 4 & 5 at Artisan Theater! 
(tix for May 4 still available)

Effective April 1, 2012

Fenix has classes in Sacramento and Davis.  More classes to be added soon include belly dance, Afro-Haitian dance and Brazilian martial arts

Fenix @ 2110 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento 95815

Saturdays:    3:00 pm       Junior Afro-Acrobatics (4 - 10 yrs.)

                    4:00 pm      Mixed Level West African Drum (All ages)

                    5:00 pm      Mixed Level West African Dance (All ages)

Mondays:     7:00 pm      Intermediate West African Drums

                    8:00 pm      Intermediate West African Dance

Tuesdays:     7:00 pm      Mixed Level Latin Congas

                    8:00 pm      Brazilian Samba Batucada

Fenix @ Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24^th St., Sacramento, 95818

Tuesdays:      1:00 pm   “Everyone Can Drum”- Senior Class

*************************

DAVIS

Fenix @ Davis Art Center, 1919 F St., Davis 95616

Thursdays:     5:30 pm     Family style African Dance

                     6:00 pm      Beginning Djembe Drums

Fenix @ Fiesta Dance N Fitness, 915 3rd St., Davis 95616

Thursdays:     7:15 pm     Brazilian Samba Dance

                     8:05 pm      West African Dance