In this course students will learn Ekonkon dance and the Kutiro drum rhythm as rendered by the Jola people of Senegal (Casamnce) West Africa. Students will begin with a slide presentation discussing the history of the Ekonkon dance, the region and people who perform the dance, when and for what occasion the dance is rendered. Next is a series of demonstration videos of the natural dance movements of the Ekonkon dance technique, followed by the solo Ekonkon movements and lastly a video with live drummers playing the Ekonkon rhythm on Kutiro drum. Further, an example of the call by the drummer to begin and/or change movement, known as a “break” will be demonstrated. As a bonus  there is a video that demonstrations the formation of a Bantaban (circle), which is where dancers gather together and demonstration their knowledge of the technique and movements in a compilation of movements put together in improvisation, beginning with the Ekonkon song and accompanied by the drummers.