Moustapha Banguora's Dance Class

On Thursday evening, I went to observe Moustapha Bangoura teach a Community Dance class. I wasn’t sure how this would be different from the usual rehearsals since this was open for public participation. As I entered the building, Akin was bringing some equipment in. He asked if I was there to dance and while I was open minded about the possibility, I felt it might be best if I investigated just what I would be getting myself into. Also, on my way in I was able to finally meet Andy, the managing director of the group. He suggested the possibility of creating a link on the TRJE website for my blog. I decided I would have him read everything I’d written up to that point to see if he thought it would be appropriate.
The format this evening did turn out to be different than the usual Friday and Saturday rehearsals. There was no opening circle; it was run in more of a class format. The drummers were already playing and Mr. Bangoura was on the dance floor, facing the mirrors. All the participants formed rows behind him and learned by closely following his verbal and physical leads. There was a warm up in which Mr. Bangoura reminded me of Gumby, the extremely bendable rubber toy from the 60’s. Then after a few new moves that were taught strictly by imitation, the students formed rows of three to practice and showcase their new skills. While some of the other TRJE members furiously drummed, Moustapha would move across the floor toward the drummers, demonstrating one of the new dance moves. Each row of three dancers would follow, imitating him as best they could. The energy and concentration levels were intense. I stood outside, observing through a window since the participants had paid for the experience. Several of the mothers stood in the hall with me. I spoke with the mother of a 30 year old woman who had studied dance for years and even studied under Mr. Bangoura when he taught the previous fall. While she and her daughter were not members of TRJE, they seemed to have become part of this community through this experience. Agatha had taken some time out of her busy schedule to observe and also explained some of the African trip photos that were hanging in the hall. She explained how happy everyone was to see Mr. Bangoura again since so many of them had tearfully left him and his family when they’d departed from Guinea in January. Apparently, the TRJE group had felt a genuine sense of community in just the short time they had been in Africa.
The dancers continued their intense workout from 5:30 to 6:30 without much of a lull in the activity. Even the drummers had worked up quite a sweat. After a break in which everyone ran to the drinking fountain, they all formed a circle and volunteers moved into the middle to showcase their skills. There was much camaraderie and laughter. They all had a similar exuberance for the artform. While Akin had nonchalantly tried to encourage me to join in on the dancing, I realized I was definitely not in the same league. Here were people who had clearly studied dance and while I appreciate his assumption that I could participate, in reality I could no more do that than he could participate in any way in a chemistry lab with me, something I had studied for years. While we may want to become part of a community emotionally, the reality is that we may never fully realize this goal.