Each year the Arts Council of the North Valley develops educational outreach programs for our North Valley youth.

As part of our Educational Outreach program, ACNV partnered with the Boulder Creek High School Dance Department to bring two masters of West African dance and drum to teach 185 students during a full day residency.

In addition to gaining a better understanding of West African Dance and Music, students learned about the cultures of Guinea and Mali through the process of dancing.

Bringing in cultural events during school time at no cost to the students is the perfect way to expose students to culturally diverse art forms", said Stacy Shane, Dance Director.

Mabiba Baegne, who has performed and taught dance and drum around the world, was a member of the National Ballet of the Congo and later studied western forms of dance in Paris.  She currently teaches at ASU.  Dr. Sonja Branch, D.M.A., who accompanied with drums, has performed with ASU Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony as well as Contemporary Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble and African Drum Ensemble to name a few.

Visit our "News and Media' page to see more stories about ACNV in the Schools.  http://www.acnv.org/news-a-media.html

Contact 623-516-2268 to learn more about programs planned for the future.