Twice a month people of all backgrounds, abilities and ages are invited by the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach (AACCLB) to learn West African dance at the EXPO Arts Center in Bixby Knolls.
“It doesn’t matter if you are familiar with the African culture, it doesn’t matter if you speak English, it doesn’t matter if you know anything about drum and dance,” said Jacqueline Quarles, program director for AACCLB. “You’re welcome to come and to learn. It’s a universal language.”
Since 2019, the AACCLB has gathered both beginners and longtime students to practice dancing to the traditional rhythms that were used to communicate information between communities in West African countries such as Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
Lamban, a rhythm and dance meant to bring healing to a community, is among those practiced at the classes.
“The rhythm isn’t just beating on the drum,” Quarles said. “The music that you hear, the rhythms represent a specific event of life, whether it is harvests, whether it’s a funeral, whether it’s a wedding, for healing, they’re different rhythms for all of those events.”
Along with the all-levels dance class, AACCLB also holds a drumming class every second and fourth Thursday and third Saturday, where students learn to play the West African rhythms. Unlike the dance class, the West African drumming classes are divided into beginning, intermediate and advanced courses.
The African American Cultural Center of Long Beach is located within the EXPO Arts Center at 4313 Atlantic Ave. The West African dance class is held every second and fourth Friday of each month, and the West African drumming classes are held every second and fourth Thursday and third Saturday. Drums will be provided for those who don’t have their own. Participation is free.