All,

Just wanted to send you out some additional information about Camp
Camaraya. The early registration deadline is 7/31, and we are
offering group discounts as well.

This event was created for and around the artists. What they do best
is perform and create "spectacles" to share their culture. The
vision of Camp Camaraya is that we will give the artists the
opportunity to form all of the participants into one outstanding
performance to share Guinean Drum & Dance.

Here is some of what's different about Camp Camaraya from any other
camp you may have or will have attended:
- You get a lot of dedicated time with your instructor
- You get to perform in a theater in front of a live, public audience
- You get to learn choreography or arrangements that you can take
home with you
- You get an African costume
- You get a t-shirt
- You get to hang out with a lot of cool people!

Camp Camaraya is really a PRACTICUM. It is a hands on preparation
for performance. You will work with one primary artists for the
entire event. When you arrive on Thursday night, you will jump right
into learning the rhythms for the performance. Then your time will
alternate between focused rehearsals with your drummer or dancer and
practice sessions with your performing group. The entire event will
be intensely focused on preparing for the show on Saturday night,
and then Sunday morning we are going to have a crazy drum and dance
class with all of our instructors. You just can't miss it. Our
group in Atlanta is called SamaTo, which means You Have to See It in
Susu, and that's what this camp really is - you just have to see
it!!!

A couple of other things - Tom Harris is going to be attending camp
and will have all of his drum fixing equipment with him, so you will
be welcome to engage him for any repairs that you may need.

Featured dancers for the camp include: Youssouf Koumbassa, who is
also our artistic director and the foremost African Dance instructor
in the US. M'Bemba Bangoura, who is amazing and can teach both dance
and drum. Mamady Sano, son of Mohamed Kemoko Sano, the greatest
African choreographer ever knows, and who dances better than anyone
I have ever seen. Marietou Cisse, who recently taught at Chuck
Cogliandro's camp and can dance like a madwoman, does incredible
percussive dance and is a hell of s singer.

Featured drummers for the camp include: Aly Camara, who also taught
at Chuck's camp in May, who is just an incredible drummer and is
hugely respected by the best dancers for his ability to follow their
steps. Fode Bangoura, a fantastic percussive drummer who has been on
MTV, and performed with numerous African, jazz, blues and other
genre artists. Ismael Bangoura can play anything but is especially
noted for his skill with Dunduns.

This is going to be a great event, and I will be happy to work with
anyone who wants to come be a part of it - if you have any
questions, or the due dates or deposit sizes aren't working for you,
or your group isn't coming together as quickly as you hoped, just
send me an email or give me a call, and I will be happy to see what
we can work out.

For more information about the camp, which is September 27-30,
please see our website www.africanperformingarts.org/news.html

Thanks!
Sharon Camara
404/909-3036
info@...