Congolese Dance and Visual Arts

EnCompass Academy, Elmhurst (2011)

The Congolese Dance and Visual Arts program at EnCompass Academy will teach African dance, music and language arts through poetry to K-5th grade students. The program will introduce Congolese dance, drum and song which are traditional art forms rooted in the rituals of Central Africa, reflecting the rich cultural legacy of descendants of the Kongo Kingdom.

The goals of the program are to offer age-appropriate and culturally-sound music instruction to K-5th grade students; provide students with basic understanding of traditional Congolese dance, song and drum; develop students’ body coordination, dexterity and rhythm; introduce Congolese vocabulary related to traditional movements, songs and language; share historical context and traditional values as it relates to African culture; build confidence, self-esteem, pride, vocal and stage presence of participants; and bridge language arts with music/dance through oral stories and visuals.