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Children's Performances

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Seattle Public Library's Summer Reading Program 2006

This program is recommended for children ages 3-12

Past Performances

Kaleta: A West African Children’s Festival

                      
Photos by Stan Staniski

A four-man show for children and adventurous people of all ages. In the West African country of Benin, a young boy dreams of a beautiful Kaleta -a Halloween-like festival in which children dress as lions, zebras, and other animals and go door to door to entertain their neighbors. The boy soon awakes and enlists performers from Benin, Ghana and Liberia to help him bring his dream to life in this dazzling mix of dancing, storytelling, drumming, singing, and colorful masks and costumes. Along the way, we meet the colorful trickster spirit "voudouavonou," laugh at the story of "How spider got a big butt," sing along with the talking drum to the African version of "Mary had a little goat," take part in a festive dance of the Kaleta, and much more!

Other past performances include:

The Story of the Bell, Shaker and Drum

Two-man show of African music, story and dance for children ages 3-12.  Master storyteller and award-winning author Won-Ldy Paye and master dancer Etienne Cakpo from Benin weave an enchanting tale of how an African village chooses their new musical leader when the old percussionist dies.  The bell, the shaker and the drum demonstrate their qualities and compete to become the new chief percussionist.  The audience will find out what instrument prevails! The Story of the Bell, Shaker and Drum portrays how cooperation, humility and leadership play essential roles in successful human environments.

Performed June 22-July 1, 2005 in Washington libraries and community centers.  Available for future programming.

Long Ago In Benin and Liberia

An original two-man show of storytelling, percussion and masked dance for children ages 3-12. Created and performed by master storyteller and award-winning author Won-Ldy Paye of Liberia and master dancer Etienne Cakpo from Benin.  This performance starts with two African youngsters comically instructing one another in the skills of dancing and storytelling.  Impressed by each other's talents, they compete, encourage, support and grow towards their goals of becoming a professional dancer and storyteller. Long Ago In Benin and Liberia portrays how cooperation and inspiration play an essential role in successful human environments.  This performance comprises of dances, stories and percussion from West Africa.

Performed February 11-25, 2005 in Washington schools and libraries for Black History Month.  Available for future programming.

The Talking Vegetables

A two-man show of African storytelling, percussion and dance for children ages 3-12. A spellbinding tale told by two extraordinary artists and cultural ambassadors from West Africa!  Master storyteller and award-winning author Won-Ldy Paye of Liberia and master dancer Etienne Cakpo from Benin weave an enchanting tale of Ananse the Spider.  Ananse loves to sleep, and avoids working in the village garden.  Harvest season comes, and Spider is tired of eating plain rice.  But when he tries to pick them, the vegetables cry out, refusing to let Spider harvest them!  Performance incorporates African dance and drumming in the story. The audience participates in the great debate that ensues, as the talking vegetables teach Spider the merits of collaboration, hard work, and contribution to community life in this African village.

Premiered at the Summer Reading Program at Seattle's Central Library in June, 2005! Available for future programming.

Gansango also presents the following workshops:

African dance workshop. Master dancer Etienne Cakpo from Benin teaches young people basic African movements. Energetic, rhythmic and lots of fun, this workshop will get everyone on their feet!

African percussion workshop. Etienne Cakpo from Benin and his master drummer friends from West Africa teach the young audience members to play basic rhythms on the shaker, bell and drums.  Basic rhythms are also practiced by clapping and singing.

Drums, drums, drums! The presenters demonstrate the wide variety of drums found across Africa, play and teach drum rhythms, and show the young audience members how they can make simple drums from basic materials.