Arabic Dumming, African Drumming, Latin Percussion Japanese Taiko and more! As we started out in 1991 as a ‘Drumming Convention’ it’s not surprising that Doris’s heart beats with the drum! From complete novices to experts there is something for everyone to stretch yourselves and learn. Each morning there are five different levels of djembe and many other drumming classes throughout the day as well as the famous drum circles where you can experiment with all you have learnt.
As always we will have a creative mix of old favourites and new teachers in all areas. Watch out for regular updates to these pages.
Workshop levels have been introduced to make everybody’s learning experience better, it’s not a judgement of your quality but an acceptance that we are all different. You are always welcome to sit in on a more advanced class and listen. A description of levels and abilities that might be helpful can be found in the Workshop FAQ. See the Teachers 2011 pages to find out who is leading the different levels of djembe workshops this year.
“A good drummer listens as much as they play” - Indian proverb
For more advanced players, many of whom are professionals in their own right, the opportunity to play for the dance classes alongside Senegalese, Guinean, Brazilian or Arab artists is a wonderful training and inspiration.
In 2007 we introduced a new workshop for drumming in performance groups. Working with Hans Sutton and members of the group Shekere we explored ways to perform dynamically, play as a group and stretched your abilities in new ways. We have workshops on drumming for dancers led by Idrissa Camara: develop that all important communication between the drummers and the dancers that takes us all to another level whether playing dancing or watching.
If you’ve never drummed before there is a class for complete beginners run by Nanette McLelland, a patient and talented drummer who knows how to coax, encourage and inspire. if you are an advanced drummer you will be taught by the inimitable Seckou Keita. If you are at any of the stages in between there is a djembe class for you that will deepen your knowledge, sharpen your skills and inspire you to new heights.
Jalil Toukja is teaching intermediate level drummers to sing as they drum, Nansady Keita and Ibro Soumah are bringing their own teaching styles to the other levels and Vieux Bakayoko will be leading the dundun workshop. This year we are introducing Maracatu from northern Brazil with Wendell Bara, as well as inviting back James Barrow, Britain’s foremost teacher of Japanese Taiko.
No matter what level you play at, Doris is a space where you will feel safe to make mistakes and get it wrong because mistakes are understood as essential steps to learning! That’s why there are classes for all different levels of ability and experience. There is also the daily drum circle with Josh West where, no matter what your level of drumming skill, you can join in, have fun and feel connected.
Some workshops will be more in depth than others and will ask for a commitment to work hard to improve and deliver a fine performance at the end. Teachers of these classes will be asked to push the students. Most classes will be given the opportunity to show their skills in Saturday’s finale.There will be samba classes in the youth area everyday with Jamma de Samba, as well as daily percussion workshops in the children’s area.
If you don’t have a drum you can hire a fairly-traded one from Ghana Goods - contact them in advance on 0117 935 4132.
There will be stalls selling drums and goods from Africa, India, Tibet and more besides.
Drum | Dance | Song | Ceremony
