News

This winter, Portland State University will offer dance and percussion courses as a part of the World Cultures and Dance program, a pilot program focused especially on the dance and culture of the African Diaspora in the Americas. The program offers classes in Cuban Salsa, Zydeco Dance, West African Dance, Rio Style Samba Dance, Brazilian Samba Percussion and Afro-Cuban Drumming. The program also offers a classroom-based course on festival dance in the African diaspora, focused especially on Brazilian Carnaval. Classes will be conducted on campus from January 3 until March 11, 2005, and can be taken for credit through the Department of Humanities or on a cash/no-credit basis. The program is open to the public and scholarships are available for high school students. For more information about the courses and registration contact Mary King at 503-725-3940 or kingm@pdx.edu, or visit www.wcad.pdx.edu.

Courses Offered in Winter 2005
Brazilian Percussion
2 Credits
Monday/Wednesday 3:30-5 p.m.
Instructor: Brian Davis
Led by Brian Davis of Portland's Lions of Batucada and Pink Martini, this class will cover how to play samba and the wide variety of percussion instruments that make up the Brazilian Bateria - as played in the escolas of Rio de Janeiro and the blocos of Salvador, Bahia and Brazil.

Festival Dance in Brazil
4 Credits
Tuesday/Thursday 12-1:50 p.m.
Instructor: Catherine Evelshin
This is a classroom-based class that focuses on the famous Brazilian "carnaval" both in Salvador da Bahia in northeastern Brazil and Rio de Janeiro, through lectures and video presentations.

Zydeco Dance
2 Credits
Monday/Wednesday 3:30-5 p.m.
Instructor: Janine Tebeau-Jemerson and Roland Jemerson
Zydeco is the blues and dance music of the French-speaking Louisiana Creoles. This "steaming hot" partner dance is similar in many ways to salsa and swing with a lot of room for personal expression and style.

Afro-Cuban Music
2 Credits
Tuesday/Thursday 7:30-9 p.m.
Instructor: Jeff Burres
Through demonstration and participation, this multi-level course introduces the participants to ceremonial and secular forms of Afro-Cuban music. Students will also learn to play the music of Yoruba, Arara and Bantu.

Latino Popular Dance
2 Credits
Monday/Wednesday 2-3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Isidro Valor
Master dancer and drummer Isidro Valor, who recently arrived from Cuba, will teach salsa, casino rueda, cha-cha-cha, mambo and other popular Cuban partner dances. No partner required.

West African Dance
2 Credits
Tuesday/Thursday 2-3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Ruby Burns
Portland's own Ruby Burns brings her years of experience in teaching, training and performing the Senegambian dance. The class will be accompanied by live drumming.

Rio Style Samba Dance
2 Credits
Tuesday/Thursday 6-7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Sheyla Mattos
Learn Rio-style samba from the Brazilian co-leader of the fabulous Lions of Batucada dance troupe. This is a cash/no credit class.