Southeast Women’s Rhythm Retreat

2015

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DrumRise & Happy Beat Drumming

Welcome

DrumRise and Happy Beat Drumming WELCOME you to the 2015 Southeast Women’s Rhythm

Retreat at Camp Greenville in beautiful Cleveland, SC.

What is this retreat about?

Our goal is to provide you with a safe, fun, and women-centered environment where you can:

Relax - escape the busy world and responsibilities of everyday life

Create – new goals and new images of yourself

Unify – by connecting with other women

Reflect – through quiet meditation

Recharge – find renewed strength and focus by awakening the power of sisterhood,

participating in workshops, and reconnecting with nature at Camp Greenville

Reset – your life by leaving empowered, energized, and ready to realize your dreams

How

By providing opportunities for self-exploration through drumming, song, dance, and rhythm. By

allowing you to let go in your own way, at your own pace, in a beautiful and safe environment.

The current line-up of workshops/services includes the following:

West African Drumming (Djembe &

Dunun)

West African Dance

Taiko Drumming

Impromptu Glorious Chorus

Catch a Groove (organic rhythm

experience)

Shekere

TaKeTina

Yoga

Belly Dance

Massage (for extra fee)

Where

Camp Greenville YMCA Camp

4399 YMCA Camp Road

Cleveland, SC 29635

Nestled in the mountains of South Carolina, Camp Greenville offers a wide variety of activities

and the opportunity to connect with the beauty of nature. Here are a few highlights:

Close proximity to many natural recreation areas (Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National

Forest, Jones Gap State Park, Caesar's Head State Park and Mountain Bridge Wilderness

Area)

Information on South Carolina Information (South Carolina Information Highway -

SCIway)

Within 1 hour drive of Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC; 30 minutes from Brevard, NC;

and 45 minutes from Hendersonville, NC

1400+ acre mountain top setting

Accommodations

The camp has reserved three lakeside cabins for the women’s retreat. These cabins feature bunk beds

and several showers, toilets, and sinks per cabin.

A public phone is provided for your convenience and is available for use at all times. It is located at HIPP

Cabin. The code 12345 will get you in the door.

Emergency Contacts

AOD Pager: 1-800-932-8038 Greenville County, SC EMS: 911

Brevard County, NC EMS/Fire: 828-884-3244 Transylvania Co. Sheriff: 828-884-3244

Camp Registrar: 336-880-3536

Rules

In order to ensure the safety of our guests and the quality of the experience, we request that

you adhere to the following simple rules:

No pets

No burning candles in the cabins (only permissible during massage and approved workshops).

No illegal activities.

No littering.

Please leave Camp Greenville a better place than you found it.

Enter only buildings designated as your cabins or for your activities.

Do not write on cabin walls or furniture.

For safety purposes, we do not allow running in camp (unless supervised by one of the camp

staff during an activity). We are in a rustic environment, there are hazards such as venomous

snakes and poison ivy—stay on trails to help avoid these dangers.

All waterfronts are off limits unless a water activity is specifically authorized and supervised by a

Camp Greenville staff member.

All ropes center and group dynamics areas are off limits unless an activity is specifically

authorized and supervised by Camp Greenville personnel.

Please stay on pathways as you walk around camp.

Please do not ring the bells; they are part of our emergency system.

Smoking is permitted only in designated areas, and never in the presence of students or in

buildings.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on camp property. Those found in violation will be asked

to leave immediately without a refund.

To help save energy, please keep cabin doors closed and lights off when not in use.

Please emphasize that nature is to “observe not disturb.”

No weapons of any kind are permitted at camp. This includes firearms, hunting bows, knives,

any flammable liquids, and fireworks.

For your safety, please stay away from any construction areas at camp.

Please recycle! Recycling centers are located throughout camp.

Note: Failure to comply with the rules may result in your expulsion from the retreat without a

refund.

Retreat Schedule

The retreat schedule may be subject to change. We are working hard to offer our wide variety of classes

in a way that gives each participant the opportunity to experience as many of our instructors as possible.

After your register for the event, you will receive an email update with any changes to the schedule.

Friday 9/25/15 Location

1:00 – 2:30 Check In / Unloading

2:30 – 4:00 Catch a Groove #1 Mulligan Center

Taiko #1 (25 max participants) Lodge

4:30 – 6:00 Belly Dance #1 Mulligan Center

TaKeTiNa Lodge

6:00 – 7:00 Dinner Dining Hall

7:30 – 8:00 Opening Circle TBA

8:30 – 10:00 Sekere #1 Mulligan Center

Free Time (Massage / Private Lessons) Lodge

9:00 – 11:00 Fire Circle Fire Circle

11:00 Lights Out / Quiet Time

Saturday 9/26/15 Location

7:00 Yoga #2 TBA

8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast Dining Hall

9:30 – 11:00 Belly Dance #2 Mulligan Center

All-levels Djembe #1 Lodge

11:30 – 1:00 Taiko #2 (25 max participants) Lodge

Impromptu Glorious Chorus #1 Mulligan Center

1:00 – 2:00 Lunch Dining Hall

Group Picture

2:30 – 4:00 African Dance / Drumming for Dancers #1 Lodge

2:30 – 4:00 Beginner Djembe TBA

4:00 – 5:30 Catch A Groove – organic rhythm experience #2 Mulligan Center

Dunun Workshop Lodge

5:30 – 6:30 Guided Nature Hike TBA

5:30 – 7:00 Sekere #2 Lodge

6:45 – 7:45 Dinner Dining Hall

8:00 – 9:30 Impromptu Glorious Chorus #2 Mulligan Center

Taiko #3 (25 participants max) Lodge

9:00 – 11:00 Fire Circle Fire Circle

11:00 Lights Out / Quiet Time/ Day Commuters must leave by this time

Sunday 9/27/15 Location

07:00 Yoga #2 TBA

08:00 – 09:00 Breakfast Dining Hall

09:30 – 10:30 All-levels Djembe #2 Lodge

Guided Nature Hike TBA

10:30 – 12:00 African Dance / Drumming for Dancers #2 Lodge

Beverly/Elise/Terry – Special Joint Workshop Mulligan Center

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch Dining Hall

1:30 – 2:00 Closing Circle Lodge

2:00 Check Out

Featured Instructors

AMY JACKSON (All-levels Djembe), a drummer since age 9 and student of

the djembe since 2002, is the director of DrumRise in Atlanta, GA. She is also a

performer, musical director, educator, events coordinator and (in her

“previous life”) an RN of 30 years.

Amy’s passion is bringing people together through the inspirational power of

rhythm, which she achieves through her dedication to teaching the traditional

music of West Africa and facilitating the transformational, meditative rhythm

and movement modality, TaKeTiNa.

Her home is a hub for visiting international artists, including renowned

initiated master djembefolas Mamady Keita and Famoudou Konate and

founders/co-creators of Taketina, Reinhard Flatischler and Cornelia Flatischler.

Amy brings an infectious enthusiasm to her teaching and has a unique ability to inspire both kids and

adults to reach their fullest potential. She performs with two high-energy percussion West African

ensembles, Ten Blocks Away and ConunDrums, tribute band “Taylor Made” and a retro-rock band, The

Crustaceans, her classmates since she was 9 years old, who inspired her to become a percussionist.

All-levels Djembe

Amy’s class will be filled with joy, fun, and toe-tapping, spirit- filled energy. Using the step-by-step Tam

Tam Mandingue pedagogy, Amy will introduce good technique, basic sounds for the djembe, fun warm

ups, a traditional West African rhythm, songs, splashes of history and culture from West Africa, and

always a surprise or two sprinkled in!

ROBIN “BOUNTOURABI” LEFTWICH (Drumming for Dancers / All-

levels Djembe), co-owner of Happy Beat Drumming, has been a

student of West African art and culture for over 25 years. Her three

trips to Guinea, West Africa have given her a unique and authentic

perspective on the role of the djembe in African ceremonies,

celebrations, and everyday life.

Bountou has a special talent for sharing her love of the djembe and

African culture with students of all levels. She has traveled

throughout the Southeast teaching drumming, drum-building,

performing, consulting, and providing workshops. Bountou has

studied in Guinea with Fode Moussa Camara and various teachers

from the Gbassikolo Ballet. She has also studied with Aly Camara,

Mohammed Decosta, Bolokada Conde, Nansady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Mamady Keita, John Scalici,

Jim Donovan, Ubaka Hill, Bill Scheidt, and Tom Harris.

Drumming for Dancers

In this class, students will play for a live dance class (see West African Dance). This experience allows

students to experience how drum and dance fit together. Students may also have the opportunity to

begin learning solo phrasing to accompany specific dance moves.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

- Helen keller

COLLEEN CAFFREY (Dunun/TaKeTiNa), co-founder of DrumRise

has been playing and teaching djembe since 2003 and is a

certified instructor with Tam Tam Mandingue, the global

network of djembe schools founded by Guinean Master

Drummer, Mamady Keita. Colleen has worked closely with

Keita transcribing 72 rhythms (traditional and original

compositions) to be published in his upcoming book,

“Nankama.”

Colleen is committed to helping people deepen their rhythmic

sense to empower their own creative expression. As a certified

TaKeTiNa facilitator, Colleen uses a kinesthetic learning process

to help students deeply embody polyrhythmic relationships

found in West African and other archetypal rhythms. Through TaKeTiNa she also guides people

to use rhythm as a meditation modality – promoting the practice of presence and mindfulness

to experience inner stillness and universal connection in music and movement.

Dunun (Sangban, Kenkeni, and Dununba) are the melodic bass drums of the Mandingue

drumming orchestra. These drums are traditionally played with a stick in one hand, striking the

skin in and a metal striker in the other hand playing a bell.

We’ll cover traditional West African rhythms, emphasizing the archetypal patterns that you can

use to learn new rhythms faster and create your own variations! The bell patterns on their own

can be applied to any percussion instrument and can be an empowering, solidifying force for

cohesive groove in a community drum circle setting!

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what

they have planned for you? Not much. “

- Jim rohn

RACHEL JUREN (Beginning Djembe), co-owner of Happy Beat Drumming, has been a student of West African drumming for 8 years. She teaches djembe and dunun as well facilitating drum circles and group events. Rachel has combined her love of leadership studies to create a series of rhythm-based team building and leadership workshops. In addition to teaching, Rachel is also a drum-builder. She makes custom dununs and ashikos.

She travels throughout the Southeast providing workshops and teaching drumming. Rachel has studied under Robin “Bountourabi” Leftwich, Bill Scheidt, Aly Camara, Mohammed Decosta, Bolokada Conde, Nansady Keita, Ubaka Hill, and Jim

Donovan.

Beginning Djembe

In this class, Rachel will use fun games and a pressure-free environment to introduce students to basic

technique for playing the djembe. Students will learn the three primary sounds, proper body and hand

position, and a brief history of the drum. A traditional rhythm and song will be taught.

“The secrect of getting ahead is getting started.”

- Mark twain

CHRISTAN CARTER-PORET (African Dance), has been communicating

Gods gifts and words through dance since the tender age of 6.

Beginning at St. Jude Catholic Church in New Orleans, Mrs. Judy

Legier took Christan under her wing. In 1996, Abdoulaye “Papa”

Camara, one of the major contributors to African Dance in the United

States, founded Allahbatu Traditional African Dance and Drum

Company where Christan’s confidence as an African

Dancer/Instructor and her imprint on the African Dance Community

in New Orleans as well as other places became evident. Since the

disaster of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Christan has relocated to

Atlanta, GA, where she quickly immersed herself, husband, and kids

into the Atlanta African Dance Community, began teaching classes

and continued to be a strong supporter of the exposure of African

Culture to as many as possible. This joyful spirit continues to study

and make efforts to keep the traditions and dreams of her

predecessors alive. To know and work with Christan is to know pure unconditional love for the African

Dance and Drum Cultures, communities, people, music, energies, and characters it brings together.

West African Dance (joining the drummers in the second 90 minutes of Bountourabi Leftwich’s

“Drumming for Dancers” class.)

Students will learn West African Dances and Songs from Senegal, Mali, and/or Guinea. The class begins

with a warm-up, then transition into the dance through the history and song presentation, finally

progresses to more energetic movements, ending in a bantaba circle for self/personal expression. This is

a multi-level class (beginners – advanced) accompanied by live African drumming. Please wear

comfortable clothes, loose or stretchy, a lapa (optional), and prepare to dance with your bare feet.

ELAINE FONG (Taiko Drumming), is an accomplished taiko (Japanese

drums) artist, with over 30 years of experience which includes:

being the founder of Odaiko New England, www.onetaiko.org, based in

Massachusetts; ten years with Soh Daiko in New York; and being a member

of the West-Coast based taiko groups Maze Daiko and Kiku Daiko.

Ms. Fong has ten years of dance training, and over 20 years of rhythm

teaching experience. She has collaborated with choreographers, has

composed for film and for the theater.

Ms. Fong is a certified Taketina rhythm teacher, advanced level. She has

an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and an MBA from Yale

University. Her working career spans the public, private and non-profit

sectors.

www.rhythmsinlife.com

Taiko-style Japanese Drumming

Have you had a secret yearning to pound on something other than a table with no consequence? Have

you wanted to express your inner “ferocity” in a positive way?

Taiko is a great way to unleash your inner potential. Bring out the “inner” drummer in you. Play with

ease using your entire body and your voice to create an energetic and rhythmic flow. No experience

necessary. Just bring your enthusiasm. Taiko is a physical experience; wear loose and comfortable

clothing.

Elaine Fong, founder of Odaiko New England leads this visceral style of drumming. She’ll demonstrate

the technique on authentic Japanese taiko drums. The class will play on easy-to-make “trash-can taiko”

and we’ll send you home with instructions on how you can make your own!

ELISE WITT (Impromptu Glorious Chorus), The producer of the

Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage calls Elise Witt “a performer to

remember with international savvy and personal charm.” Elise was

born in Switzerland, raised in North Carolina, and since 1977, has

made her home in Atlanta. She speaks five languages fluently,

sings in over a dozen more, and has been a cultural ambassador to

South Africa, Italy, China, Switzerland, and Nicaragua.

A songwriter and composer, she tours the the world with

her Global, Local & Homemade Songs.™ Her latest CD Valise, is her

11th recording for EMWorld Records, and an album of her

compositions have been arranged for choirs in the Elise Witt

Choral Series. From 1980-2000, Elise sang with the Atlanta

Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus under the

direction of Robert Shaw and, in recent years, she has studied extensively with masters of

improvisation Bobby McFerrin, Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, David Darling, and Rhiannon, whose pedagogy she

incorporates into her own teaching. She has earned a reputation as a masterful educator, encouraging

even the shyest singers to revel in their voices. Her workshops and concerts use music as a language to

celebrate our cultural diversity while appreciating our connections as one human family.

EliseWitt.com

Impromptu Glorious Chorus™ Elise leads a session of glorious group singing, teaching in a style so easy that, before you know it, the

room is in perfect harmony! Drawing from her love of diverse melodies and rhythms, Elise may

introduce a Brazilian samba, a Congolese storysong, an Italian round, or four-part harmonies from

Zimbabwe. There are lots of songs in English, including songs from the African American tradition, quirky

rounds, food songs, Bobby McFerrin style Circle Songs, Elise originals, and lots more!. All of the songs

are broken down into easily learnable parts and become thrilling to sing in a group. Whether you've

sung all your life or think you "can't carry a tune in a bucket," in no timeat all, you'll find yourself part of

an Impromptu Glorious Chorus!

IYA OLORI ORIYOMI (Sekere), is best known and loved by all her

students as MAMA YEYE, the Sekere Woman of Atlanta.

Ma Yeye is a Yoruba Priestess of Obatala /Oshun who has traveled

throughout the U.S. and Africa as a Sekere ((sha-ka-ray) percussionist,

educator, performing artist, playwright and dance/theatre instructor.

She LOVES sharing African dance, movement, culture, music, and

theatre while inspiring the youth she often works with to be triple

threats on stage. facebook.com/groups/MamaYeyeAmazing

Sekere (Shay-ka-ray) is an African hand drum made from a gourd strung

with Beads, nuts, shells or seeds.Today, Sekeres are played in bands,

drum circles, parades, choirs, worship celebrations, live concerts and

festivals all over the world.

Terry Garthwaite (special workshop), is an internationally known

singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and teacher. In performance,

Terry has shared the stage with BB King, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, The

Band, Allen Ginsberg, and Santana, and for many years led the iconic

Bay Area band Joy of Cooking with Toni Brown. She has produced

recordings by many artists, including Rosalie Sorrels, Rhiannon, and

Ferron’s award-winning “Shadows on a Dime.” Currently she is

working on We're All BORN SINGING, the new CD by Elise Witt, and

Terry's new recording LEGACY will be out later this year.

BEVERLY BOTSFORD (Catch a Groove / Special), is a

cross-cultural percussionist and educator, blending

music, movement, and spoken word in solo and

ensemble presentations. Embracing drumming

traditions and inspirations of Africa, Cuba, South

America and her native North Carolina, she weaves

colorful rhythmic tapestries with her infinite array of

collected and homemade instruments.

Beverly celebrates more than 30 years of full-time, professional experience, performing and teaching in

an infinite variety of situations. Highlights include 13 years of touring with Chuck Davis and the African

American Dance Ensemble as well as more than a decade on the faculty of the American Dance Festival.

Over the years, she has shared her passion for rhythm and culture in hundreds of school and community

residencies, workshops and performances, in solo and ensemble presentations. Since 1998, Beverly has

toured internationally with Grammy nominated jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon in such venues as the

Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Umbria Jazz Festival. Television credits include

appearances on CBS “Good Morning,” BET Jazz, UNC-TV’s “Our State” and WRAL’s award winning,

“Smart Start Kids.”

Recent highlights include work with the Urban Bush Women Dance Company as well as performances

with Nnenna Freelon in London, Greece, Brazil, Angola and in Hawaii for President Obama and 200

world heads of state.

Beverly offers a variety of solo and ensemble performances as well as workshops and residencies. She

tailors presentations to the needs of the presenter, the audience and in educational settings, to the

curriculum. She is on the touring and education roster for the NC Arts Council and is a member of

Alternate ROOTS, www.alternateroots.org, intersecting arts and activism to build a better world.

RULESTER “RU” DAVIS (Belly Dance), is a former Modern/Jazz Dancer from Detroit. After she completed her Peace Corps Volunteer Service in Kenya, East Africa, where she learned African Dancing, she then traveled to Egypt. During her 9 month stay in Egypt, Ru learned Classical Egyptian Belly Dancing. Ru says “Dancer’s are connected all over the world”, after traveling to 18 countries.

Intro to Belly Dance with Ru will get women of all ages, shapes and

sizes moving and grooving. No experience needed!

SAFIYAH PANKEY (Massage), has been a certified massage therapist

for 10 years and a drummer for 12 years, as a founding member of the

all women’s drum ensemble, ConunDrums!

Safiyah will be offering massage (for a fee) during select times

throughout the weekend. Her weekend calendar will fill up fast, so

see Saf early! Safiyah’s "Soothing Hands" Massage Therapy services

include Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage NMT and Chair

Massage.

CINDY STARK REID (Yoga), is a licensed massage therapist and a licensed professional counselor. She has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. Cindy has been facilitating workshops and classes in mind/body practices for 20 years. She is a Wellness Facilitator at Piedmont Cancer Wellness in Atlanta, GA. Cindy has also been drumming since 2001, as a founding member of the Atlanta-area all women’s drumming group, ConunDrums!

Contact Us

If you have questions about the retreat, please feel free to contact us:

DrumRise

P.O. Box 33054

Decatur, GA 30033

Phone: (404) 783-0409 or (404) 784-2462

Email: amy@drumrise.net

Web: www.drumrise.net

Happy Beat Drumming

P.O. Box 6362

High Point, NC 27262

Phone: (336) 880-3536

Email: bountou@happybeatdrumming.com or rachel@happybeatdrumming.com

Web: www.happybeatdrumming.com