THE FRIENDS OF SIRONKA DANCE TROUPE PRESENTS.

   
THE COMING OF THE NILOTICS!
Maasai and Luo Tribal Music and Dance

Spectacular dance, chanting and jumping contests introduce the fascinating East African Maasai and Luo cultures in this new performance. Members of these two Kenyan tribes, who share common ancestry as Nilotics, or people of the Nile, celebrate their differences by sharing their unique languages and cultures.

Wearing colorful clothing and beads, these 10 Maasai and Luo villagers honor their rich history of music, song, dance and storytelling through themes of motherhood, rites of passage, becoming a warrior and the praise of cattle. Kenyan Nicholas Sironka, who is a Maasai, master batik artist and Fulbright Scholar, leads this musical extravaganza. Enhance the performance with interactive workshops in bead making, storytelling, batik art, dance, hair braiding and Luo drumming.

  "Captivating performance…charged with energy and infectious enthusiasm."
   THE BREEZE, James Madison University.

The coming of the Nilotics a musical extravaganza abbreviated by short explanatory narratives, is a carefully crafted presentation geared towards helping students, teachers, their parents and the general public, understand more clearly the Cultural mystery surrounding Africa’s many tribal Cultures. This presentation predominantly done with song and dance and is performed by a very experienced, fun group of talented men and women.

   
Who are they?
The Luo and the Maasai were once upon a time ONE people. For Centuries they trekked southwards along the banks of the river Nile to eventually settle at their present places of settlement. Hence their combined name -Nilotics.

Today the Luo and the Maasai are among a total of 42 tribes living in Kenya. They speak different languages, lead different Cultural lifestyles, and have clearly different spiritual beliefs. And yet they all live in harmony with each other as KENYANS!


Our visit and performances will involve the following:
  • A 45 minute song and dance presentation, abbreviated by short explanatory narratives by Sironka, founder and leader of group.
  • A 5 minute Q and A session at the end of the performance.
  • Sale of craft ornaments and memorabilia by group.

Workshops in… Batik art, Maasai and Luo dance, Bead making, drum playing, eight string guitar, and hair braiding.


   

Regarding our visit, the presentations we will be doing will be as follows:

On arrival at the designated school, we will only take about ten minutes to prepare for our presentation.

  1. We will require ONE hand held microphone which I shall use at all times during the entire duration of the presentation.
  2. We will also need ONE other microphone after FIFTEEN minutes into our presentation to be placed on stage, for one of our EIGHT STRING guitar artistes to use.

    TWO MICROPHONES TOTAL.

  3. Our performance will run for 45 minutes, and will at its conclusion have a 10 minutes Question and Answer session which has always been very welcome by all our audiences!
  4. At the conclusion of our song and dance presentation, we will (if we are to hold our workshops in the school gymnasium) ask that students return to their classrooms for about 15 minutes. This will give time to our members to set up their workshop places.
(a) As we have BATIK ART, as one of our workshops, I shall ask that a WOODEN TOP TABLE be made available, and an electric extension cord. If i will be having this workshop in the art room, this will work too.
(b) BEAD MAKING: workshop will also require a long table that can allow for at least twelve students to sit around at a time.
(c) SONG AND DANCE: This will require a corner space in the gymnasium, where students can be taught how to sing, jump like Maasai warriors, dance like the Luo and maybe even have a go at the 8 string guitar!
(d) HAIRBRAIDING: This can also be located in the gymnasium, and only requires TWO chairs. Students will have their hair braded the MAASAI warrior style!
   

These workshops take place for as long as we are in that school, and hence for the full day.

Meals and Water:
Schools always provide drinking water for our members. In the past we have been very Blessed to be given lunch by the schools we have visited, and students have greatly enjoyed having members of our group spread out to different tables, to eat with them! This is up to the school.

(e) SALE OF ORNAMENTS: This as you know helps a lot to subsidize on our travel expenses such as air fares and transportation costs from State to State.
(f) Cost of visit and presentations by “The Friends of Sironka Dance Troupe” is subject to discussions with group leader – Nicholas Sironka.
   
We kindly request that this amount be made payable before departure of group from your school / venue.


Nicholas Sironka,
Leader / founder,
The Friends of Sironka Dance Troupe.




  

Designjobs Interactive Media
Web Site Designers