LAUNCHING THE WORK: MCNAIR SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO
We gathered together in a big circle the students, faculty, drummers and me. We held hands to signify unity in this process of awakening. The intention was set: “What is it that each of us need from this experience to be successful in the course of our lives?” One by one we spoke from that beautiful space of vulnerability that lives inside of each of us. You know the place where we hide in fear of being open and seen by others, even though our soul longs to be free and powerful, life experiences have us choosing to remain small. As each of us offered our voice to this process of divine intention we united our path forward for the next six weeks.
The McNair Scholars Program at the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama is a federally funded program designed to assist first generation college students and limited-income students, as well as those students underrepresented in graduate education to successfully earn a degree. DRUM the Program’s platform facilitated an experience that would support the development of positive self-identity, inform diverse cultural awareness, and build a connection to the larger community. When organizing the moving components of this workshop we carefully designed a curriculum of art, music and dance that would serve to deliver tools for improving self-esteem, cultural understanding, awaken artistic expression, and build a connection to others. What we chose to create through this six-week course was an experience of a “Rite of Passage.” Encyclopedia Britannica defines the Rite of Passage as a ceremonial event, existing in all historically known societies, that marks the passage from one social or religious status to another.
The artistic tool for establishing a baseline in personal awareness was the creation of individual collages. The collage serves to give a voice to the subconscious mind. This provided a foundation for individual hopes and aspirations to be revealed and articulated through chosen images. This aspect of the course was simply beautiful to witness how each student, faculty, and drum team member took the time to create their collage allowing for the intention of the workshop to guide their attention inward.
The music for this course was chosen to deliver an experience of West African drum and dance based upon the intention of the Rite of Passage. When choosing the music that would facilitate our desired outcomes, we chose rhythms based upon their cultural context. 1) The music chosen to honor the delivery of knowledge that helped the student identify the ‘what and how’ of the tools needed to successfully complete their college degree was the rhythm called “Sinte.” The music of Sinte comes from the Nalou ethnic tribe in the village of Boke located in the upper West coast of Guinea Conakry. The cultural context of this rhythm is traditionally played during the beginning of a “Rite of Passage” for young boys and girls. 2) We introduced the fun rhythm of Kou Kou which is a celebration rhythm. We chose the music of Kou Kou to deliver an experience of happiness and joy that could easily be felt through the drum.
The successful outcomes of this amazing journey achieved more than what we had hoped for. Each week the students actively engaged in the learning and transformational process that this platform was designed to accomplish. One by one the students and participants came out of their shells and smiled as they danced in the space of these amazing drum rhythms from West Africa. They moved their physical bodies to these polyrhythms and unlocked holding places of fear, doubt, and shyness. Opening to courageous affirmations of where they are currently in their lives to where they are longing to go and what they will do in the world. The recognition of the shifts displayed and articulated by participants was beautiful to witness.
One of the male students spoke of his current educational path to become an engineer. He stated that “what I have gotten from this course is that I really feel joy when I am able to express myself through dance. I would like to find a way in my future to use art as a tool to inform my engineering path going forward.” The takeaway from this statement is that the experience of this workshop achieved its goal of helping these McNair Scholars to arrive at a place from within where they would have the courage and confidence to articulate what they are in need of to be successful to walk across that stage and receive their diploma.
During our closing ceremony one by one each member of this beautiful community shared with us their individual impact… Beauty Hope Love Community Joy Courage. All these words are confirmation of the healing power of West African drum and dance. Cultural traditions of this art form have been used for hundreds of years to build community and unlock stuck and stagnate energy in the mind and physical body. The power of these polyrhythms from West Africa are noninvasive tools for healing. All that is required to accomplish the true power of this art form is intention, guided attention and an open mind to a diverse cultural experience.
The McNair Scholars workshop provided a knowledgeable and relevant practice of West African drum and dance that was educational insightful and joyful. We were triumphant in building a platform that would serve as a “Rite of Passage” for first generation college students to break free from a fear of not achieving to standing in a place of confidence surrounded by a community of peers and elders who believe in the vision they have for themselves.
DRUM the Program is a plug-in platform. Due to the universal nature of the music and dances from West Africa you too can create diverse inclusive experiences such as the model delivered to the McNair Scholars Program. Our platforms can be used to bridge communities for building a more inclusive society. Our program supports the development of positive identity for any age group or ethnic demographic. For established West African drum and dance communities we bring fresh ideas for increasing public buy in.
Please email us for more information on how to improve, create, or build a community platform that is fun, relevant and transformative. drumtheprogram@gmail.com
