Drum Camp Home : World Rhythms! Drum & Dance Programs

Drum Camp programs will take place this year in Los Angeles during the World Rhythms Arts Program! (WRAP)

Visit the WRAP website to find out more.

About Drum Camp:

- West African drumming and dance
- Afro-Cuban drumming
(Beginning to advanced students welcome)

World Rhythms! Programs are for:

Beginning to Advanced Drummers
Beginning to Advanced Dancers
African Music enthusiasts
Drum Instructors
Dance Instructors
Community Music Facilitators
Music Therapists
Dance Therapists
Anyone who loves music and people.

World Rhythms! Programs will help you:

Improve your drumming technique (enjoy playing longer and improve musicality)
Improve your core timing and coordination (find more grace, balance and awareness)
Develop your sense of rhythm (timing is everything!)
Identify rhythms, styles and genres (become more comfortable in different music & dance settings)
Enjoy playing music in groups (boost your confidence and capacity for speaking the language of music)

To get a better idea of what it's like at Drum Camp - Visit the PHOTO GALLERY

Drum Camp Instructors:

Kalani, Drumming Instructor / Program Director

Kalani is a world-renowned percussionist, educator, and presenter.

He has performed and/or recorded with such music legends as Kenny Loggins, David Sanborn, Max Roach, Barry Manilow, Vic Damone, John Mayall, Chante Moore, Dr. John, Michael Kamen, Melissa Manchester and is the featured percussionist on the Yanni Live at the Acropolis video and CD. He is featured on recordings for Disney, Warner Brothers, Tri-Star Pictures, Paramount Studios, The Nature Company and Jim Hensen Records.

Kalani presents Drum Circle Music training programs throughout the US each year for hundreds of participants. His book, Together in Rhythm, is highly regarded in the field of Integrative Music Making and won the respected iParenting Media award for excellence.

Kalani has presented at MENC state and regional conferences including Georgia, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, California, Virginia and Rhode Island. He has been a featured clinician and speaker at the Taipei Percussion Institute, The International Percussion Festival (Belgium), The World Rhythm Festival (Seattle), several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the International Music Products Industry (NAMM) conference, the American Orff Schulwerk convention, and the American Music Therapy Association National conference.

Kalani has authored several books for Alfred publishing including All About Congas, All About Jembe, All About Bongos, Together In Rhythm, The Amazing Jamnasium, and most recently, co-authored "West African Drum & Dance" with Drum Camp instructor, Ryan M. Camara. He has also authored three hand drumming DVDs, available from MVP Home Video.

His company, Kalani Music, is an approved continuing education provider for music educators, music therapists and health care professionals. He continues to develop programs for education, wellness and development.

Ryan Camara, Drumming Instructor

Ryan Mehlmauer Camara is the adopted son and apprentice to Master Drummer M. Lamine "Dibo" Camara. He received his western training in music and theory at Orange Coast College and in ethnomusicology at the University of California Los Angeles, where he was awarded a special studies research project in Guineé, West Africa. Ryan was adopted by the Camara family of the Susu tribe in Guineé and began his traditional apprenticeship to Forè-Foté founder M. Lamine Dibo Camara in 1997. He has since made annual trips to Guineé, diligently training in the traditional music and dance of the djembe and dunun ensemble with M. Lamine Dibo Camara, Mamady Keita and members of both National Ballet Djoliba and Les ballets africains.
As a member of Company Forè-Foté, Ryan has performed and instructed traditional music of Guineé throughout the world, including features at the Dalai Lama's coordinated "World Festival of Sacred Music", and the "Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival". He performed on and produced Forè-Foté's 1999 critically acclaimed CD, "Wonbéré" with Lamine Dibo Camara, members of Les Ballets Africains and Prince Diabaté and has recorded and produced the instructional "Nature Center Djembe and dunun Workshop CD Series" and co-produced the "M. Lamine Dibo Camara Workshop Series CD." Ryan is also currently authoring books in the World Rhythms' Series for Alfred Publishing.

Ryan currently heads the Forè-Foté School of Drum and Dance Northwest located in Ashland, Oregon, where he instructs djembe and dunun workshops through his partnership with the non-profit organization Denbaya and has created his own West African Drum and Dance Ensemble, "Wakili" which performs throughout the Northwest. Through his training and apprenticeship, Ryan continues to dedicate himself to exploring and preserving the music, dance, and culture of West Africa and through Fore-Fote, Ryan has found the vehicle to share his passion, devotion and experiences with the world.

Guest Artists:

Marietou Camara, West African Dance Instructor

Mariatou Camara was born in Guinea, West Africa. Her exceptional abilities were recognized at a very young age and she spent several years performing with the highly acclaimed dance company, Les Merveilles d'Afrique. She would eventually become one of the lead dancers for Les Ballets Africains, under the direction of Italo Zambo and Kemoko Sano. In the words of Mr. Sano, "People wait to see Mariatou every time she performs. Her flexible body, natural talent and "gazelle-like" abilities are her biggest assets. In every performance she always brings joy to her audiences."
Mariatou lives in Oakland, CA and travels extensively as an instructor and guest artist.

For more information about Drum Camp programs, call 818-832-2028