Services​

African Drumming Classes

Djembe Alchemy offers African Drumming classes and workshops for adults and teens at Beginner and Experienced levels in the Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Newcastle areas.  Classes are focused on learning traditional west African rhythms that have been shared with us by our teachers.  Typically, classes start with a warm-up, rhythm game or body percussion, followed by learning and practicing a traditional rhythm.  We will cover the cultural story or background behind the rhythm and incorporate short songs with some rhythms.

Workshops/Classes/Mini-Series

Djembe drumming classes and workshops are fun and interactive, you will stimulate your brain, memory, mind-body connection, build coordination and meet new people.

In a workshop we cover one rhythm, often in a slightly reduced way due to the time limitation.

A mini-series covers a single rhythm in a much fuller way incorporating extra parts such as breaks, calls and potentially simple solos.

A full term of classes (9 to 10 weeks) will generally cover 2 to 3 rhythms with calls, breaks and sometimes solos depending on class level and rhythm complexity.

Levels: Beginner

The Beginner classes have a big focus on learning the basics and putting them to use in relatively simple rhythms.  We build up as we go, practicing our technique, getting used to the drum and getting used to playing in a group.

Levels:  Experienced

The Experienced level is for those that have a good basic grounding in playing the djembe.  You will have done at least a couple of terms of Beginner classes or have some sort of other musical or drumming background.  You should be able to confidently execute bass, tone, and slap, and keep up at a moderate pace.  The Experienced class could also be considered an Intermediate class, although we don’t want to place limitations on where any particular group can get to.

African Dance Classes

African dance in the Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Newcastle areas

African Dance is a vibrant form of dance where your individuality can shine within the framework of a group dance.  It’s mostly done to live drumming which adds a special element, a special interaction between drummer and dancer that isn’t present with recorded music.

African Dance gets the blood pumping, the joints mobilised, the brain focused, detoxes the body and mind, and builds that essential mind body connection. It’s super fun, interactive, accessible to everyone, and you’ll make friends in the process.

African Dance allows you to adjust your effort and range of motion to the amount that is right for you.  If it’s challenging then you can limit the range of your movements or stay higher in your stances, if you’re a bit fitter and mobile, you can go deeper in your stances, step further, jump higher and extend your range of motion to suit.

At the end everyone will be sweating and smiling on the natural high of movement.

Type: Introductory

Our Introductory African Dance classes and workshops are accessible to teens and adults and practiced with live drumming.  We start with a warm-up, building the pace and energy as we go, then we work through a structured dance piece, adjusting the pace to the abilities of the group.

Type: Longevity

Longevity classes are focused on getting the body mobilised, blood flowing, joints lubricated, and mind engaged.  They’re a gentler class, mostly during the daytime, sometimes to live drumming and sometimes to recorded music.  They are accessible to people of all fitness and mobility levels and focused on the gems in our midst that are getting on a little in life but still want new experience, to be active and to engage with others in a fun and vibrant way.

Private events

Djembe Alchemy can bring something special to your next event, creating an environment for people to connect and interact in unique ways, and making your event something special and something to remember.  Your guest will be buzzing and talking about how much fun they had.

We cater to women’s and men’s circles, special needs groups, seniors groups, weddings and other gatherings.  We focus on creating a fun, engaging and uplifting gathering within an alcohol-free environment.

We can deliver West African focused drum and/or dance workshops, or more general Rhythm Circles using drums and other percussion instruments.

Get in touch to discuss a format that’s right for your group.