West African Dance
In West Africa, dance and drumming are the heartbeat of culture and community. Traditional dances and rhythms accompany all manner of life's passages; births, weddings, coming of age ceremonies, planting and harvesting of crops, full moons, courtship and more.
Thanks to the artists and cultural ambassadors of Guinea, this tradition is experienced and remembered around the globe.
Join an international community when you learn some of the songs, rhythms and dances of West Africa.
Remember our connection to Earth; how communal practices are an essential part of inter-being. Feel the joy of enlived, heart and hip opening movement and the steady beat of the drums.
"I love dance, but new classes can sometimes be intimidating. I felt welcomed by Marita and the rest of the community from my first moments. The classes are well-planned from warm-up through the breakdown of different steps. Marita gives the history behind the steps and makes sure people at all levels can join along in joy." ~Darcie D.
Let’s Dance! ~ Here’s What to Know:
In these classes, community is remembered as sacred. As your teacher, I practice and teach this art form as a forever-student of the culture. As students, we honor the roots of our own and one another’s heritage, as we learn from this rich cultural art and communal practice.
Enjoy enlivened heart and hip opening movements, practice timing and rhythm cadence, learn cultural and historical context in dances of Guinea, West Africa. Honoring the source and original teachers of the form.
Live drumming, as available.
Offerings:
☯ SPRING 2026 SERIES!
Tuesdays, April 7 - May 26, 2026
6:00-7:15pm Portland, ME
CLICK HERE for Registration
Location provided upon registration
☯ Private & Small Group Lessons (in person and online)
☯ Workshops & Classes
" Marita is a wonderful teacher, full of life with a good sense of humor. She is easily approachable and very knowledgeable about African dance. I'm 64 and still able to keep up! You can go as gentle or as wild as you are able. Awesome fun celebration of movement, community and dance. The live drumming is fabulous and makes the class very powerful. I would recommend it to all." ~Deb K.
Ages and Levels
In order to create the best experience for all, classes are generally catered for either children’s or adults’ paces and attention spans. Children’s classes are often grouped by grade levels. Adult classes include teens, elders and everyone in between.
Everyone is welcomed to move at their own pace and take adjustments of the movements to suit their body and comfort level with intention to stay authentic to the tradition. We welcome a spirit of gratitude and respect to the culture. Watching, practicing, and trying out movements in a shared community environment is excellent learning for people of all ages.
Dance class with Marita at Payson Park.
Photo and Article by Shannon Bryan for Fit Maine.
“Great teachers are sadly rare. Marita’s ability to design a space that makes room for multiple degrees of aptitude, as well as just an environment that is immersive and inviting, is really a jewel.”
~Jonathan F.
More Than Rhythm and Dance
The dances of West Africa are multifaceted.
Beyond movement and music, they are culture, history, tradition, the evolution of an artform and a life force.
For an overview of the history and context of this cultural art form, and to meet some of my most influential teachers, please click to learn more:
Commitment to Accessibility:
Access to dance is deserved by all and I’m committed to being as physically and financially accessible I’m able.
Physically
The main studio where I hold private lessons has a wheelchair ramp to enter and 31.5” doorways into the movement space, which has a wooden floor and windows along each wall. There are plenty of padded folding chairs available for use. The dance area is a street-shoes-off area. There is a one-room unisex bathroom with a 35” doorframe to enter. The toilet is 17.5” high. There is a grab bar along one side. Pedestal sink is 31.5” high.
Financially -
While I have an asking price for private lessons and community classes, I also provide access on a sliding scale. Learn more about accessing and/or supporting Movement Medicine for Social Change at the link.
From 2003-2023 Marita taught weekly community classes in Portland, Maine, accompanied by live drumming. She extends her heartfelt gratitude to all who participated in these weekly classes, sharing the love of West African Dance over the many years!
In addition to occasional workshops Marita now offers a Fall semester course in Dance of Guinea, West Africa at Bates College, alongside master drummer Sayon Camara.
Weekly classes in West African Dance (with Liz Fowler) and Drum (with Namory Keita) occur at the Dance Hall in Kittery, ME. Visit Seacoast Dance and Drum for details. Namory also teaches Mondays in Portland, ME!