Gansango has ten years of experience producing performances and educational experiences for young people interested in African culture.  We strongly believe that dance, music, culture and storytelling are invaluable channels for educating and entertaining.

Gansango is available for children’s performances and workshops throughout the year.

Kaleta: A West African Children’s Festival

A four-man show for children and adventurous people of all ages. In West Africa, a young boy dreams of a beautiful Kaleta -a Halloween-like festival in which children dress as lions, zebras, and other animals and go door to door to entertain their neighbors. The boy soon enlists the performers to help him bring his dream to life in this dazzling mix of dancing, storytelling, drumming, singing, and colorful masks and costumes. Along the way, we meet the colorful trickster spirit “voudouavonou,” laugh at the story of “How spider got a big butt,” sing along with the talking drum to the African version of “Mary had a little goat,” take part in a festive dance of the Kaleta, and much more!

Kaleta was originally commissioned by Seattle International Children’s Festival in 2003, and went on to tour in 2004 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC., the Philadelphia International Children’s Festival, and performance venues in Miami and Long Island.
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Gansango created the following series of shows for youth audiences in Washington libraries and community centers.  These two-man performances include African music, story and dance presented by Master storyteller and award-winning author Won-Ldy Paye and master dancer Etienne Cakpo from Benin. Available for programming.

The Story of the Bell, Shaker and Drum

An enchanting tale of how an African village chooses their new musical leader when the old percussionist dies.  The bell, the shaker and the drum demonstrate their qualities and compete to become the new chief percussionist.  The audience will find out what instrument prevails! The Story of the Bell, Shaker and Drum portrays how cooperation, humility and leadership play essential roles in successful human environments.

The Talking Vegetables

An enchanting tale of Ananse the Spider who loves to sleep and avoids working in the village garden.  When harvest season comes, Spider is tired of eating plain rice.  But when he tries to pick them, the vegetables cry out, refusing to let Spider harvest them!  The audience participates in the great debate that ensues, as the talking vegetables teach Spider the merits of collaboration, hard work, and contribution to community life in this African village.

Long Ago In Benin and Liberia

This performance starts with two African youngsters comically instructing one another in the skills of dancing and storytelling.  Impressed by each other’s talents, they compete, encourage, support and grow towards their goals of becoming a professional dancer and storyteller. Long Ago In Benin and Liberia portrays how cooperation and inspiration play an essential role in successful human environments. 

Workshops for Youth

African dance workshop

Gansango dancers teach young people basic African movements. Energetic, rhythmic and lots of fun, this workshop will get everyone on their feet!

African percussion workshop

Musical artists from Gansango teach the young audience members to play basic rhythms on the shaker, bell and drums.  Basic rhythms are also practiced by clapping and singing.

Drums, drums, drums!

The presenters demonstrate the wide variety of drums found across Africa, play and teach drum rhythms, and show the young workshop participants how they can make simple drums from basic materials.