African Music & Dance Camp for Kids
Are you looking for something unique for your child to do this summer? Our highly interactive camp program is staffed by experienced coaches and counselors, giving your child the opportunity to dive into music and dance from Zimbabwe and beyond! Kids are placed in peer groups to ensure age-appropriate lessons, and everyone has the opportunity to participate in an end-of-camp show at Steinbaugh Pavilion as part of a Kutandara performance at the Louisville Farmers Market.
July 15-19, 2024
Final performance on Saturday, July 20, 11 am-1 pm @ Louisville Farmers Market
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Monday-Friday, 9 am-12 pm
Ages 6-8 and 9-12
$375
Kutandara’s Summer Camp is a unique cross-cultural program that gives children an in-depth opportunity to explore music, dance, and art from southern Africa in a day camp setting. Kids play by ear and build their musical confidence on all levels! If your kids are already doing music, this is the perfect match. If your kids haven’t yet had success with conventional music – you’ll love this! No prior musical experience is necessary.
· Zimbabwean Marimba + Mbira
· Zimbabwean Songs + Games
· African Drumming + Dance
· African Arts + Crafts
Amy Stewart McIntosh, camp director, has been teaching summer camps at Kutandara since 1999. Our 2024 staff includes guest Zimbabwean teacher Blessing Chimanga, Kutandara Artistic Director Randy McIntosh, and vetted counselors from our teen performance program.
African Music Leadership Summit for Teens
July 15-19, 2024
Final performance on Saturday, July 20, 11 am-1 pm @ Louisville Farmers Market
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Monday-Friday, 1-4 pm
Ages 13-18
$375
Come explore your natural leadership through Zimbabwean music, coached by Blessing Chimanga and other guest Zimbabwean instructors. Using concepts from Blessing’s wildly popular young adult marimba program ‘Dreams Marimba Camp’ in Zimbabwe, teens will be exposed to concepts of integrity, goal setting, character building, practice techniques, and stage presence using the marimba ensemble as a vehicle for exploring these topics. All levels (including beginners) are welcome. Teens will be grouped by age and experience.
50 Voices of Marimba
50 Voices is a #CoachBled marimba project, created in Zimbabwe in 2015; some Colorado students got a taste of this camp in 2022. Purely a marimba experience, Coach Bled teaches with passion, charisma, and intensity. In the 50 Voices format, Coach Bled can work with everyone – from beginner to advanced.
Coach Bled will share hidden gems of learning and playing while bringing everyone out of their comfort zone. You will become the true marimba player you are…you won’t be the same after 50 Voices!
Participants can expect to learn songs quickly in a large group and perform the songs at the end of camp. Teen participants will learn and perform 6 songs in 3 days, while adult participants will learn and perform 3 songs in 3 days. YES IT IS POSSIBLE.
This year Coach Bled will be teaching music from his new marimba album ‘Kuimba Nemarimba 3,’ which launches at the final concert.
July 10-13, 2024
Final performance on Saturday, July 13 @ 7 pm @ Rocky Mountain Theater for Kids
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Teens & Young Adults (under 30)
Wednesday-Friday
10 am-3 pm
$375
Adults (30 +)
Wednesday-Friday
6-8 pm
$175
For those in their late 20s or early 30s, participation in both camps is possible; ask us about a discount for dual enrollment. In the words of Coach Prime, “Everyone needs a coach and I want to be that person to you!”
Advanced Teen Marimba Performance Camp
This camp is designed for recent teen band graduates and current senior and junior teen band members. Over the week, we’ll put together a full set of music to perform as part of the 2024 Friendship Festival (US) at Yellow Barn Farm. We’ll learn, perfect, and polish new material, as well as repertoire from the 2023-2024 teen band season, 50 Voices of Marimba, and the African Music Teen Leadership Summit. Recent alumni will have the chance to play one last show and returning/new members will “gear-up” for the 2024-2025 season. Current Kutandara instructors will staff the camp.
July 29-August 2, 2024
Final performance Saturday, August 3 @ 2024 Friendshipship Festival
REGISTER NOW!
Teens & Young Adults (under 21)
Monday-Friday
1-4 pm
$375
Monday-Thursday sessions @ Kutandara
Dress rehearsal Friday and final performance @ Yellow Barn Farm