St. Louis/ December 1 --

Addlife!'s 'Masters of Africa!' Mega Drum & Dance Workshop Festival --with visiting grand master drummer Bolokada Conde from Guinea -- was a blow-out success. 

 PHOTO by Shaye Smith. / Djibril Camara, a Baga grand master dancer from Guinea, teaches AddLife!'s 100 Dancers Unite Liberte!

It was Bolokada Conde's first time St. Louis -- and he taught two exquisite drum workshops, helping beginners discover the Djembe technique and advanced students, communicate the rhythm with pure precision. 

The event’s 100 Dancers Unite class led by visiting dancer Djibril Camara from Guinea topped the night with a lavish lesson in dozens of beautiful African dance choreographics. Dancer and AddLife! Studio founder Malena Amusa teamed up with Camara for the non-stop 3-hour class that inspired stellar performances from all students.

The event united more than 150 African drummers and dancers from across St. Louis, Alton, Kansas City, East St. Louis, Chicago, and Champaign, Illinois, inaugurating new relationships and opportunity for bigger events.

 "The happiness in the room was palpable," said event co- producer and founder of AddLife! Studio, Malena Amusa. "It was like the entire world had come to drum and dance! I want to personally thank our visiting artists for their time and energy. Lets keep dreaming bigger than big to create an unparalleled international force of drummers and dancers, performers and leaders!"

The workshop festival took place December 1, 2011 at 2720 Cherokee St. Performing Arts Center.

PHOTO by Shaye Smith. / Legendary drum instructor and performer Bolokada Conde--  grand master of the Malinke Rhythms of Guinea--  radiates his joy during his two mega drum workshops in St. Louis, December 1.