World-renowned West African drumming and dance master, Fara Tolno, is presenting a series of workshops in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, August 19-23.

Tolno, a recognized master in his home country of Guinea with an MFA earned in the U.S., currently lives in Hawaii. When Mammoth Lakes resident Hari Khalsa – a longtime student of West African dance and drumming – learned that one of her favorite instructors would be touring Colorado, she invited him to the Eastern Sierra. “Fara is both a master drummer and dancer, but more importantly a teacher,” Khalsa says. “He’ll blow your mind… he’s an absolute fireball.”

Traditional West African dances are each accompanied by a polyrhythm played on several drums whose sounds interweave to create a complex, dynamic music. Fara will teach a different polyrhythm each day, followed by the dance it accompanies. Participants can sign up for drumming, dancing, or both. All abilities, including beginners, are welcome.

Bishop City Auditorium, August 21, drumming 5:30 pm, dance 7:00 pm;
Bishop City Park Pavilion (at back of park), August 23, drumming 8:30 am, dance 10 am.