Asanti Dance Theatre

Schools

Asanti Dance Theatre have worked with students of all ages and abilities from many destinations around the world. We play, teach, perform and entertain leaving students a lasting impression and a new wealth of knowledge that remains long after the workshops end.

Bookings with Asanti Dance Theatre are tailored to each individual school program and focus on areas such as SOSE, physical education, health and humanities, dance, music, drama and targeting students with behavioural needs. We understand the importance of the school curriculum and ensure that our sessions are both fun and informative.

Our workshops create a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for students, generating a strong sense of togetherness and team work. African drumming and dance is made up of many intricate patterns, every instrument and every dancer playing its part. Without one, the whole is not complete. It is through this that we find it an excellent stimulant to generate such togetherness and team spirit.

Dealing with behavioural challenges in the classroom

Teachers are constantly challenged with the task of providing meaningful work which caters for all learners and learning styles. While in theory this sounds relatively easy, any teacher, no matter how experienced, faces challenging behaviour in the classroom on a regular basis.

Are you a teacher finding yourself continually battling against students who present challenging behaviour, no matter how much PD, experience and training you do? Are you a year level co-ordinator, learning team leader, or student well being co-ordinator that is looking for something to channel the energy of these students into a positive educational experience rather than self destruction? Then look no further, Asanti Dance Theatre is here to help!

There have been numerous research projects conducted that have found drumming circles and drum therapy provide an excellent stimulus for students who present behavioural difficulties in the classroom.  Drumming is an activity that is a non verbal way for students to communicate and express themselves. It is inclusive and requires no prior training to participate. Studies have shown that as little as one session a week can make a significant impact on improving students mental wellbeing and behaviour in the classroom.

Drum circle sessions with Asanti Dance Theatre are run only by our most experienced instructors, each of whom have an excellent approach to teaching and take the time to connect with the students and work with them to build positive relationships, maximising on the sense of community and team spirit, and development of positive mental health and wellbeing that drumming circles provide.

Before/ After care programs

Looking for something fun, educational and engaging for your before and after care students? Then look no further, ASANTI DANCE THEATRE is here to help! With years of experience working with children in both Ghana and Australia you can be sure your students will be having fun while participating in a variety of African inspired activities.

Choose from the following three programs: 

Music: Students will have fun exploring the sounds of Africa and take home their very own hand made instrument! In the initial workshops students make their instruments (shakers and/ or drums) which they will then use in the following weeks when learning to play traditional African rhythms as a group. By the end of term students will have learnt a piece of traditional music which includes multiple rhythms, understanding of timing and tempo and song. Dance/ Fitness: In these workshops students get fit while having fun! Over the course of the term they will have the opportunity to learn one or more of the following African influenced styles of dance: Traditional African, Contemporary, Creative dance, Hip Hop, Freestyle and Aerobics. They will learn about the history and culture of the dance style, where it comes from and the importance of the ritual of dance in the African culture.

A word from the facilitators... 

Sharing our culture with the Australian students is so rewarding. We come out of every school gig with great energy and inspiration...as do the students!

"I love teaching the kids. Just seeing their smiling faces reminds me of why I love doing what I do" (Appiah Annan, Director, Asanti Dance Theatre)

A word from the students...

Fantastic performance yesterday!

Thanks for the great performance.

Awesome performance.

Fan-bloody-tastic!! Great show, really enjoyable.

Stylish- awesome show, really really fun.

Thanks for coming to our school to perform for us- it was great!

(Students from St. Joseph's College, Victoria, Australia)