The Abene African Dance and Drum Festival was held at the Brattleboro Stone Church from Aug. 23 to 25.
Caro Diallo, from Senegal, taught six high-spirited dance classes; Alioune (Pape) N'Diaye, also Senegalese, taught two dance classes; and Namory Keita taught West African drumming on the weekend.
The film Sahel Calling, about Malian musicians raising awareness about the unrest in Mali, was shown Aug. 24, thanks to Jeryl Julian Cisse, followed by a beautiful set of African-inspired music by Derrik Jordan, Julian Gerstn, Tony Vacca, and John Hughes.
A spectacular performance with Diallo, N'Diaye, Keita, Lisa Newell, Georgette Beighle, and festival drummers and dancers rounded out the evening.