The Belle Haven Community Campus welcomed Congolese dancer Arnaud Loubayi on Tuesday evening in honor of Black History Month. Loubayi was accompanied by three other drummers. The group, Gata Bantu, is based in Santa Cruz and has toured professionally all over the world. “We know each other from very long. We almost grew up together,” drummer Freddy Nelson said.
The audience was primarily young children, but attendees of all ages watched the traditional dance and drumming.
The group began by drumming loudly and rhythmically. The drummers held the large colorfully decorated drums by tying them securely to their waists, allowing them to be easily carried. As the performers hit their instruments, they swayed back and forth while singing.
Loubayi soon took the center of the floor. The dancing was full of pelvic and torso movements, with quick footwork and hand gestures. In addition to the traditional Congolese dance, which consists of high energy spins and knee movements, he engaged the audience with trendy moves like the Griddy, earning roars of laughter from the children.
As the performance continued, Loubayi invited children one-by-one to stand up and dance with him. The group explained the steps as the kids laughed and followed along. One of the drummers passed mini drums out to the audience so they could get involved, leading to harmonized drumming from the crowd. The demonstration came to an end with everyone standing up and joining for a final dance.
The event was a perfect way for Menlo Park to celebrate Congolese culture and kick off Black History Month. The group emphasized the need for understanding different traditions. “We have only one planet and we are human beings. The culture has to be shared. The culture has no border, no frontier,” Nelson said.
Nelson’s favorite part about teaching is seeing the kids break out of their shells. “When it comes to the dancing, the rhythm, the music, it’s easy to have them on the floor building confidence and dancing,” he said.
