Bush Mango

By Katie Cummins

There was nothing unusual about dancing barefoot at St. John Fisher's Encounter with the Arts class. Every Thursday night, in any given semester, students are exposed to different artistic experiences throughout the Rochester community. A highlight of the semester was visiting Bush Mango, a West-African-style dance and drum studio. There, we participated in a dance class, accompanied by a trio of polyrhythmic drummers. One can imagine the hilarity of thirty Fisher students (most with no dance experience) jumping and thrusting barefoot across the dance floor. Any initial awkwardness melted away within the first few minutes, thanks to our colorful dance instructor, Colleen Hendricks. The inviting and liberating style of West-African dance gave comfort to anyone nervous about dancing “wrong." The only rules were to let go of your inhibitions and dance from the soul. Each dance had a story behind it, representing West-African coastal culture and celebration. This high-energy class was a great cardio workout, and much more exciting than the treadmill. Bush Mango offers dance and drum classes for all levels. Walk-in classes only $15. Visit www.bushmango.org for more information.

34 Elton St

Rochester, NY 14607-1219

(585) 235-3960