Schoharie County Arts was proud to present a week of dance and drumming workshops at area libraries followed by a performance by Zorkie Nelson and Gballoi.  This event was thanks to an Audience Building Project grant by the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts.
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Photo Credit: Facebook: Zorkie Nelson African Drummers
Schoharie County Arts (SCA) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $10,000 Audience Building Project grant by the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts to fund performances and workshops by West African musician Zorkie Nelson and his group of drummers and dancers, Gballoi.
 
A series of drumming and dance workshops will be held at libraries in Cobleskill, Middleburgh, Schoharie, and Sharon Springs during their summer programs in July, 2024. Participants will enjoy learning several traditional native Ghanaian tribal roots rhythms with 22 traditional drums. The Ghanaian dancer who accompanies Mr. Nelson will teach dances which go along with the rhythms.
 
Following the workshops, Mr. Nelson and Gballoi will perform at Middleburgh School, inviting audience participation. Mr. Nelson, who is from Ghana, also incorporates some West African/Ghana background and history into his performance.
 
“While Schoharie County has a robust arts community, there are certain art forms which are rarely seen here, and African dancing and drumming would be a new experience for most people in the area” says SCA board member Jennie Mosher. 
 
“Zorkie Nelson and Gballoi presented an after-school program with students in the Middleburgh School in 2021, which was a wonderful experience for participants,” states Lisa Ovitt, president of the SCA board of directors. “Schoharie County Arts is excited to be partnering with area libraries to make this event available to a wider audience. All workshops and the performance will be free of charge.”
 
The grant will also fund Out of Bounds Music Fest on Saturday, August 17 at the Iroquois Museum, featuring progressive metal/rock, experimental jazz, and music which uses traditional or indigenous instruments and musical elements in innovative ways. There will be music from several bands plus food and an artisans’ market.  
 
Both of these engagements are supported by The Audience Building Project, a program of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Governor and New York State Legislature.

**African Dance and Drumming Workshops and Performance presented by West African musician Zorkie Nelson and his African dance partner Gballoi Tues.-Thurs., July 9-11. Rock your way to Ghana and back with the master percussionist, flutist and vocalist, accompanied by musicians and dancers from the Ga Tribe.
Workshop Schedule:
Community Library, 110 Union St., Cobleskill: Tues. 7/9, 1 p.m.
Sharon Springs Library, 129 Main St., Sharon Springs: Tues. 7/9, 4 p.m.
Middleburgh Library, 323 Main St., Middleburgh: Wed. 7/10, 11 a.m.
Schoharie Library, 103 Knower Ave., Schoharie: Wed. 7/10, 3 p.m.
Performance: Wed. 7/11, 6:30-8 p.m., Middleburgh School, 291 Main St., Middleburgh.