African inspired Dance Wellington
The Moringa Dancers are a high energy, high tempo dance group influenced by West African music and culture in Wellington, New Zealand. We provide weekly community dance classes, and host workshops with international and NZ guest artists. We offer fun, uplifting workshops and performances for your festival, school, organization, community event or party. We perform and facilitate in collaboration with our partner African percussion band, Kubatana, and our friends at African Beats NZ to create a powerful synergy of movement and music bringing life, energy and joy to every occasion.
Weekly Community Classes
Dances of AfricaFree your spirit dancing to the soulful rhythms of Africa
with Moringa Director, Jenny Bloomfield. Live drumming led by Simon Elwell. Open Level (all welcome) 7:15pm-8:15pm Thursdays through 10 October, 2019 Newtown Community & Cultural Centre 1 Colombo St, Newtown |
Dun dun DanceIn this fun and funky dance form you get to drum while you dance. Have heaps of fun challenging your musicality and fitness at the same time!!
led by Moringa Director, Jenny Bloomfield Drums provided, bookings essential. Tuesdays 8:30pm-9:30pm starting 15 October, 2019 Cook Islands Society Hall |
Koffie In Da House Koffie Fugah will be hitting Wellington 8-10 November! This will be a weekend not to be missed! Koffie is a fun and inclusive tutor with a lifetime of knowledge and skill to share and real passion for rhythm! He gets everyone grooving effortlessly and you will be sure to leave with a huge smile on your face!
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Recent News
Melbourne Djembe's Visit!
27-28 September, 2019
A great time was had by all as we drummed and danced our hearts out with Mitzi McRae & Simon Lewis!
photo credit: Inspire Photography
photo credit: Inspire Photography
West African DanceSo much fun and joyous funky graceful moves! A perfect way to spend Friday night!
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DrummingThe magician was at work challenging us with some new approaches and technical grooves.
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Dundun Dance
Loved every minute of this workshop! Thanks to all the gorgeous dancers and drummers for coming out!
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International Dance Day 2019
This picture by Alexander Garside, starring the Moringa crew, found it's way to the cover of DANZ magazine, WOOT!
Newtown Festival
We had a blast performing at Newtown Festival with Kubatana ft. Robert Koffie Fugah, and additional guest drummers from Kadodo Drum and Dance! Such a fun day!
Kadodo Drum & Dance SChool, Otaki 2019
We had such a wonderful time at the Glorious Waihoanga River Lodge & Retreat Centre, deepening into the rhythms and dances with Robert Koffie Fugah (Kadodo), Jenny Bloomfield (Moringa Dancers) and Simon Elwell (African Beats NZ).
A great time was had by all!!
A great time was had by all!!
Hawera Street Festival
It was heaps of fun collaborating with Kubatana and drummers from far and wide to create a high energy performance for the festival stage then taking our party onto a float for the parade, providing a vibrant soundtrack and bringing the energy with some funky moves! It was a beautiful sunny day to be out sharing the joy.
Many thanks to Bizlink Hawera and Whanganui Community Drumming.
Many thanks to Bizlink Hawera and Whanganui Community Drumming.
Open Streets Wellington
When the bicycles and pedestrians took over the streets, we were enjoying taking over our own little patch of Taranaki Street with African Beats NZ! What a cool initiative!
Upper Hutt Multicultural FestivalWe danced to celebrate diversity and human rights in NZ, amongst many different cultures showcasing their music and dance onstage!
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Bloom Collective OpeningWe had a great boogie with Kubatana to celebrate the opening of this great creative hub, now providing access to arts and music for all to the Newtown community!
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Children's
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Africa Day 2018
We danced with the 2 maestros of Ghanaian rhythm & dance making the drumming fast and furious for us, and it was an awesome experience!
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African DAnce with MaputoMay 15 & 22, 2018
We were delighted to welcome an extraordinary dancer and teacher, Maputo Mensah, originally hailing from Ghana, and currently based at the University of Boulder, Colorado. 8-9:30pm Tuesdays 22 Webb St, Mt Cook, Wellington |
Rhythm & Spice Retreat24-27 May, 2018
African drum & dance camp with Maputo Mensah and Robert Koffie Fugah at Tapu Te Ranga Marae. Ghanaian dance, singing and drumming with 2 inspiring talented teachers/performers and cultural ambassadors. |
cuba Dupa Street Workshop w/ Kadodo
It was heaps of fun teaching in the street at Cuba Dupa with the Kadodo Drummers!! What a buzz. Looking forward to more collaboration with Koffie and Kadodo!
Cuba Dupa with Kadodo24 March 2018, we had a rocking performance with Koffie Fugah & Kadodo on the Swan Stage!
So much fun! |
Chris Berry Retreat2-4 March 2018. We welcomed Chris Berry back to Tapu Te Ranga Marae for an inspiring 2 day/2 night immersion into Bana Kuma rhythms.
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JUST SO FESTIVAL
23-25 February 2018. A camping arts festival for families with kids at last!
We loved performing & roving around all weekend, joining in the merriment!
We loved performing & roving around all weekend, joining in the merriment!
