Dancing and drumming, Ghana-style

Three smiling students are guided by an African dance teacher

On Thursday, it took about two minutes for an African drum and dance trio to loosen up a group of reserved fifth-graders at Albany International Center (AIC).

Students absorbed, then radiated, the infectious joy of the M.J.G. Group – a trio of Ghanaian drummers and dancers who are Abubakr Sadik Ruhia Maltiti, Joseph A. Quaye and George Kuubetesuri (who is married to AIC and Dual Language Program art teacher Catherine Kuubetesuri).

Thursday’s workshop is one of many ways the school is observing Black History Month. Over a period of two days, the M.J.G. group spent an hour with elementary, middle and high school students in all grades.

Take a look at a Facebook photo album from the fun. (You don't need a Facebook account to see the photos linked in the highlighted text. A window may appear that says, "To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log on or create an account,” but you can dismiss it by clicking “not now.”)