When Togo RPCV Gregory Acker played African drums with a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students during an assembly, the students couldn't stop moving



Gregory Acker, of Louisville, spent four years in Togo and Morocco in the Peace Corps. He is a part-time professor at Indiana University Southeast and has been performing African music at schools around Kentucky, most of them elementary schools. "I hope these kids got a taste of the spirit that I got when I was living there," he said. Beating on African drums and creating "musical conversations," Acker described each drum and various ways to play them. Fourth-grade students then performed an African skit about unity. "I want to go to Africa now," said Kitty Williamson, a 12-year-old fifth-grader who played in the drum ensemble.

When Togo RPCV Gregory Acker played African drums with a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students during an assembly, the students couldn't stop moving

Dancing to the beat

Shepherdsville Elementary warms to West African culture and music

By Daarel Burnette II
dburnette@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

Caption: Guest teacher Gregory Acker sat with John Styers, who portrayed a village chief. Acker spent four years in Togo and Morocco in the Peace Corps. Photos by Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal

Shepherdsville Elementary students love to dance. When guest teacher Gregory Acker played African drums with a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students during an assembly, the students couldn't stop moving.

"This is really cool," second-grader Bailey Owens said before dancing out of the gym.

The school's music and art classes recently spent four weeks learning about West African culture and dance.

In the music class, Acker taught fourth- and fifth-graders how to dance and play various African drums.

In art classes, students created African masks.

"This helps them realize there's a culture outside Shepherdsville," music teacher Stacey Stults said.

Student musicians presented the results of their efforts Jan. 19 in a school assembly.

A student drum ensemble marched around the gym under Acker's lead as the audience clapped along.

"It's the middle of winter, but it's hot in here because we're playing hot music," Acker told students.

Beating on African drums and creating "musical conversations," Acker described each drum and various ways to play them.

Fourth-grade students then performed an African skit about unity.

"I want to go to Africa now," said Kitty Williamson, a 12-year-old fifth-grader who played in the drum ensemble.

Acker, of Louisville, spent four years in Togo and Morocco in the Peace Corps. He is a part-time professor at Indiana University Southeast and has been performing African music at schools around Kentucky, most of them elementary schools.

"I hope these kids got a taste of the spirit that I got when I was living there," he said.

Fourth-grader Zack Harris, 10, might have felt that spirit. While dancing in front of the crowd, he broke out into the robot dance.

"We were really getting funky," he said.

Reporter Daarel Burnette II can be reached at (502) 582-4241.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2007; Peace Corps Togo; Directory of Togo RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Togo RPCVs; Peace Corps Morocco; Directory of Morocco RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Morocco RPCVs; Dance; The Third Goal

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