When we arrived, the place was teeming with people. Kids ran around the grounds, or used the computer lab, or learned to juggle, or practiced their break dancing while adults of all ages milled about chatting, teaching, or waiting for the show to begin.
The building itself was quite impressive as well, with open courtyards and layers of rooms for all kinds of purposes. The entire building and all the activities that happen there are completely free and open to the public. There were a few guidelines for respect posted on the walls, but otherwise it appeared as though this space was used much as a second home to the residents of the area.
We didn't have long to wait before learning why so many people had gathered on this particular evening. As the auditorium opened and the seats filled, we were greeted by the musical and dancing talents of Afrotronix. They group hailed from France and Canada with a focus on mixing African rhythms with electronic beats. Quite an interesting combination and one that did not fail to disappoint!
As the evening came to a close, we were informed that only about half the participants were actually from Afrotronix. The rest were local artists and residents who had been working with the visiting artists for the past week or so in order to put together this fantastic presentation of music and dance. The evening rounded out with an audience participation number where we finally got to get up out of our seats and enjoy the dance music with all the appropriate body gyrations.
By the time we got home, we were exhausted, but fantastically content. The day had held a little bit of everything, and each experience had only been better than the last!
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