Drummer's call as cue for performance initiation and dance transitions in Djembe music-dance

The video shows the drummer-dancer interaction within the development of a Djembe music-dance performance. In this context, by 'calls,' I refer to explicit signals given by the musician to the dancer for formal changes (such as start/stop or motif shift). Calls are cued by the drummer to initiate or end the dance, or to invite the dancer to propose a new dance motif. These moments—their occurrence, duration, and the ensemble’s responses—are not fixed; they are co-produced and negotiated as the performance unfolds. In the video, it can be seen that the dancers do not always respond to such calls; sometimes, they miss them (see timestamp 3) or anticipate them (see timestamp 6).

The drummers and dancers in the video perform the Djembe rhythm known as Wasulunka.

TIMESTAMPS

Call for performance initiation

1). 00:03 - 00:05 

Call for a dancer to join the centre

2). 00:15 - 00:17

3). 00:21 - 00:22

Call for dance transitions (change of dance motif or change of dancer)

3). 00:29 - 00:33 

4). 00:48 - 00:51

6). 00:59 - 01:01 

7). 01:05 - 01:06