Dance Like a Butterfly

This vibrant collection of folk songs and activities for elementary and middle school students explores the cultures and rich music traditions of four West African countries: Liberia, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Each song in this marvelous and practical collection includes a wide variety of pedagogical strategies, including: solfege and rhythm reading, call and response singing, listening and rote learning lessons, recorder and various percussion instrument activities, creative movement, harmony and part-singing, and more.

Throughout the book, authors Kwasi Dunyo and Karen Howard treat cultural context—including details about each country’s history, people, languages, and traditions—with equal importance. They also provide translations, phonetic pronunciations, and background information for each song.

Dance Like a Butterfly includes access to supplemental online resources, including PowerPoint slides, recordings of the songs with pronunciation guides, videos of movement activities, and dozens of links to more resources about West Africa and its music.

As part of the World Music Initiative series, this book thoughtfully guides teachers in using West African songs in the music classroom while respecting the authenticity and stories of the people behind the music. These captivating songs are certain to expand the minds and spark the creativity of students and teachers in fresh and exciting ways!

Kwasi Dunyo, born in Ghana, is a master drummer and expert on Ghanaian music. He has performed and taught extensively throughout Canada and the United States and is on the faculties of York University, University of Toronto, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. He is founder and artistic director of Kekeli Drum and Dance Ensemble (Toronto) and the West African Cultural Exchange Centre in Ghana.

Karen Howard is Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she teaches courses in music education, vocal pedagogy, research, and global music traditions. She has extensive training in global vocal, instrumental, and dance traditions from many music cultures, including Ghana, and her research interests and publications include works on world music cultures, music activism, and global singing traditions.