Ulster County has its special features and one of them is the African Dance Community and the very high quality of its art and the authenticity of its art.

 The community was created by Carol Chappell a true African Dance missionary who made it her mission to preserve this precious art form, and has an African Dance photographic memory. All the classes are amazing and are all accompanied by live musicians.

I studied with Pam Lord for 20 years (who studied with Carol) who teaches in my area in Stone Ridge but now living in Woodstock have been taking classes with Carol, both are great teachers..

When I was a very young child I remember hearing Olatunji the famous African Drummer on the TV and I felt a calling to African Dance and Drums but it was not until I moved to Ulster County in my 50ties that the calling was able to manifest.