BYU-Idaho’s drum circle and African dance group began because a curious African dancer followed the sound of beating djembe drums.

Jennifer Banfield, a junior from Los Osos, Calif., found a small group of people playing hand drums in the “fish bowl” lobby of the Eliza R. Snow Building. There she met drum players Chad Busath, a senior from Elkgrove, Calif., and Ian Gerszewski, a senior from Salt Lake City, Utah.

In California, Banfield became a member of an African tribe and learned some dances traditional in Guinea, West Africa. After demonstrating for Busath and Gerszewski, Banfield recalls them saying, “Wow, it would be cool to do it together.”

Gerszewki wrote a proposal to the activities director and it passed inspection. Since fall 2005 the three BYU-I students have combined their love for drums and dance to share with everyone.

All BYU-I students are invited to learn how to dance and play the hand drums at the African dance workshops. These workshops are held every Tuesday at 8 p.m. outside the Hart Auditorium.

“I don’t think dance of any kind is exclusive to any race or nationality,” Banfield said.

The authentic African dances are hundreds of years old. Each move has a meaning, such as raising your hands to give thanks.

“It is so positive. It makes people happy,” Banfield said.

“It made me so happy. I want to come again,” said Katie Winder, a freshman from South Jordan, Utah, who attended the African dance workshop for the first time. Winder joined the dancing circle at the end of the hour.

“You can’t be intimidated or scared about what others think,” Winder said.

Students who are too intimidated to dance — there is drumming too. “Bring your drum if you have one. If you don’t, that’s okay. Come anyway,” Gerszewki said.