SKANEATELES - A small piece of Sudan culture came to the people of Skaneateles at St. James Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon.

Following a mass on the lake shore at Thayer Park, church members filed into the church's meeting hall for a performance by Sudanese dancers based in Syracuse.

The dancers, members of the Aweil Community, a community made up of about eight families, are a group with a mission that extends beyond performance.

Monika Kuol, secretary of the group, said it is a group dedicated to the preservation of Sudanese culture and sharing it with others.

The day's performance included songs and dances that would take place at different Sudanese occasions.

“They are the songs and dances that we would do to celebrate,” Kuol said. “At weddings or parties and other celebrations. These are the songs and dances that would be done just to have fun and to celebrate.”

The group of dancers went through several highly rhythmic pieces which featured a drum along with shakers and tin cans tied to the dancers' ankles to help heighten the rhythm of the music.

Nancy Graham, coordinator of pastoral care at St. James explained that the church has long had a connection with the Sudanese.

“Eight years ago,” Graham said, “we sponsored four young men. And now one of them, Emmanuelle, is Monika's husband. We have always been very supportive of our boys and we have stayed connected and in touch with them.”

This connection has reached beyond things like cards and e-mails.

When the Sudanese have needed help, they have relied on the church's outreach program for support.

Graham said that through the church's outreach program, they were able to help Kuol return to school to pursue her education as an RN.

Kuol said that along with performing for the sake of sharing their culture, the group also uses it for fundraisers.

Kuol said they have performed in churches all over Syracuse and Skaneateles and will be performing in Auburn in October.

The funds raised will go toward the creation of a cultural center for the Sudanese people in Syracuse.

“We want a place for our culture,” Kuol said. “We want to pass these things on, our language, our dancing and songs, our faith to our children so that they will be able to still have it.”

Kuol also said that funds are used to help with daycare facilities so that women like her can complete their education and work to help support their families and know their children are being well cared for.

Sunday's performance was a full house of observers who were all mesmerized.

“It is nice to see,” Kuol said. “It is nice to see people respond positively to what we are doing. That is why we do this and it is very nice to see people give us a warm reception.”