Dancing to Connect Review

Yesterday's performance of the 2 Dancing to Connect groups went very well. Your TA's did a wonderful job with 2 very different groups. Even though Sharon's dancers are beginners I thought they showed up very well AS dancers. Each one tried to put her whole body behind a gesture and dared to really GO to the floor whenever the choreography called for it. I could see that the Gramercy Arts kids were not necessarily performing arts majors and that their abilities were best used in the stop-motion tableaux at the start of the dance. But then individual movers would stand out: the 2 tall boys who could jump like deer and Chris Rivas' running and somersaulting hand in hand with an amazing girl wearing black leotard and tights.

I was reminded, watching these groups of well-rehearsed kids, of the dance intensive that Jaan Freeman (former BDC teaching artist) did with my George Washington HS dancers years ago. The week-long dance intensive draws the kids in very powerfully and the quality of their performance is far beyond what anyone is usually expecting. Suzanne remarked to me afterwards that the dances were alike in their serious and upsetting subject matter, that the kids were dealing with some hard things in their lives. And it's Battery Dance that gives them an outlet.
                            
                             In admiration,
                              Leslie Zema

Ghana Day 6: We swallow dance, because chewing takes too long

Today we hit the Noyam African Dance Institute.

It's located up in the mountains, way out of town....and we got pretty lost trying to get there.

We ended up driving basically through people's yards, surrounded by goats and chickens. It was a really interesting way to see a real village up close.

Their space is really lovely -- sort of looks like a giant yurt. 

We were told that it's the only privately run modern dance company in Ghana. Professor Yarty is the director.Actually, we also found out that a handful of students (including Jackson) who were involved in the university workshop don't go to the university at all. They are members of the Noyam company who are so hungry for dance that they requested to participate in both sessions. as they put it "We swallow dance, because chewing takes too long"

 

They performed for us. It was such a great melding of African and modern dance. They are really exceptional. It would be amazing if we could figure out a way to get them to NY....maybe to perform in the Downtown Dance Festival.

 

We managed to put together a 6 min. piece in about 2 hours. Amazing! This one is to jazz music.

Then we had lunch which ran way over time as it usually does. Now I really understand what African time is. 

And after that, we worked with the little ones.

Tiny adorable little Ghanaians, age 9 to 15.

They haven't been dancing long, so the Noyam members came to the rescue to help with exercises.

We couldn't have done it without them.

The little ones performed.

The company members performed -- a fantastic piece! (with no music, since the power had gone out)

Then we ate sugar cane and coconut.

Probably the best day yet.

 

Ghana Day 4

Today we sat through a grueling traffic jam before arriving at the National Theater. Once there, we were greeted with another high energy performance....this time with costumes and props.It was fantastic!

After I taught a master class, we picked about half of the dancers from the National Dance Theatre and put their piece together   They were much more focused, and came up with something pretty fantastic in about 30min. The piece is about 5 min. long and lovely. So, yeah...we just have to do that 3 more times, and we're good to go.We also hit the market today. It was totally overwhelming!

Sean needed a nap after. Phew!  Robin

Ghana - Day 3

Today we visited Cape Coast with Mr. Quay.....a castle where slaves from all over Africa were held (in unbelievably horrid conditions) before being shipped to the U.S.  We also visited Kakum Rain Forest where we walked a precarious suspension bridge over the forest canopy.A great day!  Robin

Day Two - from Robin and Sean's Dancing to Connect in Accra

Today we put the student piece together. It's kind of hard to believe but it's about 13min. long.
What they've made in 2 days is really impressive. I believe it's not quite like anything they've ever done before. We showed it to the professors, and everyone seemed pleased....but critical of the dancers. They work them very hard and expect perfection. I'm amazed that Sean and I pulled it off!  So tomorrow we relax and visit Cape Coast and go walking on the forrest canopy. The pictures I'm enclosing are of the dance room where we've been rehearsing at the University, and Jackson (not sure of the spelling), one of the best dancers in the group. They call the piece Mozozo. It means "The Journey" in Ghanaian.
In it, they trace the history of Ghana through the colors of the flag.
Red=bloodshead for independence
gold=mineral wealth
green=rich forests
black= the star, african power
They served us a really authentic African lunch. I ate kenkey (cornmeal) with my fingers and dipped it in various spicy things.

Battery Dance Company Across the River (Hudson, that is!)

Last week, a new relationship was forged between BDC and MCCC - Mercer County Community College in New Jersey.  BDC Teaching Artists Bafana Matea and Mayuna Shimizu led a combined group of college and performing arts high school students in an abridged 3-day Dancing to Connect workshop.  What resulted was anything but abridged:  an 8 minute original dance piece that highlighted the skills, talents and creativity of the students themselves.  Follow this link for a full report:  http://www.mccc.edu/~humphrew/whatsnew/BDCperformance.htm

Follow Robin and Sean as they Dance to Connect in Ghana

Update to date from Robin Cantrell:

Today was our first full day of teaching.

The students are absolutely amazing. We packed almost a weeks worth of material into one day since we only have 2 1/2 days to work with them.There are over 30 students....mostly in their late teens and early twenties. Lots of guys.They're extremely focused and well behaved....and they LOVE TO DANCE. After a 4-hour morning in 90 degree weather, most of them danced through their lunch break.

The professors are all very supportive and kind, and Ellen is helpful and lovely.

We had a meeting with the teachers, and discovered that the're expecting a dance performance with new material from all 4 groups.....but don't mind if it's extremely informal.

Sean and I have decided to do uber-mini dancing to connects at 3 other locations next week, and let the students present what they come up with in one day.

If they work as well as the kids we had today, then it could be quite a bit.

I tried to transfer some pics from my camera to this computer in the business center, but it's too old to deal with it, so I'll try on Sean's later tonight.

It's very very hot and humid....everyone (especially Sean) was sweaty and filthy by the end of the day.

but the atmosphere is so positive.

We're having a great time so far.