Venues
Events
MediaDance
Rhythmic Reflection: African Legacies Revealed
DanceAfrica returns with its vibrant celebration of African and African American dance, music, and culture
Evidence, A Dance Company (Photo: Rachel Papo)
| | More
BAM’s longest running performance series—and one of America’s largest and most vibrant celebrations of African and African American dance, music, and culture—continues with the 32nd annual DanceAfrica festival.
Under the artistic direction of Founding Elder Chuck Davis, DanceAfrica 2009 Rhythmic Reflection: African Legacies Revealed features celebrated choreographer Ronald K. Brown’s Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company, performing Upside Down—a dance of sacred themes, burial, and memorial set to Nigerian music legend Fela Kuti’s song of the same name.
Rousing and critically acclaimed percussion orchestra and dance ensemble Farafina Kan from Washington, D.C. presents a program entitled Re-Birth of the Ancestors, which focuses on three rhythms/dances from Guinea and the Ivory Coast, included the Yamama, a mask dance of protection, the Zaouli, traditionally performed in homage to women, and the Gbe Gbe, which signifies death and final transitions. In addition, Manhattan’s SeèWè African Dance Company brings its artistic mission of performing and teaching traditional African dance forms to the Opera House stage. All three companies will be making their DanceAfrica debut this year.
DanceAfrica 2009 also sees the return of the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble, an annual favorite and a powerful symbol of youth involvement in the preservation of African heritage, performing for the thirteenth straight year at BAM. This year they will perform Club Legacy, choreographed by Abdel R. Salaam of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre.
In keeping with tradition, the DanceAfrica performances begin with a libation ceremony to honor those who have passed on to the ancestral grounds. This ceremony takes place on the steps of BAM at 6:30pm on May 22, 60 minutes prior to the first DanceAfrica performance. Each performance will include the traditional DanceAfrica greeting and welcoming ritual.