Hello VG/DE Blog Readers as I report on my latest overseas dance adventure to Nigeria, West Africa!
This trip featured one of my most favorite projects of all time. Traveling overseas teaching Contemporary Dance Technique alongside Choreography culminating into a completely new and original work on local dancers in two cities.
The first stop was in Abuja, Nigeria as part of the Abuja International Theater Festival. The residency kicked off with a Lecture Demonstration at the University of Abuja with dance and theater students. Then segued into a 9-day intensive with 14 local dancers from across the city. The dancers mainly trained in traditional West African and street styles found technique class very new and challenging. Ultimately extremely helpful in building strength, alignment and understanding how bones and muscles can support movement, and the use of the center. The choreography class shared new tools to create movement that was outside of our habits and received with enthusiasm.
Inserting Fun Tidbit- The dancers in Nigeria called me Ma. Short for ma’am, “Ma” is used as a term of respect for elder women, and it felt very sweet to me.
Continuing on...The festival’s theme was Innovidlusion, which ultimately became the name of the new dance, which is a combination of the words, Identity, Innovation, and Inclusion. The intensive process centered around exploring these themes. The exciting new 32-minute work also included live drawing on stage, humming, and an original poem by one of the dancers based on this theme recited by the group.
The Abuja segment was interspersed with exciting visits with multiple local traditional dance companies where I not only watched but got to jump into dancing alongside. A visit to the famous Nike Art gallery, which included a personal reception, fashion show, dress up, dancing and more. It was a true highlight of the trip. And of course, adventures in food - ever try to eat soup with your fingers?!
The second segment was in Lagos, as a part of the Lagos International Theater Festival, very different from the first with exciting VIP dinners, red carpet openings, closings, and more. This segment also included a master class, Unmasking Culture Through Dance at Terre Kulture with hundreds of local theater students.
This project’s 11 dancers came out of mainly street style traditions and felt the same challenges with technique and excitement with choreography. This dance experienced a very different process to work with these talented movers’ physical strength and boundless energy. The 28-minute work called Pipa Itan, which in Yoruba culture means storytelling. We performed on an outdoor stage as the sun was setting.
Interesting Hot Fact – Dancing in almost 100 degrees, is well, hot!
What was most impactful to me about this trip was the connection with the dancers. We built a profound bond in a short amount of time that left us all teary eyed in each instance to say good-bye. The intensive left a huge mark on the participants impacting their future creation processes, understanding of their bodies and teaching. As well as sharing their movement ideas and creativity and culture with me. This project is a true example of Dance Entropy’s mission of creating multicultural understanding through movement.
While there are many differences, challenges and adventure in working with African nations, the result is something beautiful and unforgettable for both sides!
Please visit the Dance Entropy Instagram to see more photos and video clips.