SANKOFA Performing Arts Theatre is back again with an innovative, fresh show – the first ever fashion challenge to held in Dominica.
SANKOFA is a premiere professional African Dance and Drum ensemble and on October 22nd 2016, will be introducing what the group refers to as a non-conventional fashion challenge, the ‘SANKOFA Paper Fashion Challenge’ to Dominica.
The young students of the SANKOFA Performing Arts Academy will compete with each other for the winning position under the instruction of the senior dancers.
Students are required to design and construct clothing items using any type of paper as the main material. Judging will be based on design, creativity and construction.
In preparation for this competition, the young ladies have attended several workshops including a ‘Papiere Mache’ class taught by Local Artist Earl Etienne.
It is expected that with these new skills and opportunities, the students will bring something different to cultural development in Dominica, especially in the areas of costume designing and building.
SANKOFA brings the nature of African recreation to stages world-wide in a fun and inviting way. The group combines dance, music and folkways, to create a riveting and unforgettable experience for audiences.
The show will be held at the Public Service Union building on Valley Road from 4:00 pm and entrance fee will be at a cost of $5.00
The word SANKOFA originates from the Twi language of Ghana which translates to the phrase “Go back and get it”. The word holds special significance for the dance academy whose members say that they are passionate about bringing back the culture of Africa to the minds of those who see their performances.
I wish the group well in their endeavour to bring about the culture of Africa, especially as it relates to dance. It might add some spice to our more formal crop of cultural dances about which V. S. Naipaul had this to say in his book, The Middle Passage:
“To this mincing mimicry the violence and improvisation and awesome skill of African dancing has been reduced.”
On the subject of dance, I am curious about the “Beguine”; a dance that the dictionary states is of West Indian origin.
I understand that it originated in our neighbouring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. It is a slow close dance in which the female’s hands are clasped around the neck of the male and the male’s hands are clasped around the waist of the female. There is a back and forth hip movement.
I refer to it at: http://sculpturestudiodominica.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-sweetness-of-sin.html
I would be grateful if DNO readers can throw further light on this particular dance.
Kuddos….much success to this group.