Laurent and Djedje Djedje Gervais
lead this combination Haitian and West-African dance class. Laurent
teaches the dances of the Haitian Gods celebrating the beauty,
depth and light of Haitian culture while Connecticut's own master
teaching roster artist and internationally recognized West African
dancer/choreographer Djedje Djedje Gervais shares his West African
dance expertise. Participants will dance traditional Haitian and
West African dance patterns as choreographed into dynamic dance
routines culminating with a mixed contemporary fusion piece entitled
"La rencontre" - "The Meeting." In the 45
minutes or hour and a half workshop, participants may be divided
into percussionist/drummers, dancers and singers. Each group will
learn a warm-up activity, the basics of an ancient African song
in Kreyol and/or Bete and will participate in performing traditional
dances from Haiti and West Africa. A master Haitian and West African
Dance workshop is also offered.
Performance
A Haitian and West African dance performance in traditional costumes
by Laurent and Gervais and two drummers, Goulei and Kacou, or
with their larger dance troupe, Compagnie Ablessy, may be scheduled
separately or in combination with a dance workshop, as desired.
Compagnie Ablessy is a West African-Haitian Dance Troupe guided
by Artistic Director Djedje Djedje Gervais and Marguerite Laurent.
The troupe's dynamic, high-energy dancers and drummers are known
for their unique dance/theater creations. Gervais' expertise in
contemporary and traditional West African dancing led to U.S.
collaborations
in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005 with world renowned modern
dancer/choreographer, Ralph Lemon. Gervais and his dancers
are from KI-YI, an artistic village in the Ivory Coast of dancers,
actors, singers, percussionists and musicians living and creating
innovative performance and visual artworks. With master drummers,
Goulei Vincent and Kacou Dadie and other West African dancers
from KI-Yi, now living in the U.S., Laurent and Gervais celebrate
"La Rencontre" - the meeting between West African and
Haitian dancing in 21st century America. |
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