Passing a sombre message through dance
Conveying a complex issue through dance is one way of passing a message. Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and social events were shut down, Rwandan entertainment audiences stayed home. However, they recently had a chance to enjoy a public contemporary dance performance. Titled The Little Invisible Things, the performance reflects the pandemic, how it took shape, and its deep physical and emotional impact on the society. From ancient times, African dance has been used to express and convey messages to society. The Invisible Things, a 45-minute production, reminds us of
Film project gives youth dancers a way to perform during the pandemic
As COVID-19 pandemic weeks turned into pandemic months, Heather Cameron knew she needed to find some way of keeping her youth dancers dancing even though they couldn’t perform for a live audience. Each year, FadaDance works on a special performance with its youth company — made up of dedicated students ages 13 to 18 who are already taking several classes each week but are looking for a new challenge. But in the fall of 2020, the resumption of live performances and large gatherings were nowhere in sight. Not to
Come Stand in My Shoes offers an evening of dance
“Before you are quick to judge me, walk a mile in my shoes.” So many of us struggle to communicate with our authentic voice. We are spurred into conflict with those that have opposing viewpoints and we fail to understand our inter-connectivity. We lose sight of the bigger picture and our collective mission of finding truth in ourselves through one another. Come Stand in My Shoes, is an exploration of individual perspectives through the love of dance. The shoes are the connective tissue for the storyline. Shoes and feet
New to RI: In step with an Irish dance master (sort of)
You know those people who make incredibly complex things look easy? Kevin Doyle is one of them. Feet flying, heels clicking, legs kicking, the longtime Irish step dancer moves with sureness and precision, chiming into the music with the percussive snap of his shoes against the wood floor. He’s been doing this a long time — 62 years, to be exact. He picked it up from his mother, Margaret Taylor, a native of Castlerea, a town nestled in Ireland’s County Roscommon. His training started during his upbringing in Providence’s Fox Point,
95-year-old lives dream of dancing with Marc Anthony at Orlando concert
95-year-old Felicia Rodríguez González still can’t believe she got to dance with Marc Anthony at Orlando’s Amway Center. With a huge smile, “Fela” took the stage Saturday and swayed her hips as the audience erupted in screams and applause. The artist helped her make a few turns before giving her a big hug. “I have a new crush,” Marc Anthony said. The Puerto Rican singer spotted Fela’s pink poster in the crowd. “Fela’s Bucket List. She is 95 years old, survived Hurricane Maria, survived COVID and wants to dance with Marc,”
An attempt to preserve and promote Indian dance, music
Established in 1976 by the world-renowned dancing couple and Padma Bhushan recipients Dr Raja Radha Reddy and Dr Kaushalya Reddy, 'Natya Tarangini' is a performing arts center par excellence in the capital city of New Delhi. Under the guidance of the dance couple, it has been working tirelessly to preserve, propagate and promote Indian dance and music in our country. 'Natya Tarangini' started the 'Parampara Series' of the national and international festivals of music and dance as a movement to preserve and enrich the cultural mosaic of
Capturing Some of America’s Original Dances: Inside the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers’ Powwow
Over the course of three days in July, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers hosted its 42nd annual powwow at Queens County Farm Museum. Founded in 1963 by members of the Mohawk, Hopi, Winnebago and Kuna (San Blas) tribes, Thunderbird is the oldest resident Native American dance company in New York, and puts on the city’s largest powwow, drawing dancers from more than 40 tribal nations for a series of performances and dance contests, as well as crafts and food stands. Dance Magazine joined Saturday night’s sunset bonfire to
From a runaway beggar to Padma Shri awardee, the life of Karnataka transgender dancer Manjamma Jogathi
The power house Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday witnessed a unique greet to the President of India by Karnataka’s transgender woman Manjamma Jogathi who was conferred with Padma Shri award for her contribution to folk dance. As her name was called, Manjamma, draped in a saree went up to the President and in a unique gesture, took the fringe of the saree towards President of India Ram Nath Kovind to wish him good luck before receiving the award. According to the belief system, a good wish from a transgender
Brunswick women put new twist on ancient dance form
BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- When one thinks about choreographing a dance to the music of Harry Potter or a hit country tune, you might not immediately think of belly dancing as the genre. But that’s just what happens when four local ladies, known as Third Tent from the Nile, take the stage. With the easing of pandemic restrictions, the troupe has resumed performing live at assisted living facilities and other venues. This year, they performed on two days during the Medina County Fall Foliage Tour and have been regulars at
Swishers looking to grow next gen dancers
There was a time when the Swishers Dance Club had to cap its membership at 130 people, but the coronavirus pandemic and other factors have now left the group on its back foot, with 30 people keeping the club alive. Despite the impact, members anticipate a rebound to former glory in the months ahead. Club president Lavonn Peters said COVID-19 played a significant role in hitting the group’s membership. While membership is holding steady, the group attracts non-members to their dances as well. And those numbers give the