Jason K. Aryeh – Founder, Artistic Director
A native of Ghana – West/Africa Is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Elon University. He earned a BFA in Dance and African Studies from the University of Ghana and an MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from the State University of New York, College at Brockport. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Company. He was the Artistic Director and the Head of the Dance Department for the resident Theatre Company at the Centre for National Culture in Sunyani, Ghana. He was a featured soloist, ensemble dancer and choreographer for the Performing Arts Workshop, (PAWS) a Dance Company affiliated with the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana and for Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble, also affiliated with the Dance Department at the College at Brockport. Aryeh has won many awards including the prestigious Faculty Assistant award at the ongoing American Dance Festival (ADF) and the Outstanding Black Faculty Award by the Black Cultural Society at Elon University. He has worked as a guest artist, exploring his research of infusion of contemporary and West African contemporary dance forms/styles in many middle and high schools within the United States and Ghana, Colleges such as Roger Williams University, University of Rochester, Hobart and William Simon Colleges, James Madison University, Elon University, East Carolina University, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Darton College and the College at Brockport. He has choreographed more than 20 works for professional dance companies within the United States and in West Africa. His works has received enthusiastic reviews across the United States and in West Africa, being described as “most complicated and heart pounding performance” by The Mirror. “The liveliest dance and it seemed like the audience felt the glow of happiness and fun beaming off the stage” by The Stylus. Aryeh conducts a study abroad program with Elon University students from the United States to Ghana with collaboration with is Company in January, teaches and choreographs a summer intensive dance workshops for dancers especially international exchange students in Ghana. He continues to research and work as a guest artist/performer/choreographer, research scholar and dance educator at Universities and dance Companies internationally. |
Eric Yao Kemeh – Assistant Director/ Research Scholar / Dancer
In the year 2004 and 2008, Eric received his Diploma Certificate and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance with Music from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana. His senior thesis investigates how the spiritual dance called "Yeve" Cult Dance from Dzozde in the Volta Region of Ghana affects the lives of the people in the community and how Labanotation symbols can be used to showcase or notate dance movements for preservation. He served as a National Service Personnel with "Abibigromma Resident Theatre Company" (one of Ghana's professional renowned theatre company affiliated to the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana) Eric started dancing at a very tender age. He joined Brotherhood Cultural Troupe and started dancing at the age of 9years. Inspired by his father (Mr. Johnson Kemeh, a Senior Principal African Traditional Dance and Drum Instructor at the Department of Music, University of Ghana) In 1996, Eric became a lead dancer with his fathers renowned Cultural Troupe. He later became the Secretary and Assistance Artistic Director to the Cultural Troupe. Eric has participated in many dance performances and workshops across Ghana, West Africa and also at the 1997 World Kidder Festival tour in Netherlands. Eric teaches dance and drumming to many public and private junior and senior high schools in Ghana. Currently, Eric is serving as the research scholar, performer and assistant director for the African Alive Dance Company. |
Christian Kwesi Quayson- Dancer
An upcoming Ghanaian talented dancer who was discovered by Jason Aryeh. His passion for dance at an early age in a small town called “ Fiapre “ in the Brong Ahafo Region where he started his journey in dance performing in schools, churches and ceremonies. He has dance under the directorship of Jason Aryeh from Destiny Dance Company which was then affiliated with the center national Culture in sunyani. In 2010 after his education in junior high school, he had the opportunity to be enrolled in Africa Alive Dance Company. He has remained as a principal dancer for the company until date and teaches workshops and company classes. |
Elvis Tetteh– Dancer
A talented dancer trained as a dancer and has performed with several dance companies in Ghana. He had great passion for dance at an early age in a small town in the capital of Accra. Elvis started his journey in dance performing in schools, festivals and ceremonies. He has dance under the directorship of Jason Aryeh and currently with the Africa Alive Dance Company. Elvis teaches dance and choreographs for many junior and senior high schools in Ghana. He has remained as a principal dancer for the company until date and teaches workshops and company classes. |
Joseph Oko Adokwei – Dancer
Joined the Rainbow Cultural troupe at a very young age, A contemporary and traditional dance performer and a scholar in traditional oral arts in West Africa. Joseph later joined the Ballet Dance Company resident at the Arts Center in Accra for further professional training. He later joined the Ghana Dance Ensemble resident at the University of Ghana. He has performed and choreographed and toured extensively with the Ghana Dance Ensemble for many years. Joseph has travelled extensively around the country conducting workshops, conducting lecturers on dance and the arts in general and choreographing for many junior and senior high schools including performing. Most of his work has entered in many school competitions and has been embraced and adopted by many dance troupes and ensembles in Ghana. Joseph currently performs with the Africa Alive Dance Company. |
SMITH PIUS NANA KORSAH- Dancer
Is a trained dancer choreographer. He has performed as a lead soloist and musician with numerous companies in Ghana including the Njohn International Dance Company. In 2008 he was selected to perform during the opening ceremony of the African Nation's Football cup hosted in Ghana. He has performed also with Tema All Stars music and dance Ensemble affiliated with the Centre for National Culture, Accra. He has been awarded many awards include the best performer in Tema, a suburb of Accra. Currently, Pius Smith is one of the principal dancers with the Africa Alive Dance company while setting works in different middle and high schools in Accra and Tema. Some of the institutions he has worked with include Tema International School, Akuse International School, Don-Bosco Technical and vocational school, and Akosombo International School. He continues to research teach and perform as a dancer and choreographer. |
Prince Ofosu - Dancer
The youngest dancer in the company. Prince is currently in school and performs alongside with the company when necessary. Discovered by Jason Aryeh and has been under his directorship. Strong energetic dancer with a great enthusiasm for movements. Prince has remained as a principal dancer for the company until date. |
LURENCIA AKUA KUORKPE – Dancer
A contemporary and traditional dance performer and a scholar in West African traditional oral arts, Discovered by the ‘Vi-deck enkohnu’ dance ensemble at a very tender age, Lurencia danced with the Ghana Dance Company for many years. She has toured Germany in an intensive dance performance with the Ghana Dance Factory, performing at many high-profile events. In 2002-2003, Lurencia embarked on another tour with the Ghana Dance Company to West Africa, performing to audiences in Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Dakar Festival in Senegal. In addition to her performance work with the Ghana Dance Factory, Lurencia also performed as a guest artist with many local cultural ensembles such as ‘Wassa Dance Company”. Lurencia in 2004 was invited by the WALA dance company as a guest artist in residence to accompany them on their tour in Australia. In 2006, Lurencia joined Palm Three Dance Theater also as a guest artist as the Company tours in a performance in Israel. Lurencia is a performer a movement educator and a choreographer residence in Accra-Ghana. She currently performs with the Africa Alive Dance Company and choreographs at many senior and junior high schools in Ghana. |
GIDEON AKRONG – Assistant Music Director
A contemporary and traditional dance performer and a scholar in traditional oral arts, the founder and artistic director of the then United African Dance Theater resident in Accra, Ghana, Gideon started drumming at a very young age, Gideon joined the Okotobrigya Dance Company at a tender age as a drummer in 2003. Winning many awards and recognition from his high level of performance with playing different instruments, Gideon later joined the Palm Three Dance Company in 2006 and toured with the Company in a performance in Israel on several occasions. Currently, Gideon holds workshops and community learning projects in music and teaching at many high school and junior schools in Ghana while actively performing as a music director with the Africa Alive Dance Company. |