TRADITIONAL DANCE FORMS
Africa Alive Dance Company conducts dance workshops, master classes for all ages and performs all over the world. The company is based in Accra, Ghana. Every January, the Dance Company invites the community from different tribes/countries/Colleges/Universities middle and high school students, trains and tours with them in a performance in Ghana. Traditional dances ranges from the numerous tribes that exist in West Africa.
Among the popular dances are Kpanlogo, Adowa, Kpatsa, Gota, Agbadza, Agbekor, Fume Fume, Bamaaya, Takai, Bawa, Gome, Sosonne, Kumpo, Gumboot, Stick dance, Kuku, sabar to mention a few. Below are further descriptions of some of the traditional dance forms performed and their origins;
Afro-Modern Dance Technique:
This is a very unique technique that pulls from different sources of technique in the history of modern dance and infuses with the West African Contemporary movements style. The technique utilizes the concept of polyrhythm as well as total body articulation, travelling and interacting through space. The momentum release from the body is for the use to strive to define simplicity and clarity without extraneous movement, superfluous energy or unwanted tension that would interfere with the original intent but understanding the body.
Bamaya:
A dance of the Dagbamba people of the Northern region of Ghana means the river valley is wet. Originally a religious harvest dance, it now functions as social dance. The dance involves a lot of waist movements: Bamaya, the dance is usually performed by men in ladies' skirts, involves wiggling of the pelvis. This special dance is based on the story of a man who maltreated his wife, resulting in a plague of famine for the whole territory. It was revealed that in order to humble the man in question to his wife, all the men in the village had to dress like women - hence the Bamaya costume. The gender equality element furnishes us with food for thought…be nice to all living things. Some schools of traditional thought links the dance movements of Bamaya to fanning off mosquitoes.
Gahu:
Means “expensive” or “jewel” in the Ewe language. It is a recreational dance. Through cultural integration among the neighbouring countries of the West Africa Sub-Region, the Gahu dance has traveled from Nigeria into the Anlo communities in Ghana. This is apparent in the costumes and also in the movements, which are Yoruba, modified by the characteristic Agbadza dance form popular with the Anlo people. Its graceful movements exhibit elegance and dignity with meaning.
Kpanlogo:
A dance created by Otoo Lincoln in the Sakumo Tsonshi area of Accra in the early 1960s,
Is a recreational music and dance by the Ga-Adangbe people of Accra, the capital. Movements in the dance reflects themes such as Social Issues, Politics,Expression of human Feelings ie. Love and other Topical issues: One of the popular and most basic accompanying song“ABC” tells the story of the Ga folks learning the alphabet through to the letter “P”, and then taking a break to dance Kpanlogo, as narrated by Otoo Lincoln at Sakumo Tsonsi in Accra Ghana. The songs combine social commentary and drum-language with roots in the ethnic idioms.
Fume Fume:
Mustapher Tetteh Addy, the founder of the Music Academy at Kokrobitey, Accra, created Fume Fume music and dance. The energy and vigor of this dance takes your entire soul into another realm. The dancers wear grass skirts characteristic to that of the ancient warriors of the land.
Bawa:
Is a recreational dance of the Youth of Dagara community in the Upper West region of Ghana. This dance comes with many expressive movements.
Takai:
Is a recreational circle dance of the Dagomba people. It is performed during funerals and festivals.
Adowa:
An elegant majestic movement dance is originally a royal court dance of the Ashantis. Its development evolved into becoming a special music and dance performed at funeral rites. Today the music and dance has been adopted by many community groups. It is a very expressive dance.
Among the popular dances are Kpanlogo, Adowa, Kpatsa, Gota, Agbadza, Agbekor, Fume Fume, Bamaaya, Takai, Bawa, Gome, Sosonne, Kumpo, Gumboot, Stick dance, Kuku, sabar to mention a few. Below are further descriptions of some of the traditional dance forms performed and their origins;
Afro-Modern Dance Technique:
This is a very unique technique that pulls from different sources of technique in the history of modern dance and infuses with the West African Contemporary movements style. The technique utilizes the concept of polyrhythm as well as total body articulation, travelling and interacting through space. The momentum release from the body is for the use to strive to define simplicity and clarity without extraneous movement, superfluous energy or unwanted tension that would interfere with the original intent but understanding the body.
Bamaya:
A dance of the Dagbamba people of the Northern region of Ghana means the river valley is wet. Originally a religious harvest dance, it now functions as social dance. The dance involves a lot of waist movements: Bamaya, the dance is usually performed by men in ladies' skirts, involves wiggling of the pelvis. This special dance is based on the story of a man who maltreated his wife, resulting in a plague of famine for the whole territory. It was revealed that in order to humble the man in question to his wife, all the men in the village had to dress like women - hence the Bamaya costume. The gender equality element furnishes us with food for thought…be nice to all living things. Some schools of traditional thought links the dance movements of Bamaya to fanning off mosquitoes.
Gahu:
Means “expensive” or “jewel” in the Ewe language. It is a recreational dance. Through cultural integration among the neighbouring countries of the West Africa Sub-Region, the Gahu dance has traveled from Nigeria into the Anlo communities in Ghana. This is apparent in the costumes and also in the movements, which are Yoruba, modified by the characteristic Agbadza dance form popular with the Anlo people. Its graceful movements exhibit elegance and dignity with meaning.
Kpanlogo:
A dance created by Otoo Lincoln in the Sakumo Tsonshi area of Accra in the early 1960s,
Is a recreational music and dance by the Ga-Adangbe people of Accra, the capital. Movements in the dance reflects themes such as Social Issues, Politics,Expression of human Feelings ie. Love and other Topical issues: One of the popular and most basic accompanying song“ABC” tells the story of the Ga folks learning the alphabet through to the letter “P”, and then taking a break to dance Kpanlogo, as narrated by Otoo Lincoln at Sakumo Tsonsi in Accra Ghana. The songs combine social commentary and drum-language with roots in the ethnic idioms.
Fume Fume:
Mustapher Tetteh Addy, the founder of the Music Academy at Kokrobitey, Accra, created Fume Fume music and dance. The energy and vigor of this dance takes your entire soul into another realm. The dancers wear grass skirts characteristic to that of the ancient warriors of the land.
Bawa:
Is a recreational dance of the Youth of Dagara community in the Upper West region of Ghana. This dance comes with many expressive movements.
Takai:
Is a recreational circle dance of the Dagomba people. It is performed during funerals and festivals.
Adowa:
An elegant majestic movement dance is originally a royal court dance of the Ashantis. Its development evolved into becoming a special music and dance performed at funeral rites. Today the music and dance has been adopted by many community groups. It is a very expressive dance.