Asanti Dance Theatre
Ghana/Australia
Australia's leading West African dance company, Asanti Dance Theatre is a highly rhythmic and dynamic drum and dance ensemble that performs with captivating power, precision and energy. Presenting an unforgettable experience of West African music, dance, acrobatics and culture, their energy and cheeky sense of humour engages audiences of all ages. The group was founded in Ghana in 2002 and relocated to Australia in 2007. Using traditional West African performance practices, contemporary Australian choreography and raw, rhythmic energy, the group takes the audience on a musical journey inspired by ancestral values and stories, myths and legends from African traditional culture.
Workshop:
Traditional dances represent the culture and the people of Ghana, West Africa. They are full of history and meaning passed down from the ancestors. Dancers perform them to demonstrate stories and messages from the past. They include war dances, social dances and celebratory dances. The workshop will focus on movement and rhythm and how the two connect. Drawing on the traditional drum and dance patterns, participants will be introduced to basic dance moves and develop an understanding of the way the rhythms influence the dance patterns. The facilitators will also explain the stories and history behind the dance and teach the songs that accompany each dance.