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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2004)
Renowned African group dances at UO Les Ballets Africains is on tour around the world to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2002 By Natasha Chilingerian Pulse Reporter Les Ballets Africains productions are meant for big stages. Their larger than-life costumes, diverse collection of African drums and theatrical story telling call for a giant space, but the national dance ensemble of the West African country of Guinea is downsiz ing its show to fit the Dougherty Dance Theatre on Tuesday so the Uni versity can get a taste of Africa. The dance department and the Huh Center are co-sponsoring the only Oregon performance of Les Bal lets Africains during its Golden Ju bilee world tour for its 50th anniver sary. Through dance and drumbeats, the company will portray the history and societal changes of its country. "African dance is based on natural movement. It's movement of work; we call it pedestrian movement. It's a tech nique that nontraditionai dancers and non-dancers can do easily." Rita Honka Director, Dance Africa "Their job is to display their cul ture through dance," Les Ballets Africains North American represen tative Vincent Paul said. "Their shows erupt into a celebration and their music is infectious." Sincfe its Formation in 1952, the dancers have acted as ambassadors for Guinea. The company's founder, Keita Fodeba, served as the minister of inte rior and the head of defense and secu rity in Guinea, and his dancers toured world capitals in promotion of Guinea's harmonious culture. When Guinea received its independence in 1958, it became the country's official national dance ensemble. The company's dance pieces often deal with universal topics such as edu cation and the natural environment. All performances fit the form of a tra ditional two-act Western ballet. "Their artistic director is able to manipulate traditional dances and Courtesy Les Ballets Africains travels from the West African nation Guinea to the Dougherty Dance Theatre on Tuesday for a theatrical show of drumbeats, culture and color. ceremonies from Guinea into acces sible programs," Paul said. For their Eugene performance, Les Ballets Africains will depict the frus trated citizens of Guinea prior to its independence, who were mled by French colonists. The production will touch on contemporary issues, in cluding the nation's elimination of fe male genital mutilation. In one piece, modern Guinea is portrayed by a dancer in a jogging suit and carrying a cell phone. Drums will serve a central role in the performance, because choreogra phy centers around the rhythms of djembes, doundouns, kenkenis, krins, koras and rattles. "At some times during the show, the floor is filled with drums," Paul said, adding its performance can cause a rethinking of traditional West ern lifestyles. "In the end, their strongest message is the humanity of Africa," he said. "They're very humane people, and they don't have the same program ming as the Western world of Mmth, summer, semester# year-tong programs sruosss mm*s> ww&mm V) new- k*en Where will it take you? Through liSAC, a consortium of 11$, universities, you can choose from 31 programs in 21 countries. With 20 years of experience, you can be sure that you have someone to turn to throughout HTTP..// IH N R. £ D U *77$ 784. 6-569 systematically going to school, getting a job, getting married and having kids. It's beautiful there; there is a hannony with nature and your fellow man. They are very gentle and easy going. You'll think, 'Wow, 1 didn't look at life that way.'" The appearance of Les Ballets Africains is an addition to the dance department's significant inclusion of African music and dance to its cur riculum. The department currendy of fers two levels of African dance, fre quent guest artists and master classes, the student dance ensemble Dance Africa and African drumming classes, which dance department chair Jenifer Craig said has had a large turnout from dancers. "Some dancers who have had mod em or African dance become fascinat ed with the integration of music in dance," Craig said. "There is an inclu sion of rhythm in the body in African dance, and learning to drum helps to clarify that for dancers." Dance instructor and Dance Africa Director Rita Honka said the depart ment's interest in African dance and music stems from a need for commu nity, accessibility and ceremony. "African dance is based on natural movement," Honka said. "It's move ment of work; we call it pedestrian movement. It's a technique that non traditional dancers and non-dancers can do easily. It also builds a huge community — the interaction be tween the dancers and drummers is becoming. And it also gives us a ritual that we are missing in our culture. We can take a moment while we're danc ing where we're not speeding to the next moment on our computers or on our cells." Dougherty Dance Theatre is locat ed on the third floor of the Gerlinger Annex. The sold-out show starts at 8 p.m. Contact the Pulse reporter at natashachilingerian@dailyemerald.com. Community Center tor the Perfonning Arts - Friday ■ League of Crafty Guitarists Guitar Instrumentalists 8:oo pm, $13 advance, $15 door ■ Saturday. Caliente Ixitin Salsa 8:00 pm, $8 door • Monday. fiyer Army, The Business Ro^er Miret £ Hie Disasters, F-Mmus, US Roughnecks Punk/Psycho 7:00 pm, $iz advance, $1; door - Wednesday. Hive, People Under the Stain Strange Folks Hip-Hop 8:00 pm, $12 advance, $11, door ■ Thursday. Bellydance Superstars i the Desert Roses with Americanistan Dance Performance 7:00 pm, $18 advance, $20 door All Ages Welcome 687-2746 We’ve got sports 24/7 www.dailyemerald.com Need unlimited income? 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