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
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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.
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