|
Dekornu Dancers of Africa Dance Company was established and created by Foster Ahianyo in Ghana 1993. The dance company has traveled throughout Africa and performed for festivals, celebrations, a US President, governmental occasion even weddings and funerals. All in keeping the traditional African dance culture alive, while celebrating African and tribal customs.
The Dekornu Dancers Company lives and trains in Accra, Ghana. The west African country, Ghana, is known as the door to Africa. Ghana has a rich hirtory of African tribes and Ashanti kings. Dekornus' dansing and drama is an institution that keeps the history alive.
The majority of the members of Dekornu Live in Nima providence Accra, Newtown. Newtown is the location of Dekornus' rehearsal and training grounds. Newtown is also one of the most impoverished areas in Accra, Ghana.
Despite the harsh conditions of life, the group has maintained its' standard of excellence in commitment and performance. Dekornu is performing traditional and contemporary dance with dramatizations, which provoke raw emotions from audiences without fail.
Below is a view of the training grounds of Dekornu. It is difficult to imagine that such skilled dancers could come out of such a hopeless world. Singe the inception of the Dekornu project, new hope has been created as the group sharpen their show to America. Traditional and contemporary dance with intense drama is the show that Dekornu Dancers performed.
Throughout the 11 years of work there has been many struggles which have required an enormous amount of hope and patience to continue. Half of the members have been with the group since its' creation. It has been the dream of this group to display their talents and performs before an American audience. It is rare to find in the USA. Truly traditional African dance and theater, performed by native Africans Dance Company.
The dances of Dekornu Dancers of Africa Dance Company
1. AGBEKOR: To watch the AGBEKOR is to watch heroic scenes which may have their origins in actual combat as the Anlo-Ewe tracked through the land to settle on. The Abgekor dance is fairly distributed and variants are found in the southern Volta Region of Ghana. Where the Anlo - Ewe speaking people finally settle after their long struggle and fighting from Dahomey now known as Benin. Abgekor Dance simply means Warriors Dance.
2. ATSIA: It's originally performed when moon light is on in the night. As a way of bringing the youth together for socialization. The movements of this dance is to display a natural infection being of a good woman, fun and joy of her whole being alive. Atsia means "To show off".
3. ADZOGBO: This a cult dance from the Republic of Benin in West Africa. Adzogbo is a dance in which the men show off their ability "Tough Huess" spiritual power and vigilance and it is proceeded by series of spiritual songs and movements.This dance has over the years taken root in the Republic of Togo and has some parts in Ghana.
4. KADODO: Kadodo means "Fencing with rope".It is a combination of movement and songs got from Adzogbo dance to drive away bad spirit and keep the performing ground or place calm before the Adzogbo dance. It is also called "TODZRO"
5. KPALONGO: Kpalongo means "invitation" and is a social dance from the Ga traditional sector of Greater Accra Region. It is rich in inmimetic and theatrical expressions and gives scope for comic and playful interpretations. It is a dance for the youths.
6. GOMEY: Is a recreational dance found in the Ga' traditional sector of Greater Accra Region. Gomey which has a foreign influence as can be detected in it's movement, was historically used by the people to entertainthemselves after a hard days work, their occupation, fishing. But mostly in their sketch, carpenters, clerks, painters etc. are the three main characters the performers use to entertain the audiences.
7. KIGALI: It is a fetish dance from the northern part of Ghana but now a social ritualistic ceremonial dance piece to the people of the Ga Community. It can also be seen in other communities like Fantes, Ewe etc. which are traditional tribal names in Ghana
8. KETE: Kete has been a traditional court dance for the chiefs and eldest and members of a royal house. It is dance in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It has been the favourite of the Ashante tribe,.however, these days, it is performed at most social gatherings.
9. SIKYI: It's flirtation in character in this arrangements, the performers seek to depict innocence and playful flirtation of lads an lasses of the period when this dance was at the height of its popularity.
10. BAMAYA: Is a social raining dance to consult the gods. It is popularly dance by the Dagomba people of Ghana. As exemplified in tnis dance it is marked with dignity, gracefulness and controlled gaiety with expressive dance movements.
Contact information:
DEKORNU OFFICE IN GHANA
P. O. BOX 9 NIMA
ACCRA, GHANA
C 167/8 ACCRA , NEWTOWN
RAACO DOWN,
ACCRA GHANA
DIRECTOR-FOSTER AHIANYO
011-233-244-696386
ADMINISTRATOR PATRICK KATASU
E-MAIL:
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
WEB SITE: www.dekornu.com
|
