(Chicago, IL)— DanceAfrica Chicago 2008 has made a change to the artistic line up for this year’s performance. On Friday, October 31, 2008, at 8:00PM at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park enjoy, Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater, Giwayen Mata, Andrea Kelly Dance Theater and POETREE.
Acting as an extension of a permanent exhibition, “Africa Speaks”, which explores the motherland region by region, DanceAfrica Chicago adds a live component to its historical exploration. This year’s performance maintains the integrity of traditional West African dance, with performers from the United States.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Tatjj Drama ‘N’ Dance Ensemble a Ghanaian dance company scheduled for their first United States performance will not participate in DanceAfrica Chicago 2008.
“We were excited about bringing Tatjj to the United States and looked forward to sharing traditional dance direct from Africa. Unfortunately, they were not able to join us this year,” said President and CEO Antoinette D. Wright. We are very pleased to present “Asase Yaa, whose dancers include members of Ghanaian heritage. They will perform a traditional Ghanaian suite during Dance Africa Chicago 2008 this Friday.”
Tickets for this two hour performance range from $25 to $54 with an exclusive $125 VIP ticket which includes a pre theater reception. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.harristheaterchicago.org or call (312) 334-7777.
DanceAfrica Chicago 2008 lead sponsor is Columbia College Chicago. Additional support is provided by The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, “Time Out Chicago”, North Shore Printers, Ramada Lake Shore Chicago, The Black United Fund, WVON 1690 AM, “Rolling Out” and United Airlines, the official airline of the DuSable Museum of African American History. For more information about DanceAfrica Chicago 2008 visit http://www.dusablemuseum.org or call (773) 947-0600.
More on DuSable Museum
The DuSable Museum of African American History, the oldest institutions of its kind in the country, has been dedicated to the collection, preservation, interpretation and dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and Americans of African descent for 46 years. For more information on the Museum and its programs, call (773) 947-0600 or visit http://www.dusablemuseum.org.
More on 2008 Featured Artists
DR. CHUCK DAVIS
DR. CHUCK DAVIS, the Founder and Artistic Director of the African Dance Ensemble and the New York based DanceAfrica, is a native North Carolinian. He attended Howard University and majored in Theater/Dance and continued his study in African dance under the guidance of Babatunde Olatunji, Eleo Pamore and the Bernice Johnson Dance Company and received an honorary doctorate from Medgar Evers College. He keeps a full schedule of appearances with Ensemble, guest artist directorships, choreographer assignments, research and travel to Africa and Brazil.
ASASE YAA AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Artistic director Yao Ababio formed ASASE YAA AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCE THEATER in the summer of 2001. Asase Yaa is a group of young inspired artist showing the connection between Africa and African-Americans. The Ensemble consists of musicians, dancers and singers with training in various disciplines. The company also has an African-American “Griot” that recites the history of African-Americans. They bring their experiences and artistic skills together to present performances that teach audiences the richness of the African Diaspora. The members of Asase Yaa have traveled to various countries including Japan, Korea, Paris, Amsterdam, Iceland, Ghana, Guinea, and Angola. Their repertoire consists of ballets of their own creative works. Asase Yaa was created to bring joy to audiences through their exciting and colorful presentations
GIWAYEN MATA
GIWAYEN MATA, founded in 1993, celebrates the lives of women and uplifts our communities and our planet, while perpetuating the cultures of Africa and the African Diaspora through the study, creation, teaching and presentation of artistic media including dances, rhythms, songs, poetry and prose around the world. Giwayen Mata (pronounced ghee-wah-yen mah-tah) is a Hausa term that means “Elephant Women.” It is a title given to women who are leaders of women’s organizations. Giwayen Mata is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
ANDREA KELLY DANCE THEATER
ANDREA KELLY DANCE THEATER‘s choreography is a theatrical fusion of various dance forms including African, Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop and Belly Dance, creating innovative dance projects that are entertaining, inspiring, and heartfelt, for the urban youth who are unexposed to the world of possibilities created through the arts. AKDT is based in Chicago, Illinois.
POETREE
POETREE (Peoples Organized Entertainment Teaching Righteous Education Everywhere) began in February 1999 as a collective of artists, actors, poets, emcees and singers faced with a cloud of negativity, exploitation, and redundant rhetoric plaguing each of their respective art forms. Members Phenom, Brother Mike, Isa Starr and Rhythm collectively strive to create positive music that entertains the mind and the soul. POETREE has performed both in the U.S. and abroad with noted artists Common, Mos Def, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Roy Ayers and others. POETREE is based in Chicago, Illinois.
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