Alternate Title Dance Africa 1981

Production Language English

Country of Origin United States, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali

Description The 1981 DanceAfrica festival began with the “villagers”—the established companies of DanceAfrica—greeting the “new arrivals,” several ensembles who would come to play enduring roles in successive DanceAfrica festivals, including: the Muntu Dance Theatre, the Art of Black Dance and Music, and the Ko-Thi Dance Company. Following the ritual blessing of the ancestors, DanceAfrica ’81 proceeded to celebrate African dance with dances inspired by traditional practices from Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal.    
 

Identifier 1981s.00319

VenueOpera House

artistic advisorKathab Cissokho, Atu Harold Murray, Baba Chuck Davis

choreographerBaba Chuck Davis, Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, John Blandford, Rhonda Morman, Welcome Msomi, De Ama Battle, Ferne Caulker-Bronson

companyCharles Moore Dance Theatre, Izulu Dance Theatre, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, International Afrikan-American Ballet, The Art of Black Dance and Music, Chuck Davis Dance Company, Dinizulu and his African Dancers, Drummers and Singers, Ko-Thi Dance Company

company managerPam Mitchell, Adjoa Claudette Young, Diane Pariser, Baba Obara Wali Rahman Ndiaye

costume designerTrudy Bell, Adenike Adegbaju, Gertie Gilliam, Cheryl Johnson, Nunaya & Co.

dance captain/répétiteurAnkobeahene Ajaibo, Tanya Spurgeon

dancerBaba Chuck Davis, Baba N'Goma Woolbright, Ankobeahene Ajaibo, Ewje Nkosi, Joe Deas, Esi-Ayisi Dinizulu, Adzua D. Opare, Baakan Dente, Serwa Nsia, Akua Kyerewaa, Bonsu Nkromah, Onyamekye Badu Panyin, Roslyn Davis, Lisa Dockery, Anita Lamberty, Chigui Santiago, Abdel R. Salaam, Tony Williams, James Short, Kevin Rainey, Ben Jones, Balogun Love, Jewel Love, Jalal Sheriff, Khalid Saleem, Ureal Charles, Warren Smith, Phillip Williamson, Stanley Robinson, Jennifer Jones, Reggie Stone, Alman Jason, Charles Moore, Mama Ella Thompson Moore, Ramona Candy, Janice Hart, Audrey Hubbard, Tracy Logan, Karla McFarlane, David Pace, Jasper Prince, Eric Vives, Terrence Wyatt, Carl Riley, Denton Melville, Monica Johnson, Amaniyé Payne, John Blandford, Ozzie Simmons, Jr., Clyde Wilder, Sulé Wilson, LaVerne Anduze, Rhonda Morman, Mama Amma Wiles McKen, Patricia Gittens, Stephanie Gittens, Carol Henriques, Jane Mayers, Marcia King, Roni Monro, Nancy Wright, Deborah Nance, Ruth Butler, Angelina Spurgeon, Ifetayo Kaphiri, Audrey Greene, Zainab Abdul Zahir, Lloyd Woodard, John Crow, Jamal Gadsden, Gregg Jackson, Frank Durham, Saute Willis, Zucan Abiola Bandele, Karimi Mackey, Dorothy Murphy, Raymond Sylla, Darryl Barbee, Eno Washington, Marie Guiner, Michael Battle, Igena Mobley, Marianne Harkless, Anika Kafi Tene, Chaveevah Rael, Joan Gray, Kimosha Murphy, Linda McLaughlin, Menjiwei Latham, Nahgeree Sutton, Veronica Simmons, Rakel Whitney, Afua Yanice Teague, Akono Larry Henderson, Manu El Washington, Naji Alem, Nunulu Latham, Oliver Gordon, Ramu Lunda, Sholomo Rael, Tau Diallo Bey, Twa Khu Ra Aton, Uche Ichi, Ferne Caulker-Bronson, Linda Lacy-Jones, Valeria Safford, Maureen Simpson, Karyn Gilbert, Kris World

director assistant/associateNitanju Bolade Casel, Babu Atiba

lighting designerCharles Howleit, Darryl Merchant, John Dodd

musical directorBaba Chief Bey, Eli Hoe Nai, Mosheh Milon, Olukose Wiles, Bamidele Osumarea, Baba Obara Wali Rahman Ndiaye, Dumah Saafir

musicianBaba Chief Bey, Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, Ralph Dorsey, Amartey Dente, Yao Dinizulu, Mensa Dente Botwe Sawyer, Kweyao Annaaforapanko, Okomfo Nyo, Stanley Robinson, Jalal Sheriff, Warren Smith, Phillip Williamson, Louis Celestin, Abetobi Jackson, Willie White, Baba Neil C. Clarke, William Hinton, Obayana Olumide, Olukose Wiles, Gregory Ince, Baba Galleh, Mwoli Oliver, Sydney Smart, Luther Gray, McKinley Perkins, Dumah Saafir, Tarence Spencer, Tejumola Oloboni, Ahmed Abdullah, Victor Campbell, Jr., Baba Obara Wali Rahman Ndiaye

photographerRodney Ward, Kwabena Shabu

press representative/promotionGwyland Winslow, Jamu Wayne Tukes

production assistant/coordinatorShelia Wilson, John L. Clay

stage managerBaba N'Goma Woolbright, Larry Venson