SANKOFA DANCE PROJECT
celebrates African Roots in American Dance through intensive summer study and choreographic residencies at UMass Amherst accompanied by performances and events celebrating through dance the diversity of the world in which we live. The word Sankofa invokes a belief that we must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be whom we are today.
JUNE 20-27, 2009
Chuck Davis headlines the second annual Summer Dance Intensive
Participants came from 26 different communities in 7 different states who ranged in age from 15 to 71. Scholarships were provided due to the generosity of UMass Amherst Office of Student Affairs. Participants performed in a brand new staging of Davis’ ballet “BlueGrass / BrownEarth: From Africa to Bluegrass” featuring original choreography by Davis and his teaching staff. The performance, at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, fused a highly energetic blend of African dance, rhythms, traditional banjo, and bluegrass music.
JUNE 20th, 2009
Community African Dance Class with Chuck Davis at UMass Amherst
Over 50 community joined Sankofa Summer Intensive participants in a free African Dance class. The class was team taught by Chuck Davis, Stafford Berry, Abdel Salaam and Amaniyea Payne. The class concluded with a reception for all!
“Thank you again for inviting the community into yesterday’s class. It was such a great experience for all my students. You are doing amazing things and we are very grateful to you and the staff. All the best and have a fantastic week!!” – Tracy Vernon, dance teacher from Amherst Regional High School.
DECEMBER 6-8, 2008
University Dancers reprise George Faison’s, Movin’ On
In a rousing, reprisal performance, students open the second act of the annual University Dancers Concert with Faison’s Movin’ On. The concert featured work from Doug Elkins, Sankofa artist Adrienne Hawkins and UMass Amherst faculty and took place on the campus at Bowker Stage.
OCTOBER 23rd, 2008
UMass Amherst Dancers perform with Alvin Ailey II at the Fine Arts Center
University Dancers perform Faison’s Movin’ On at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center concert Hall with the critically acclaimed Alvin Ailey II for an audience of nearly 1500 middle and high school students, teachers and community from around Western MA. The students in this work were auditioned from around the Five Colleges and included two local high school students from the Pioneer Valley School for the Performing Arts.
SEPTEMBER 2008
George Faison returns to UMass Amherst for an extended residency
George Faison rehearses with students for his new work, Movin’ On. In an unprecedented opportunity, George prepares them to perform the work with the critically acclaimed company Alvin Ailey II when they visit the Fine Arts Center on October 23, 2008. Movin’ On, with music by Betty Carter, is about loosing the shackles of American segregation and stepping forward bravely into a new world.
JUNE 22-27, 2008
George Faison headlines the Inaugural Summer Dance Intensive
Participants arrived from 27 different communities in 10 different states and ranged in age from 15 to 56. They came to train with Faison and the exceptional teachers he assembled. 20 full tuition and housing scholarships were provided for Springfield, MA students thanks to the generosity of UMass Amherst Student Affairs Office and UMass Amherst Outreach.
The week also included The Sankofa Festival 2008 featuring three events: A Harlem Renaissance Jam, A Bebop, Hip Hop, Spoken Word Jam, and the Sankofa Intensive Dance Concert. Over 800 strong came to the UMass Amherst campus out to support the three Sankofa Festival events.
MAY 12th, 2008
George Faison comes to UMass Amherst to teach
George Faison comes to UMass Amherst for a Master Class teaching students in the Dance Department a portion of his new dance Movin’ On. During August 2008, Faison finished choreographing the piece with the critically acclaimed Alvin Ailey II company.
DECEMBER 4-6, 2007
University Dancers perform Exodus by Ron K. Brown
Sankofa Dance Project activities begin with a re-staging of acclaimed modern choreographer Ron K. Brown’s Exodus, performed by the UMass Amherst University Dancers at Bowker Auditorium on the UMass Amherst campus. The performance was attended by over 1000 Five College students, faculty and staff along with members of the local arts community.
