The DanceAfrica energy is alive and well at BAM in preparation for its 36th annual festival and week long celebration under Artistic Director Baba Chuck Davis.
For the kick-off performance on Sunday, May 19, the guest company from Zimbabwe, Umkhathi Theatre Works, guided Davis to the stage to begin. Davis, with all his charm, humor and teachings, welcomed the audience with his usual directive: Audience members are to stand and greet at least seven people who they don’t know because, after all, “This is not a theater, it is a Bantaba” (“Dancing Ground” according to the Mandinka of West Africa), Davis said. When Davis needed the attention of his audience, he said, “Ago” (“Are you listening?”), and they would respond, “Ame” (“Yes, we are listening.”).
“Today, we celebrate Malcolm X,” Davis announced, and one at a time, each member from the Council of Elders made his way center stage, danced his way toward the audience and was then escorted to his seat in the first two rows. Magically, against a backdrop of glittering lights and a soft scrim across the front of the stage, the candle bearers began the memorial, where names of the “honorable ones once connected to DanceAfrica who now rest on sacred ground” were called. At the end, the audience members also called the names of their loved ones.
The energy seamlessly shifted when Umkhathi Theatre Works returned to the stage with the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble and Isishikitsha. Mostly framed by a mesmerizing semi-circle of hand-clapping, foot-stomping and glorious singing, in various groupings, members from both of the two companies took turns filling the center space with rhythmic movements, knee lifts and jumps that lingered in the air and a continued stomp that punctuated each new movement.
The audience was in their hands! After a short intermission, the seven Samuel H. Scripps BAM Scholarship Fund recipients were recognized. BAM/Restoration returned with a beautiful initiation dance welcoming young girls, and Umkhathi Theatre Works returned with a memorable performance of “Setapa.” A special treat for the afternoon was the sweet sounds of the a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock.
The dance soon continued. In silhouette, the dancers of Umkhathi Theatre Works entered low to the ground, holding the waist of the person in front, three riding high, seated on the backs of three others. Once the procession ended, the stage and the audience were again charged with their energy. First, the women balanced baskets atop their heads or placed them on the floor, all the while dancing with intoxicating vigor. Then the men, dancing with ease on their knees or the sides of their legs, slid forward and back on the stage, displaying their skill and absolute joy. They simply wowed the crowd. But this was only the kickoff!
As always, there will be the outdoor DanceAfrica 2013 Bazaar, FilmAfrica, a BAMcinematek film series, master classes, BAMcafe Live performances, a late night dance party and the dance performances. This year’s theme is “Rhythms of Africa/Giya Africa/Mandingindira e Africa,” which means “Rhythms of Africa” in Ndebele and Shona, the primary languages of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Joining Umkhathi Theatre Works and the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble this year are Giwayen Mata (Atlanta) and Harambee Dance Company (Bronx). For more information, visit www.bam.org.
