Dance Life Festival
Monday 29/06 – Sunday 05/07/2020
This week of dancing is making dance easily accessible at no cost through live performances and dance classes from professional dancers based in Nairobi. Whether it is Ballet, Seben, Hip Hop, Afrofusion, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Ragga or Traditional Dance that is your style, we’ve got you covered! This year’s first edition of the Dance Life Festival is unpacking the dance scene in Nairobi, presenting a compass to navigate the current dance scene in the city. The one-week festival is mapping out the Nairobi territory, putting up signs that lead to dance studios, dance groups and individual dancers and choreographers, to cultural spaces and organizations that accommodate and promote dance as an art form, a social and cultural practice.
We encourage you to dance with us! Learn how to dance various styles in one of the ten online classes and experience professional dancers through their weekend performances.
All Classes will be held on Zoom. You can join each class using the link below:
Access Link: Click, here
Or copy this and paste to browser:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87005611757?pwd=SS9PVytYVWxleUViY0pZOGh3em9mdz09
Meeting ID: 870 0561 1757
Password: 1A79tu
The performances on Saturday and Sunday will be streamed live on Facebook and Youtube channel.
Dance Classes
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM HIP HOP WITH PAUL MUIRURI
Join us for the first class of the festival getting into some serious hip hop moves with Paul Muiruri of Art Zone.
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM BALLET WITH JULIET DUCKWORTH
Juliet is currently serving as the founder of Origins and co-artistic director and faculty member of The Academy of Dance and Art. Juliet studied professional dance at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in the UK from 2011 to 2015. She subsequently joined Central School of Ballet in London where she finished off her training. Her recent ballet and contemporary performances include Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Odile and Odette in Swan Lake, Beyond the Edge production. Juliet was also featured in a Skunk Anansie music video and Man Kind, which were released commercially in the international scene.
05:00 PM – 06:00 PM AFROFUSION WITH VINCENT OWOKO
The Afrousion workshop is a fusion of African traditional dance techniques from East and West of Africa with a strong touch of Contemporary dance technique. It's best for both beginners and those taking master classes.
Join us for the first class of the festival getting into some serious hip hop moves with Paul Muiruri of Art Zone.
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM BALLET WITH JULIET DUCKWORTH
Juliet is currently serving as the founder of Origins and co-artistic director and faculty member of The Academy of Dance and Art. Juliet studied professional dance at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in the UK from 2011 to 2015. She subsequently joined Central School of Ballet in London where she finished off her training. Her recent ballet and contemporary performances include Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Odile and Odette in Swan Lake, Beyond the Edge production. Juliet was also featured in a Skunk Anansie music video and Man Kind, which were released commercially in the international scene.
05:00 PM – 06:00 PM AFROFUSION WITH VINCENT OWOKO
The Afrousion workshop is a fusion of African traditional dance techniques from East and West of Africa with a strong touch of Contemporary dance technique. It's best for both beginners and those taking master classes.
09:00 AM – 10:00 AM RAGGA WITH RENEE GITHINJI
My names are Renee Jeanette Thogori Githinji better known as Raines Dance Empress. I am a professional choreographers,dance trainer,teacher and mentor. My class will be a Ragga Dance Class.It is similar to Dance hall only the DJ improvises lyrics over a sampled back track.It was very big in the 1990's and is fun and energetic.
11:00AM – 12:00 PM CONTEMPORARY DANCE WITH JULIETTE OMOLLO
Release technique in contemporary dance focuses on muscle relaxation, breathing, anatomical consideration and the use of gravity and momentum. Juliette will give a beginners class on the basics of release technique. This technique helps the dancer to be able to manoeuvre movements and avoid injuries.
03:00PM – 4:00 PM URBAN DANCE KENYA WITH EMPIRE DANCE KENYA
Empire Dance comprises of four highly trained and experienced dancers and choreographers. They teach dance in such a simple way that each person who wants to learn a dance can easily learn the technique. On Tuesday, they will be able to teach urban dance moves by breaking down each step for the audience to get and understand, whether beginner or professional dancer.
05:00 PM – 5:00 PM TAP DANCE WITH STACY ACHIENG
Stacey is a tap dancer based in Nairobi. One of the first steps she had learned when she started tap dancing was the Shim Sham Shimmy – an exciting move that most tap dancers all over the world know or have heard about. Together with Stacey we'll learn to do the Shim Sham Shimmy and have a bit of fun with it.
My names are Renee Jeanette Thogori Githinji better known as Raines Dance Empress. I am a professional choreographers,dance trainer,teacher and mentor. My class will be a Ragga Dance Class.It is similar to Dance hall only the DJ improvises lyrics over a sampled back track.It was very big in the 1990's and is fun and energetic.
11:00AM – 12:00 PM CONTEMPORARY DANCE WITH JULIETTE OMOLLO
Release technique in contemporary dance focuses on muscle relaxation, breathing, anatomical consideration and the use of gravity and momentum. Juliette will give a beginners class on the basics of release technique. This technique helps the dancer to be able to manoeuvre movements and avoid injuries.
03:00PM – 4:00 PM URBAN DANCE KENYA WITH EMPIRE DANCE KENYA
Empire Dance comprises of four highly trained and experienced dancers and choreographers. They teach dance in such a simple way that each person who wants to learn a dance can easily learn the technique. On Tuesday, they will be able to teach urban dance moves by breaking down each step for the audience to get and understand, whether beginner or professional dancer.
05:00 PM – 5:00 PM TAP DANCE WITH STACY ACHIENG
Stacey is a tap dancer based in Nairobi. One of the first steps she had learned when she started tap dancing was the Shim Sham Shimmy – an exciting move that most tap dancers all over the world know or have heard about. Together with Stacey we'll learn to do the Shim Sham Shimmy and have a bit of fun with it.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM JAZZ DANCE WITH NATASHA FROST
This dance class is a close relative of modern technique with a progression of isolation exercises, strength building and stretches. Afterwards there will be turns and traditional jazz kicks leading in to traveling steps and jumps. The jazz class focuses on musicality with many types of lyrical music. With clean precise movements with a low centre of gravity that is cat like in execution. A combination is taught at the end allowing the dancer to express his or her personal style within the choreography. Jazz is about storytelling with a strong element of feeling and technique all rolled into one.
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM SEBEN WITH DOUDOU SAIDI
"La danse Sebene" workshop will focus on hip movement, articulation of the upper torso and robust foot technique. Seben is originally from DR Congo and is vastly known in other regions as Ndobolo or Lingala. In a nutshell all you need to have to be ready for the class is the ability to remember choreography, physical fitness a pair of leggings and a t-shirt
05:00 PM – 06:00 PM TRADITIONAL WITH BOMAS OF KENYA
This class focusses on GONDA dance of the Giriama community of Coastal Kenya.
It is a lively dance performed by youth; characterized by contractions of shoulders and staccato-like jumps, and by intense and rapid percussive music; accompanied by mabumbumbu and mshondo drums.
This dance class is a close relative of modern technique with a progression of isolation exercises, strength building and stretches. Afterwards there will be turns and traditional jazz kicks leading in to traveling steps and jumps. The jazz class focuses on musicality with many types of lyrical music. With clean precise movements with a low centre of gravity that is cat like in execution. A combination is taught at the end allowing the dancer to express his or her personal style within the choreography. Jazz is about storytelling with a strong element of feeling and technique all rolled into one.
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM SEBEN WITH DOUDOU SAIDI
"La danse Sebene" workshop will focus on hip movement, articulation of the upper torso and robust foot technique. Seben is originally from DR Congo and is vastly known in other regions as Ndobolo or Lingala. In a nutshell all you need to have to be ready for the class is the ability to remember choreography, physical fitness a pair of leggings and a t-shirt
05:00 PM – 06:00 PM TRADITIONAL WITH BOMAS OF KENYA
This class focusses on GONDA dance of the Giriama community of Coastal Kenya.
It is a lively dance performed by youth; characterized by contractions of shoulders and staccato-like jumps, and by intense and rapid percussive music; accompanied by mabumbumbu and mshondo drums.
PERFORMANCES
03:00 PM “KILELE” - A MODERN DANCE PERFORMANCE BY ART ZONE
KILELE is a swahili word meaning Apex. The piece is decorated by a collection of unique body types, movement, choreographic styles and experiences. The piece is an epitomy of success achieved by collaborative forces of gender diversity. The performance is marked by interplay of power, speed, charisma and vulnerability that derives inspiration in providing level ground for artistic expression"
03:30 PM "VIRGULE – Comma" – A MODERN / CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY DOUDOU SAIDI
"VIRGULE" - Comma In a phrase a comma influences the tone of the sentence, but that does not conclude the phrase regardless of the appearance it takes after. On the other hand it facilitates the continuity of a sentence. A comma in this performance means, change in everyday life that we have had to undergo following the Covid-19 pandemic the world is grappling with, this has changed the tonnation of our habits: observation of hygiene rules, confinement and a host of other measures to fight the pandemic. The concept behind "Virgule" is to provoke an emotional appeal visually through ideas that seek to reflect and mitigate on how to thrive on post Covid time. What will your tone be post Covid?
Choreography: Doudou Saidi
Duration : 15 minutes
Live music: Patrick Johnson & Tigo Photo
Video: Allegresse Mpuisani
04:00 PM THE EVOLUTION ART HUB
Poetry interlude
04:30 PM CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY JOKA JOK DANCE COMPANY
An exploration and re-working from plan A to X in the new environment.
05:00 PM ''ASATTI'' DANCE PERFORMANCE BY THE NEST STUDIOS
Asatti - Means Connection in Sanskrit.
The dance is about the relationships within the family, its highs and lows, challenges and support; the chain of events and the fact that all families and friends are going through the same thing no matter how far apart. We can all seize the moment and live in the moment, not taking anything for granted.
KILELE is a swahili word meaning Apex. The piece is decorated by a collection of unique body types, movement, choreographic styles and experiences. The piece is an epitomy of success achieved by collaborative forces of gender diversity. The performance is marked by interplay of power, speed, charisma and vulnerability that derives inspiration in providing level ground for artistic expression"
03:30 PM "VIRGULE – Comma" – A MODERN / CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY DOUDOU SAIDI
"VIRGULE" - Comma In a phrase a comma influences the tone of the sentence, but that does not conclude the phrase regardless of the appearance it takes after. On the other hand it facilitates the continuity of a sentence. A comma in this performance means, change in everyday life that we have had to undergo following the Covid-19 pandemic the world is grappling with, this has changed the tonnation of our habits: observation of hygiene rules, confinement and a host of other measures to fight the pandemic. The concept behind "Virgule" is to provoke an emotional appeal visually through ideas that seek to reflect and mitigate on how to thrive on post Covid time. What will your tone be post Covid?
Choreography: Doudou Saidi
Duration : 15 minutes
Live music: Patrick Johnson & Tigo Photo
Video: Allegresse Mpuisani
04:00 PM THE EVOLUTION ART HUB
Poetry interlude
04:30 PM CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY JOKA JOK DANCE COMPANY
An exploration and re-working from plan A to X in the new environment.
05:00 PM ''ASATTI'' DANCE PERFORMANCE BY THE NEST STUDIOS
Asatti - Means Connection in Sanskrit.
The dance is about the relationships within the family, its highs and lows, challenges and support; the chain of events and the fact that all families and friends are going through the same thing no matter how far apart. We can all seize the moment and live in the moment, not taking anything for granted.
03:00 PM CONTEMPORARY DANCE PERFORMANCE BY PAMOJA DANCE GROUP
We face so many indifference the world is at a tipping point. The equaliser is not equating brutality, disregard of human rights worldwide. We are at a tipping point. Equality and I Abe free. (Maya Angelo)
03:30 PM TAP DANCE PERFORMANCE BY TAPA TAPAS DANCE
The story that inspired this piece is about police injustice, that is currently being finally confronted by everyone around the world. This piece of 25 minutes is going to attempt to show how life is like as a dancer in an environment where there is so much rift between the police and the community. The four tap dancers Kenanie, Bruce, Vinnie and Stacey will be accompanied by Ken Gakuo as the percussionist to bring just a fraction of what these dancers have gone through to the fore.
04:00 PM MUFASA
Poetry interlude
04:30 PM ORIGINS DANCE COMPANY
Origins' piece is based on the versatility and diversity of the dancers. ''We based our performance on us as humans making music with what we have, may it be a body part or any house hold item in the most unique way. We want to demonstrate that you can make music and rhythm with practically any item, our choreography is based on us creating our own music. We also felt, that in the current situation in our lives there has been a lot of heart ache and sadness that has been spreading throughout the world so we wanted to bring a smile to everybody’s face and make them forget just for a moment about what is happening around us. Our use of colour in our costumes represents the colours of the rainbow meaning there is a light at the end of the tunnel.''
05:00 PM JARED ONYANGO
"In this dance inspirations for movements come from photos taken of myself doing a movement phrase. In making the dance, I mimic the postures and join the postures to form a movement sequence, which can be presented as a performance. Depending on the arrangements and with little adjustments, I get variations, threads of movements, which I spread on a spiral path pattern. The dance is performed with live percussion music."
We face so many indifference the world is at a tipping point. The equaliser is not equating brutality, disregard of human rights worldwide. We are at a tipping point. Equality and I Abe free. (Maya Angelo)
03:30 PM TAP DANCE PERFORMANCE BY TAPA TAPAS DANCE
The story that inspired this piece is about police injustice, that is currently being finally confronted by everyone around the world. This piece of 25 minutes is going to attempt to show how life is like as a dancer in an environment where there is so much rift between the police and the community. The four tap dancers Kenanie, Bruce, Vinnie and Stacey will be accompanied by Ken Gakuo as the percussionist to bring just a fraction of what these dancers have gone through to the fore.
04:00 PM MUFASA
Poetry interlude
04:30 PM ORIGINS DANCE COMPANY
Origins' piece is based on the versatility and diversity of the dancers. ''We based our performance on us as humans making music with what we have, may it be a body part or any house hold item in the most unique way. We want to demonstrate that you can make music and rhythm with practically any item, our choreography is based on us creating our own music. We also felt, that in the current situation in our lives there has been a lot of heart ache and sadness that has been spreading throughout the world so we wanted to bring a smile to everybody’s face and make them forget just for a moment about what is happening around us. Our use of colour in our costumes represents the colours of the rainbow meaning there is a light at the end of the tunnel.''
05:00 PM JARED ONYANGO
"In this dance inspirations for movements come from photos taken of myself doing a movement phrase. In making the dance, I mimic the postures and join the postures to form a movement sequence, which can be presented as a performance. Depending on the arrangements and with little adjustments, I get variations, threads of movements, which I spread on a spiral path pattern. The dance is performed with live percussion music."
Festival Overview
The festival is curated by Adam Chienjo.
