ABOUT THIS EVENT
Join us for a day of music and dance performances celebrating the diversity of styles rooted from the African Diaspora. From traditional African and Caribbean dance and drumming to specially-commissioned contemporary fusions, professional and community artists will have something for every age group to learn a dance step, a drum beat or to just sit back and enjoy the performances in the Horniman Gardens.

This event is part of Bloom Festival, programmed in partnership with the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Music and Dance performances from the African Diaspora

12-12.45 & 3-3.45pm  Tavaziva Dance: When King Gogo met the Chameleon:
this magical story celebrates the time when Chameleon came to the village and banished the wicked King Gogo, and helped to release his daughter, the Princess, from captivity from the evil spider, Anansi. When King Gogo met the Chameleon has been inspired by traditional African tales and created by Bawren Tavaziva in collaboration with his dancers and dramaturge and writer Chris Fogg.

12.45-1.05 & 5-5.30pm Freddie Opoku-Addaie: Show of Hands:

this show is a new solo choreographed and performed by Freddie Opoku-Addaie and overlooked by a mass of wooden carved hands. Dodging obstacles and provocations, ducking and diving, dancing on shadows, rising to an unknown task and driven to the final whistle, Opoku-Addaie enacts this witty and personal work. Performance at 12.45pm followed by a workshop at 5pm.

1-1.20 & 4.30-4.50pm Ella Mesma: Birds of Paradise:
the piece is a conversation between choreographer Ella Mesma and two musicians, percussionist Xavier Osmir and beatboxer Marv the Radio. Drawing on the traditions of the Brazilian Samba no pé, the show explores the mask of the samba dancer – the costume, theatre and prowess.

1.30-2 & 4-4.30pm Ballet Nimba: Sewa Fare:
Sewa Fare translates as ‘Dance for Joy’ and incorporates a blend of outstanding music and acrobatic dance to celebrate Africa’s happiness, energy and dynamism. Led by Guinean Idrissa Camara, Ballet Nimba brings together musicians from across West Africa to produce a dynamic, compelling show with amazing musicianship and astounding percussive beats.

2-2.15 & 5-5.15pm Earth Dances: She Who Walks:
this project explores female ancestry and the female body in relation to landscape. This site-specific music and dance performance is choreographed by Denise Rowe in collaboration with musicians Omer Makessa, Ayla Schafer and Ailsa Hughes.

2.15-2.45pm & 5.30-6pm Miishejeloi: Odehe:
Odehe (meaning ‘royal’) traces a child’s life, from his birth into royalty, through to his adult life and the challenges he faces when his village comes under attack. Responding to the African objects from the Horniman collections, the show explores a range of African traditions, including the significance of the spiritual world in a royal household. This new entertaining and exuberant production by Ghanaian choreographer and musician Nii Kwartey Owoo incorporates West African folk music and dance, with splashes of contemporary movements and clever intricate storytelling.

4.30-4.45pm Ghislaine Dote:
discover the premiere of new piece by Canadian choreographer Ghislaine Doté developed during her recent residency with ADAD’s artists Alesandra Seutin and Andrea Queens. The work explores the African roots and Contemporary and Afro-Contemporary dance expression.

Dance performances by Trinity Laban

Over the last few months, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance have explored the Horniman’s African collections to create a series of contemporary dance performances. In particular, dance students have creatively responded to a series of intricate and colourful Imbenge baskets from South Africa, which toured to the Trinity Laban’s building in June as part of the Horniman’s Object in Focus programme. This collaboration led to seven new pieces by TL’s youth groups, older local people who take part in the Retired Not Tired classes, younger disabled dancers and undergraduate students.

12-12.10pm: Lift: A Gift from my Auntie:
this is a piece about objects. The Lift dancers curate an exhibition of their own personal belongings, using these objects as inspiration for movement. Movement is also inspired by the Imbenge baskets on loan to Trinity Laban as the dancers weave and thread through the space exploring the intricate patterns, shapes and colours of these objects.

12.15-12.20pm: Velocity: Round and Around:
looking around at the value and weight of every single experience… With laughter, conflict and mystery, Velocity’s young dancers tell you about their Round journey: “Life’s a journey that goes round and round and the end is closest to the beginning.” Edward James Olmos

1.30-1.35pm: Launch: Rather than starting inside, I start outside:
when researching the Imbenge, Launch found images that showed how these baskets were woven from the outside to the centre. This led the group to create a piece made of movement that draws attention to the edges, that begins at extremities and that uses this pull and spatial tension to contribute to another form.

2.30-2.40pm: Adults Contemporary 2: ReWire:
this piece explores the themes of weaving and craft as the dancers from Trinity Laban Adult Contemporary collaborate to build movement phrases, interlace in the space and explore rhythms inspired by traditional South African drumming.

3-3.10pm: CAT: God’s Children:
set in a village, this is a vibrant celebratory piece, giving thanks to life, the sun, the moon, the air we breathe and the colourful community of people we are. Bawren Tavaziva’s synthesis of ballet, contemporary and African dance makes for a unique choreographic language. Together with the dancers, Bawren has created a highly energetic and uplifting piece which complements the percussive, Southern African music.

3.30-3.40pm: Bellingham Beats 1 & 2:
Savannah, followed by Masks: Savannah explores the rhythms and animals of the savannah… can you spot the lions and giraffes? In Masks, the group researched African masks and created their own. The piece explores the hidden and revealed aspects of emotions and personality.

4-4.10pm: Dance for Health: Order and Disorder, they both have their beauty:
this piece is inspired by the South African Imbenge: seemingly unruly and resistant to structure the colourful strands are woven into a form that is both functional and decorative. Patterns are interrupted with new forms that then establish their own order.