In celebration of Black History Month, the Dance Department of HCC Northwest hosted the 9th annual Akwaaba Dance and Drum Festival Feb. 25 - 27 at the Spring Branch campus.
The activities scheduled for the three-day event included a variety of African dance and drum workshops for children and adults. Each day showcased special performances featuring African performers, including the Saakumu Dance Troupe of Ghana, West Africa and Houston’s very own Lucia Dargam Dance Company.
The festival welcomed local and international performers who offered workshops and performances to HCC students and community members. Together, the performance artists, spectators and participants represent a culmination of African art, music, dance, culture and food for the Houston community.
Shani Sterling is the organizer of the event and has been a dance instructor with HCC since 2007. She is also a professional choreographer who has trained with notable organizations such as Houston Ballet Academy and Alvin Ailey Dance Academy. Sterling also received a Fulbright Fellowship allowing her to live in Ghana, West Africa for 10 months and study with The Saakumu Dance Troupe, as well as, The National Dance Company of Ghana.
"'Akwaaba' means welcome in one of the many native Ghanaian languages and is a symbolic theme while we introduced several dance techniques and cultural attributes from this beautiful country and from the entire African diaspora," said Sterling.
All events were held at the Spring Branch Campus, 1010 West Sam Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77043. Performances were held in the Performing Arts Center and classes were held in Room 441. All classes are free to HCC students and staff with ID. Regular cost for the classes and performances are $10.
Schedule:
Thursday 2/25/2016
- 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - CARIBFUNK Dance Class – A’keitha Carey
- 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - West African Dance -Jean Claude Lessou (Cote D’ivoire)
Friday 2/26/2016
- 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Pre-show Discussion
- 8:00 pm Performance:
Lucia Dargam Dance Company
A’keitha Carey
Saakumu Dance Troupe
Saturday 2/27/2016
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am - Free West African Children's Class – Saakumu Dance Troupe
- 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Drum Master Class – Saakumu Dance Troupe (Ghana)
- 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm - West African Dance Class - Saakumu Dance Troupe (Ghana)
- 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm - CARIBFUNK™ Dance Class – A’keitha Carey
- 4:15 pm - 5:45 pm - West African Dance Class - Jean Claude Lessou (Cote D’ivoire)
- 6:00 pm - 7:30pm - Samba – Lucia Dargam
C
ontact Shani Sterling, shani.sterling@hccs.edu or 713-718-5305.
