DANCES
Adzogbo
Adzogbo, a war dance from the Republic of Benin (Dahomey) has two main parts. The first, Kadodo, is performed mainly by women as a curtain raiser. Its elegant, graceful and charming arm gestures contrast with the taps and hops of the leading foot.
Atsia the second part, is a series of dances in which the men show their agility, toughness and virtuosity. Some movements performed are motifs from the arms drill of the French colonial soldiers including leaping over the wooden horse, wrestling and boxing. It is performed by strong able men who respond to the energetic demands of the vigorous music. Formerly a war dance, it has now been adapted as a social or recreational dance.
Akan Ceremonial Dance Suite
The ceremonial life of Akan communities is rich and eventful. The Akan Ceremonial Suite was created by Mawere Opoku to ‘re-present’ the spectacular gathering of royalty and the people in a display of mutual interdependency through the symbolism of the arts typically seen during festivals such as the Adae. The piece depicts the King and the Queen in their resplendent ceremonial attire accompanied by their courtiers carrying the paraphernalia of office and other officials of the court. Their graceful, powerful movements interpret with dignity their mandate for leadership while community envelopes them in euphoric acceptance.
Akom
A suite of classic religious dances, Akom evokes the traditional spirituality of the Akan people. These sublime dances are mainly as a means of releasing priests from trances into which they must fall in order to act as mediums. The popular notion that priests dance themselves into a trance is false. However, the rhythm of this dance is such that it has been known to have diverse effects on adherents and onlookers. After an act of healing, the priest walks around greeting people and dispersing powdered clay in the same manner that Christian priest use holy water. S/he acknowledges God who is the spirit of the earth, the source of physical strength and material well-being. He also acknowledges the ‘four winds’ which carry to him/her the words of God. The dances are organized sequentially. They begin with the Ntwaho circling in a series of pivot turns to illustrate the perfection, wholeness and oneness of God.
Then follows Adaban (i) a retreating and advancing movement of great power and fascination, combined with spins and turns in the air. Some of the dance motifs are versions of secular and popular dances. This is one dance in which the dancer is observably in control of the changes in musical rhythm. Akom is traditional to the Akan and the Ga people.
Asafo
Akan communities of Ghana ensured their security through people’s militia groups. Today these militias serve a social role, mobilizing members of the community to remember their heroic past, engage in communal work. In its original manifestation, Asafo was a warrior dance which led armies into battle. It is made up of both fast paced group regimental movements and displays of individual prowess. Asafo dance is inspired by a rhythm and powerful songs whose lyrics drive away fear and fill the fighters with only one desire which is to fight for their motherland. It is danced also in jubilation after the fight. A special feature of Asafo is the flag-bearer who embodies the soul of the group and excuses exquisites and agile steps assisted by his attendants.
Asante Adowa
Asante legend has it that the dance originated from antelope movements hence the name Adowa. These were not the movements of an ordinary antelope for; there was once a queen mother in Asante called Berea Tutuwa who fell ill and when the gods were consulted, they requested a live antelope as sacrifice. The Asafo warriors promptly set out into the forest and what they brought back was no ordinary animal. The people saw to their amazement the antelope jumping and making very strange movements. After the queen mother was cured, the women, in an attempt to imitate the movement of the antelope in jubilation, started the Adowa dance.
It therefore became a women’s performance in several Akan communities. Adowa music and dance filled with moving lyrics and gestures draw in the bereaved to express themselves, providing solace for them during funerals in Akan communities. The Adowa dance however, is a remarkably flexible dance and has been transformed into a recreational dance for both sexes. The Ghana Dance Ensemble presents the classical, delicate Adowa steps in a joyous mood.
Atsiagbekor
War has for centuries defined the status and aspirations of societies and individuals. From the Volta Region, we present the Atsiagbekor dance of the Anlo people. It is a medley of dances performed after a successful battle to demonstrate to people at home symbolic movements of the battle field. To watch Atsiagbekor is to watch scenes which have made their original forms in these battles fought long ago. The dance is made up of choreographed inventions based on the regimental movements. These are serious expressions of prowess, suffering and hardship by a people who once fought battles through hostile territory in search of peace. Atsea like the Twi Akyea, means to ‘show off’ or to “strut your stuff”. The dancers tend to show off with their movements which display agility, strength and pride. The Ghana Dance Ensemble presents it in a slow and fast format.
Atsia (Togo)