The Czech Ambassador to Ghana, H. E. Margita Fuchsová has paid a courtesy call on the Director of the Institute of African Studies (IAS), Prof. Dzodzi Tsikata. The Czech Ambassador was accompanied by her Personal Assistant, Ms. Imelda Adde.
The visit was to apprise Professor Tsikata about preparations towards the expected visit of Ms. Monika Rebcova, a Czech Art Teacher and Choreographer in September, 2016. Ms. Rebcova is expected to work with the Ghana Dance Ensemble (GDE), the resident dance company of the Institute, in a one-month raining/workshop on both traditional and contemporary African dances.
Meeting with H. E. Margita Fuchsová
Professor Tsikata welcomed Mme Fuchsová into the Institute after which she introduced Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, Chair of the GDE Management Committee; Dr. Moses Nii-Dortey, Acting Artistic Director, GDE and Ms. Mavis Addotey, Administrator, all Senior Members of the Institute. She went on to brief the Ambassador about the work of the Institute.
Mme Fuchsová expressed the desire to learn more about the work and cultural activities of the Institute. She spoke about the vibrant cultural activities of the Czech Republic as well as Ms. Rebcova’s 22-years expertise in dance and choreography. Mme Fuchsová indicated that at the end of the one month training workshop, three dancers would be selected to participate in a Czech cultural Festival slated for May-June, 2017. She went on to say that the project was fully supported by the Czech Government as well as the Czhech Embassy in Ghana, and that she was hopeful about a possible joint collaboration between the Czech Embassy and Institute for a one-semester student exchange programme.
Professor Sutherland-Addy and Dr. Nii-Dortey took turns to brief the Ambassador about the GDE which was set up to originally research into African dances, and now supports the teaching of the University of Ghana Required Courses in Dance. Professor Sutherland-Addy stated that the GDE was made of professional dancers from different part of Ghana, and not students as in the case of the School of Performing Arts (SPA). Dr. Nii-Dortey spoke about the need to involve SPA in the one-month training workshop. Prof. Tsikata welcomed further discussions on the subject, and stated that the Institute would invite the Ambasssdor to any future IAS event or programmes. Professor Tsikata later presented Mme Fuchsová with copies of IAS publications.
Presentation by Prof. Dzodzi Tsikata to H. E. Margita Fuchsová