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The pulsating sounds of Sunu (ceremonial music played by the Malinke people of Guinea and Mali during traditional festivals) transport students to the villages of West Africa where popular American dances, such as the Charleston and hip-hop, were born. Manga traces the evolution of these dances from the marketplaces of the Congo to the slave ships bound for the Caribbean to the plantations of the American South and the night clubs of the urban North. Students will discover how Africans absorbed elements of other cultures along the way and transformed them into new dance styles that have left an indelible mark on American culture.
Manga African Dance
Manga African Dance was founded in 1990 by Ramatu Afegbua-Sabbatt. The ensemble provides schools with authentic programs and also trains aspiring performers interested in West African dance. Manga performed at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996. The company's high-energy repertoire includes dances and rhythms from Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, South Africa and Nigeria.
A recipient of several awards, Manga received the John Lewis office's Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition in 2005 and 2006 as well as special recognition from the National Council of Arts and Culture in Oshogbo for "Great Authentic work in the USA."
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Grade Level:
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Program Type:
Assembly
Audience Limit:
300
Duration:
40 minutes
Requirements:
2 microphones; 3 armless chairs; small table; 3 easels; clean performance space; 2 dressing rooms (not bathrooms)
Cost:
Single Assembly: $505
Two Back To Back Assemblies: $660
Three Back To Back Assemblies: $1193
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