PREMIER: danceImmersion Showcase Presentation 2006 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre
Format: CD
Duration: 20 Minutes
Choreographers: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, Helena Alemayehu Asfaw, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa & the Troupe
Music: Arthur, Gosayé, DJ Volcano, Koffi Olomidé
Origin: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Congo
Club Afrique explores energy, fun, excitement, openness, inspiration, freedom, love and unity through three popular dance styles. It features South African Kwaito, Afro-fusion, Ivorian Coupé Decallé /Prudencia, Congolese Rumba, and Soukous. These styles rock African clubs leaving their mark on music and dance throughout the continent. African popular music moves in a similar pace to the rest of the world through the creations of innovative youth. Kwaito is House beats with a South African flavor that makes for hit dance tracks. The fusion piece is to an Ethio-Kenyan mix with Hip Hop, Reggae, Soukous fusion linking Africa to the West. Coupé Decallé is similar to House, Hip Hop and others in that it depends on electronic sounds with DJs or MCs, but with Ivorian rhythms. The dance is fast paced with a hard edge and apart from its own movements, it is influenced by Soukous as well. This takes us back to Congolese Rumba, which was born as an interplay between Congolese, West African and Cuban/Latin music. It is the soul of love songs in the two Congos ( Brazzaville & Kinshasa ). Soukous is the faster paced version of Rumba and often refers to the many genres within. Soukous/Rumba dance is an intoxicating mix of Congolese traditional dances and urban inspirations. Focusing on isolations, these three styles are playful in layering hip movement with movement in the rest of the body. Feel the electricity; join the celebration!
Format: Live Music
Duration: 25 Minutes
Choreographers: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, Helena Alemayehu Asfaw, Kwasi McKnight & the Troupe
Music: Daniel Nebiat, Waleed Abdulhamid
Origin: Eritrea, Ethiopia
Dances of Abyssinia features three styles of celebration dances performed at various social gatherings in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The first part features the high-energy dance of the Gurage of Ethiopia, which also depicts women making Kocho, traditional food made from the insides of banana trees. Next is the Tigrigna dance from Eritrea & Ethiopia. This style is flowy and graceful, traditionally performed in two parts:- In the slow Kuda part, every one flows together in a circle while in the faster Dirib part, the emphasis is on dancing with isolations of the neck, shoulders and chest. The last part is Eskesta, the popular dance of Ethiopia from the Amhara people. It is a dance which also focuses on the upper body in a more relaxed form than the Tigrigna. Socially, all three styles emphasize community as well as individual interpretation.
Format: CD
or Live
Duration: Varies
Dancer & Choreographer: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw
Origin: Egypt
The ancient Egyptian Belly dance has been performed among women throughout North Africa and the Middle East in social gatherings. It's also considered a blessing and good omen for prosperity and fertility to have a Belly dancer at weddings in many of these cultures. Saba has been studying Belly dance from Yasmina Ramzy and Denise Mireau as well as taking workshops with many recognized teachers like Aida Nour, Momo Kodus, Tito and Aziza. Currently, she teaches at Arabesque Academy and performs with the company as well. Having performed for such events as Layali Arabesque, various Arabic club nights and Massari's video, Saba performs dazzling Belly dance shows both to live and recorded music.
Format: CD
Duration: Varies
Dancer & Choreographer: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw
Origin: Various
This fusion piece explores inspirations of the feminine Middle Eastern Belly dance movements alongside the down to earth African and the edgy urban Hip Hop vibes with a unique energy and attitude. Choreographed for the International Bellydance Conference of Canada.
Format: CD
Duration: 15 Minutes
Choreographers: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, Selam Teclu, Helena Alemayehu Asfaw, Kwasi McKnight
Music: Helen Meles, Muktar Osman, Desalegn Melku, Tewodros Kassahoun (Teddy Afro), Lafontain
Origin: Eritrea, Ethiopia
This set is perfect show for audience participation. Featuring Tigrigna, Shewa Oromo, Gurage and Southern Ethiopian Seleme dances, it ends with a freestyle Eskista dance where the audience is invited to show off their 'Mewregreg' (shimmying) skills along with the dancers.
PREMIER: Festival Bana y'Africa - opening for Papa Wemba
Format: CD
Duration: 15 - 30Minutes
Choreographers: Savahna Ochola, Muoi Nene, Saba Alemayehu Asfaw & the Troupe
Music: Chayanne, Quartier Latin Academia, Kas Dal, Les Jeunes Premièrs, Kanda Bongoman, Awilo Longomba
Origin: Puerto Rico, Congo - Kinshasa, Congo - Brazza
Soukous is DR Congo’s urban music, which was born as an interplay between Congolese and AfroCuban music. This high-energy electrifying set demonstrates this relationship with a mix of music and dance styles like Soukous, Afro-Caribbean and Reggae.
PREMIER: danceImmersion Showcase Presentation 2004 at Harbourfront Centre Theatre
Format: CD
Duration: 17 Minutes
Choreographers: Saba Alemayehu Asfaw, Selam Teclu, Tifishet Takele
Music: Abera Beyene, Helen Meles, Amartii Warrii ft. Ali Birra, Tadesse Alemu
Origin: Eritrea, Ethiopia
Yefikir Guzo, in Amharic meaning Journey of Love, takes you on a journey of a selected few of traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean dances, namely Tigrigna, Oromo Shagoye and Eskesta. Through dance, it tells the story of a couple who never like each other so that their arranged marriage almost falls apart. However, as they get to know each other throughout their activities in the village, they end up falling in love and thus their wedding is blessed.