Artistic Development; Workshops & Residencies

Dance training - Dance Montage year-long training

Dance Montage, a consortium of professional contemporary dance companies based in Nairobi developed a long term training programme that seeks to develop a new generation of professional dancers.

Dance companies involved in this project include Ukenia Dance Company, Tuchangamke Dance Theatre, Joka Jok! Dance, Alama dance co, and Taffi traditional dance co. The programme was piloted in November 2008, and commenced in January 2009. The need for a long term, intense and consistent dance-training platform for talented dancers was apparent, and on the onset, more than 30 participants attended the 4-days a week training programme.

Through the first and second term, participants were taken through six different modules of 20 sessions in 10 week. The session comprised of both contemporary and traditional dance classes. The dance techniques offered in the contemporary dance sessions included release, contact, flying low, body fitness, improvising anatomy and yoga-pranayama. Traditional dance knowledge and rhythm were paramount as the foundation for the participants involved. The classes staged open studio sessions regularly, where the students showcased what they had learnt, and where able to get feedback from their teachers and colleagues.

 

Classical Indian dancer Neera Kapur and Kenyan contemporary dancer Kefa Oiro worked on a contemporary dance project that sought to merge contemporary and traditional dance. Through their project, they conducted some research, made a creation together and had a performance, and an open day where they encourage their audiences to critique their work. Their discourse was done primarily through experimentation & merging of various styles.

African music has been incorporated by Olith Ratego, a Dodo musician and Raymond Makenzie, a Giriama percussionist. This exploration is still ongoing.

 

Kreative Art Programme: The GoDown also has a schools art programme, where children are invited to interact with professional visual artists based at the GoDown studios and contemporary dancers. These sessions with the children include a practical art session, where the children are taught techniques in drawing, painting and papier mache. They also have a practical session with dancers. The programme is run based on demand or specific requests