Dance
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Dance Africa - Rita Honka, director
Dance Africa’s touring season focuses on area elementary, middle and high schools, and reaches nearly 3000 school children every year. The company has become a unique part of the African Studies curriculum in many of these schools, with its interactive performance of traditional music, song and dance representing diverse African cultural groups. The company complements its performance by leading lessons in African geography, musical instrumentation and rhythms, storytelling, history, and culture.
Since the founding of Dance Africa in 1993 by Rita Honka and Kouessan Gabriel Abaglo, the company has dedicated itself to celebrating the rich traditions of African dance, music and culture in and around the area of Eugene, Oregon. This diverse group of dancers, drummers and singers take their love and knowledge of African dance traditions and share it with the surrounding community. Dance Africa brings internationally known artists from many African cultural groups to campus throughout the year. During the exhilarating Artist-in-Residency week at the University of Oregon, guest artists teach dance and drumming classes, give lecture demonstrations, and choreograph a new performance piece for the company. The week culminates with a lively performance by the company dancing alongside these master performing artists. This exciting week, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., kicks off Dance Africa’s season and annual school tour.
Dance Africa’s touring season focuses on area elementary, middle and high schools, and reaches nearly 3000 school children every year. The company has become a unique part of the African Studies curriculum in many of these schools, with its interactive performance of traditional music, song and dance representing diverse African cultural groups. The company complements its performance by leading lessons in African geography, musical instrumentation and rhythms, storytelling, history, and culture.
Dance Oregon
A student organization partially funded by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon, Dance Oregon is open to any student interested in dance. Its general function is to enhance and enrich through student intiative, the dance opportunities offered thorough the department. To this end, Dance Oregon provides a variety of activities each year that are promoted on and off campus. Examples include showing films and videos of diverse dance forms and cultures and sponsoring professional guest artists to perform, lecture, set repertory, or teach master classes.
University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company
Repertory groups tour Oregon and the Northwest presenting concert performances as well as lecture-demonstrations and master classes for public schools, colleges, universities, civic organizations, and community concerts.
