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POST CONTEMPORARY DANCE PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION
JULY 17, 2017
INTRODUCTION & PROGRAMME SYNOPSIS
The gravity of the repercussions of The Middle Passage on the people of African Descent has
been both traumatizing and long-lived. We as artists would like to, deeply give our gratitude
to UNESCO for calling attention to this profound calamity and proclaiming 2015 - 2025 the
decade of people of African Descent.
In light of the above, the National Theatre of Ghana, with its resident companies: the National
Dance Company, National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Drama Company, in
collaboration with El Wah Movement Dance Theater (USA) presents Alkebulan’s Awakening.
Alkebulan means mother of humanity. It is an indigenous name for Africa. A post-
contemporary dance performance that is created by Stephany Ursula Yamoah Deputy
Director of the National Dance Company and Colette Eloi, Artistic Director of El Wah
Movement Dance Theater on September 21 through to the 23, 2017 at the National Theatre
of Ghana.
The piece is about an African women’s journey through the Middle Passage and back. The
piece will take the audience on the heroine’s journey which will engage issues of identity,
culture, and mental awakening.
This dance production incorporates multimedia elements along with oral tradition based art
forms. The story tells of Alkebulan’s journey from Africa to the Americas, and the challenges
she must overcome. It is also the story of Africa. Her major obstacle is realizing her own
worth in the world of patriarchy and racism. Alkebulan must discover her rightful place in the
world.
Alkebulan’s Awakening, juxtaposes deep beauty with the negative residual effects of the
Middle Passage; addressing topics of mental liberation, ancestral knowledge, and the
beautiful African spirit and its global manifestations. Alkebulan’s Awakening draws attention
to the epic atrocity of the transatlantic slave trade as an abomination against humanity.
SYNOPSIS:
This dance focuses on our heroin, the divine Alkebulan as she goes through her challenging
rites, in search of her children dispersed throughout the African Diaspora.
Confronted by forces set on possessing her, it is only when she goes within, confronts her fears
head on and makes the choice to love herself first…will balance be restored, but is it too
late.... Alkebulan Awakening...She must exercise cunning, irreverence and the power within
to save her children. Alkebulan Awakening... Will she rise and awaken her people? Will she
ultimately be a pawn to those seeking to control her?
This production will come alive in the African spirit of total theatre by creatively incorporating
modern tech and media elements aside folkloric dances, songs and rhythms.
It will include original compositions from Isaac Annoh, Director of the Symphony, Mawuli
Semevo, artistic Director of the National Drama Company, Nana Asaase Master Story Teller,
Ato Annan, lobby curator and the incredible dancers of The Ghana National Dance Company,
pulling from the global dance heritage of people descended from Africa.
Because we envision this Dance Celebration of Africa and her Diaspora as a reconnection of
families that are estranged, our intention is to convert the lobby of the National Theater into
a spiritual and cultural sanctum. We are inviting numerous embassies and associations of
differing African and Diaspora countries to participate by either sharing stories or artifacts
from their respective countries for installation.
This production is enlisting some incredible artist from Ghana and abroad including:
Elwah Movement Dance Theater
(USA) (Haiti)
Grace Chorale International
(Ghana)
Benin Federation of Dance
Tamara Thomas (Jamaica)
Local Artists from Ghana
Nico Wayo, Visual Artist
Mr. Mortan, Master Drummer from
Tabon House (Brazil)
Flacey Master Artist (Congo)
Lamine Traore Master Musician
(Burkina Faso)
Chichi Nwosu, Opera Center
(Nigeria)
Prince Kojo – Hilton, Visual Artist
Colette Marie Eloi, MFA
Colette, Creator/Choreographer/Director of Alkebulan’s Awakening is a celebrated and
commissioned choreographer and culture worker from the San Francisco Bay Area of
Haitian descent. She creates dance experiences utilizing indigenous dances from Africa
and her Diaspora to apply the dances that speak to present day society. She has won
numerous awards and grants for her work, presenting work throughout the US and
internationally including off-Broadway. Artistic Director of Elwah Movement.
Stephany Ursula Yamoah, MFA
Stephany, Creator/Choreographer/Director of Alkebulan’s Awakening is a Ghanaian
dancer and choreographer with 19 years of experience in the arts. She has filled the roles
of performer, choreographer, teacher, manager, fundraiser, and judge. She has travel
locally and internationally as a professional artist. Ms. Yamoah has studied dances of
multiple genres. She is a true dance activist who employs performing and visual arts for
disseminating information, entertaining, as well as educating the world on political,
cultural and social issues.
Budget
With a production of this magnitude, it requires sponsors and donors to contribute in cash
or in kind to ensure success.
The total budget for this production is GH¢518,504. In addition, you can support the
whole budget or portions of the budget. A detailed budget follows.
Your financial support is critical to the completion of this work. We are hoping you will
contribute to the success of the project by making the financial contribution we need.
Your contribution will go a long way towards developing a long-term relationship with the
National Theatre and its three performing groups.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Contact Us
Colette Eloi, MFA
Director
El Wah Movement Dance Theater
+233(0)20 921 1799
Stephany Yamoah, MFA
Deputy Director
National Dance Company of Ghana
+233(0)24 333 7898
