International Week kicks off in the form of drumming, dancing, rhythmic form on Monday night, with Dance Africa performing at 8 p.m. at the M. Frances Dougherty Dance Theatre in Gerlinger Annex.
The troupe is a nonprofit organization, largely funded by private donations. Most of the group’s performances bring African culture to grade school children, but Dance Africa has also performed at Lane Community College and in famine relief benefits. Monday’s show is a fundraising event for the troupe as well as the University dance department.
Dance Africa director Rita Honka, a University adjunct dance instructor, also performs with the troupe. She began studying African dance in 1989. She said the troupe formed in 1993 for fun.
Next week’s show will mark Dance Africa’s second campus performance this academic year. In November, the group performed with guest artist Yousouf Koumbassa, who worked with the company for three days on the piece “Soli.”
“We always perform the piece they have set on us,” Honka said. “It becomes a collaborative performance between Dance Africa and guest artists.”
The troupe consists of 10 dancers and six drummers. Musical director Brian West, who teaches African drum classes, is the lead drummer of the group. This involves extensive soloing and the calling of the “break” during the individual dances. A break is deviation from the standard rhythmic pattern of the piece. It can signal a change or solo for the dancers and drummers.
“Now that I’m the lead drummer, that gives me chance to interact with the dancers,” West said. “If I see a rhythm in a dancer’s body, especially the feet, I accent that part.”
West said it is difficult to describe African rhythmic concepts without using some generalization.
“How the dance influences the music — it’s hard to put that in a paragraph,” he said. “It’s hard to find some of the origins of the music. It’s hard to guess what came first — the rhythm or the drum.”
Dance major Beatrice Woods, in her first year with Dance Africa, said the movement is “very, very spiritual,” and complimented Honka’s ability to teach and break down the mechanics of the dances. Woods also teaches an African dance session at the University on Fridays.
“If you take (the classes) long enough, then you understand,” Woods said.
The troupe will perform seven pieces from six different countries, including “Soli.” The “Soli” rhythm was brought from Guinea, and the piece is an initiation dance of boys and girls into adulthood — West also teaches the rhythm in his class.
“I must admit I think it’s one of our better ones,” Honka said. “It’s very intricate, very well put together; together, as a program, I think it’s very strong.”
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and patrons should arrive early because seats tend to fill up fast.