Saturday March 31st at 7:30 p.m. in Palmer Commons, dancers and musicians gathered to perform at the University, having traveled from the far reaches of the globe. The night opened with Rony Barrak, a percussionist from Lebanon. He was incredibly talented, and collaborated with University of Michigan music students near the end of the his set. What an incredible opportunity for our students to work with such a world-renown musician!
After a 15 minute break to clear the stage, the Fontomfrom Drum & Dance Ensemble from Ghana performed. They are masters of African drum and dance, having been members of the National Dance Company in Kumasi. They opened with a prayer to bless the drums and to thank the trees for their sacrifice in order for the drums to have been created. One man sang the words of the prayer, and the drum would respond after each line. It was really beautiful.
Other dances included a social dance, in which men and women partnered up, a harvest dance which expressed gratitude for the harvest, a dance performed for the in-laws at a wedding, and even a dance performed when a person is being taken away for execution! Each dance was so expressive, with the tiniest gestures and movements packed with so much meaning. The dancers interacted with the crowd, making faces, smiling, and gesturing toward the audience. There was such a strong connection between dancer and audience, something that is often lost in modern American dance, where there is often an invisible wall between performer and audience. The dancers also connected with each other, and with the drummers as they danced, smiling at one another, and echoing the shouts and songs of the drummers.
I am incredibly jealous that dance is so integrated into their culture and everyday life in Africa. There are dances for every occasion, and specific dances and dress for different regions of Africa as well. It seems as if everyone would dance in that environment, unlike here, where the only opportunities to dance are at a nightclub, or at a dance studio where formal dance classes are taught. I love how dance is such a part of their lives, for so many occasions, for their whole lives.
It was interesting to see nuances of modern-day hip-hop dance in African dance movement. There was a lot of flow and hit in their movements, intricate hand-movements, and hip movements somewhat reminiscent of krumping, but the attitude was so different than hip-hop. Hip-hop dance is often pretty serious, and it comes from a very intense, even angry, place. There are times when hip-hop is more playful, but it seems that it is often in a teasing, making fun of something, sort of way. But African dance is most often very light-hearted and innocent. The dancers smile all the time, at each other and at the audience, something you would rarely see a hip-hop dancer do. Their movements are equally intense–their bodies hold so much tension as they move!–but they are able to maintain a calm and friendly demeanor. I wonder if slavery caused African-American dance to become more angry, and less light-hearted, or if rap music, more serious and impassioned as a result of the roughness of urban living, set the mood for today’s hip-hop dance.
I so enjoyed the Fontomfrom performance. The dancers are so incredibly talented, and their movements are perfectly sharp and precise. I loved how the strong drum beats resounded throughout the room–I wanted to get up and dance too! I wish there were more opportunities to learn authentic African dance movements in our community. I think it is important for dance instructors to gain knowledge of world dance forms to offer to their students–I think having a well-rounded conception of dance that is not culture-specific would make a dancer more well-rounded in the way they approach movement, and in the way that their body is trained to move as well. I also would love to see an African dance workout created–the dancers were moving non-stop, and sweating like crazy! They were all really in shape. I think an African dance workout could easily become even more popular than Zumba. The drum beats are fun and energizing, and the movement also seems really fun, but incredibly intense!
If you have the opportunity to see Fontomfrom, or another African dance performance, I would highly recommend that you go! It was an incredible experience.
Greetings! Thanks for your write up. I am a fontomfrom player in Ghana, although I am from the states. It is a wonderful instrument with deep nuances that thread through life in Ghana. I have played for Chiefs (which is what the instrument is most used for) and funerals and weddings, as well as many fettish ceremonies. In fact, the fontomfrom music is all from the fettish tradition. Thanks again for taking the time to share your insights! Susan