Third Annual WOFABE: African Dance and Drum Festival in
Newark, New Jersey
Friday through Sunday, October 24-26, 2008
Newark, NJ - Umoja Dance Company (Umojadance.com) a New Jersey-based, multi-cultural company of dancers founded in 1993 by Karen Love, will present Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival 2008 at Science Park High School, 260 Norfolk Street, Newark, New Jersey. In celebration of the third anniversary, the festival will be held three days from Friday, October 24 through Sunday, October 26, 2008. The event, presented in collaboration with Performing Arts Services, is the only African dance and drum festival of its kind in the state. Renowned choreographer, Baba Chuck Davis, Founder and Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble, will serve as host.
The mission of Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is to share and preserve the finest traditions of African dance and drumming; to encourage cross-cultural understanding; to celebrate traditional African culture, aesthetics and values, and to utilize the resources and information gathered to further promote African art forms to the younger generation.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate African dance and culture in Newark,” says Ms. Love. “The community at large can only benefit from this experience. It is equally important to pass on the tradition and culture to our young people and it is our goal to keep the culture growing not just in October but 365 days a year.”
Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival will examine traditional African dance, how traditions have evolved and how they have been interpreted by contemporary artists. There will be African dance classes with emphasis on movement from Guinea, Ghana and the Caribbean and drumming classes in the djembe and djun djun drums, both of which are prevalent in West African dance and music and a panel discussion.
On Friday, October 24, dance and drum classes take place from 6:00 to 9:15 pm with a special late night master class for all levels with Baba Chuck Davis from 9:30 to 10:45 pm.
On Saturday, October 25, the day begins with a yoga warm up class from 9:30 to 10:45 am. Dance and drum classes for all levels begin at 12:45 and end at 5:45 pm with a free class for children from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Saturday culminates with a rousing dance and drum concert from 7:00 to 10:00 pm featuring Forces of Nature Dance Theatre (New York), Asase Yaa African American Dance Theatre (New York) and Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble (Philadelphia).
On Sunday, October 26, there will be a free panel discussion on “Teaching African Dance” from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Dance and drum classes on all levels begin at 1:15 pm and continue through 6:15 pm.
Wofabe will sponsor an African marketplace held throughout the festival that features a variety of vendors offering merchandise from the African Diaspora. The African Marketplace is open to the general public and provides an excellent opportunity for pre-holiday shopping. The deadline for vendor registration is October 22nd. Vendor applications can be obtained online at www.Wofabe.com.
Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is open to dance, drum, and music instructors, students and the general public, hence the name Wofabe which is Sou Sou (a language of Guinea, West African) for “everybody come.” Dance and drum classes are $12 in advance and $15 at the door ($12 for seniors, students and children under 12). Drum rentals (by reservation) are available for $5. The Saturday night concert tickets are $25 ($15 for seniors and children under 12).
Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival is sponsored by Umoja Dance Company, Performing Arts Services and Science Park High School. This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs.
Concert tickets, group discount packages and additional information may be obtained at www.Wofabe.com or call Karen Love at (973) 674-0285 or (888) 667-5531. Organizers can also be reached via email at Wofabe08@aol.com.