First presented in 1932, the solo is a signature work by Dafora, a trailblazer who was one of the first importers of authentic African music and dance to the United States. Dates / … Asadata Dafora (1890-1965) Asadata Dafora was a dance pioneer in bringing authentic West African culture to audiences in the United States. At Severance Hall in Cleveland, Moore saw West African dancer and choreographer, Asadata Dafora, perform the Ostrich Dance. Chapter 3 focuses on the artistic, cultural and political significance of Sierra-Leonean choreographer Asadata Dafora’s work in the mid-1940s. Growing up in Sierra Leon, Asadata Dafora (1890-1965) grew up in a household filled with music since his mother was an accomplished musician who studied piano. Asadata Dafora choreographed the dances and created the rhythms for the Haitian setting of the drama. His significance in the history of modern dance is based largely on his creation and development of the “dance-drama” as an art form. This paired with Dafora’s interest in the dance, music, and storytelling of the indigenous cultures around him. Featuring: Asadata Dafora, Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus, Talley Beatty, Donald Mc Kayle and Bill T. Jones Dance Companies. The dances include: Ostrich (1932) by Asadata Dafora, Barrelhouse Blues (1943) by Katherine Dunham, Strange Fruit (1943) by Pearl Primus, Mourner's Bench (1947) by Talley Beatty, Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1959) by Donald Mc Kayle, First Section of D-Man in the Waters (1989) by Bill T. Jones Originally from Sierra Leone, Dafora first came to the states in 1929. Joe Nash black dance photograph collection. Asadata Dafora (1890-1965) Asadata Dafora was a dance pioneer in bringing authentic West African culture to audiences in the United States. Originally from Sierra Leone, Dafora first came to the states in 1929. American Dance Festival presents Dancing in the Light, a PBS modern dance program showcasing compositions by African American choreographers. A dance form that was virtually unheard-of at the time, African dance opened a door to a new study of cultural dance and performance. Asadata Dafora Dancers. One of the newest additions to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s repertory is, in another sense, the oldest. As a child, he sang as a soprano soloist in churches as well as studying voice at the Karamu House, an arts center near his home that celebrated the African-American experience through the arts. Anyone who has seen ostriches up close knows they’re not the most graceful creatures, but they get a dreamy romanticization in Awassa Astridge/Ostrich by Asadata Dafora. His significance in the history of modern dance is based largely on his creation and development of the “dance-drama” as an art form. Asadata Dafora (Horton)'s career as a dancer, choreographer, director and writer spanned the decades from 1930 to 1960. II. Collection. 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