The Inaugural Sankofa Summer Dance Intensive and Sankofa Festival took place June 23-27, 2008 on the beautiful UMass Amherst Campus in Amherst, MA.
"We got a piece of George. We are ready for anything!" -- Victoria (2008)
Sankofa Festival Artistic Director and Tony Award winner, GEORGE FAISON brought together an exceptional teaching staff including Jodi Allen (Modern), Adrienne Hawkins (Social Dances), Marilyn Sylla (African) and Jenn Weber (Hip Hop.) FAISON also brought in Alvin Ailey master teachers Dudley Williams and Raquelle Chavis to teach Horton and Graham technique.
"Sankofa was different from other dance and studio programs because it was raw and it was real life learning. It was what a dance program should be." -- Chelsea (2008)
The program was full to bursting with participants from 27 different communities in 10 different states who ranged in age from 15 to 53.
"The experience for me was like going to a college. What I liked most was the people." -- Jesse (2008)
Participants took classes during the day and performed the work they learned in 4 different events throughout the week which culminated in a final dance concert. Classes took place in the Dance Department and the Theater Department, housed in the Fine Arts Center complex. All evening events were performed in the Rand Theater (image below) also housed in the Fine Arts Center Complex.
"What I took from the program was a kind of pride. I took a lot of technique with me and I was happy to have a program where everything came together so close by." -- Chelsea (2008)
Photo by Nafis Azad
"It was a great experience. When you see all the professional artists you feel so happy. Even if a dance career doesn't work out, I've met professionals, people in the business." -- Jeremy (2008)
