The Sankofa Dance Project Summer Dance Intensive 2009 with CHUCK DAVIS
assisted by Abdel Salaam, Stafford Berry, Amaniyea Payne, Marilyn Sylla and surprise guests!
DATES: Saturday, June 20, 2009 - Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Cultural Rejuvenation: A Legacy Revealed!
Join us to celebrate the role of heritage in your life. Explore the sounds and rhythms that surround us, the rhythms that connect us all. Out of these explorations the dance emerges. Dance styles to be studied will include various African dance styles and their contemporary expressions. Additional teaching artists include Stafford Berry Jr., Amaniyea Payne, and Abdel Salaam. Critically acclaimed Step Afrika, will also conduct a stepping masterclass during the intensive. Please visit the Artists Page to learn more about all these exceptional artists. Come (San), see (Ko) and return (Fa) again and again.
"If you wish to learn to dance, you must first know the rhythm." -- Chuck Davis
Chuck Davis, with members of the African American Dance Ensemble, before a 2006 performance at the Durham Arts Council. (photo by Derek Anderson)
MORE INFO:
Please check out the photo gallery to view images from the 2008 Summer Dance Intensive and other Sankofa and Sankofa Youth Reach performances and activities. You can also visit the 2008 Summer Dance Intensive page under training to read a little about last years activities and some quotes from past student participants.
DATES:
Saturday, June 20th - Saturday, June 27th, 2009. Orientation will begin at noon on Saturday, June 20th followed by the first dance class with Baba Chuck at 3pm. The week's activities will culminate in a final dance concert at the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center at 8pm on Saturday, June 28th.
LOCATION:
Classes will be held on the beautiful UMass Amherst campus in the lovely town of Amherst, MA. Students will split their time with classes in the Dance Department and the Fine Arts Center. Residental students will stay on campus in the newly constructed, North Apartments (click here.) North Apartments, adjacent to the Dance Department, is within easy walking distance of Fine Arts Center and the Campus Center where students will have meals.
(click here) for more information on The UMass Amherst campus.
The Fine Arts Center on the UMass Amherst Campus (photo by Ben Barnhart)
FEES:
Tuition: $750
Housing: $225-$295
There is no application fee.
MEAL PLANS:
Meal Plan: $220. All residential students will be required to purchase a meal plan.
APPLICATION Procedures:
Anyone age 15 and over is encouraged to apply. Last years summer intensive included students ranging in age from 15 to 53. All experience levels and dance backgrounds are also strongly encouraged to apply.
There are two ways to apply:
1) Please click the application form to the left, fill it out in its entirety, and then click submit. After submitting the application, send an email to Maryann Lombardi at mlombardi@outreach.umass.edu and attach a recent photo of yourself for us to include with your application.
2) You can also download and print out a PDF file of the application, link also to the left. You will need Adobe Acobat Reader which you can download for free (click here.) After printing out the application, please fill it out in its entirety, attach a recent photo of yourself, and mail to:
Maryann Lombardi
Sankofa Dance Project
UMass Amherst Outreach
101 University Drive, Suite C1
Amherst, MA 01002
