Igbo:A wedding celebration

Choreograher: Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer

This dance piece depicts a newly engaged couple bringing their families together. Witness the beautiful union as both sides meet, experience tension, and ultimately embrace as one family. Through celebration, love, joy, and strength, this performance embodies the power of unity and togetherness.

Short BIO:

I'm Katúkaókma aka Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer. A Nigerian from the Igbo tribe, and I'm the CEO of Afrocontigbo, an African contemporary Igbo dance company. I believe movement is health and health is wealth, and who doesn't want to be rich?

While in college, I joined the dance company Dancescape. During this time, I nurtured my craft and diversified into other styles, including Jazz, Salsa, Japanese, and contemporary movements.

I always desired to make my passion my profession, so after college, I developed a plan for opening my own dance company. I enrolled in St. Mary’s University’s MBA program and graduated in May 2011. Just a few years later, my vision became a reality, and I opened the doors of Afrocontigbo, a dance company that merges different West African styles, in 2014. I believe that by exercising the mind and body through movement and rhythm, a person becomes complete. I am active in my community, using my gifts and talents to inspire future generations.

Afrocontigbo consists of about 8-10 core dancers/creatives of all sexes.

- We perform at different festivals and events, often getting our audience to join us on the dance floor.

- We also teach weekly Afrobeats dance fitness classes across town.

- We're committed to keeping the culture alive and dancing as much as we can.

- We love challenges and collaborations but avoid dodgy people.😆

Check out the website www.afrocontigbo.com

Title of piece: Miva Dou Woue (Let's Dance)

Choreographer name: Elsie Nsoh

This dance is a cultural journey and celebration through Togo, highlighting traditional movements from different regions. On this journey through Togo, we start from the south with Agbadza, a traditional dance of the Ewe people. We then move to the central region with Akpesse, from the Apkosso tribe where the choreographer is from. We end in the north region with a fusion of dances including Kamu and many others. Enjoy as we celebrate Togo... Let's Dance (Miva Dou Woue)

Short Bio:

Elsie Nsoh is a dancer and artistic creator from Togo. Elsie's passion for and commitment to dance started from a very young age where she would entertain her family, friends and community through her movement. Elsie continued her dance career throughout every stage of her life, from musical theater and dance in high school, to dance groups in College, and now to Afrocontigbo. This hobby of hers quickly evolved into a lifestyle. Elsie had the privilege of joining Afrocontigbo Dance Therapy, an opportunity she is grateful to have as it allows her to continue her creative career and challenge herself to teach and learn different styles of dance. Elsie's favorite quote is: Dance reveals what music conceals. She encourages everyone to explore their creative side, whether it is dance, music, arts etc.

Sembo:A dance of gratitude by the Mandinkas

Choreograher: Fanta Barrow

This dance piece celebrates the cultural harmony of the Mandinka tribes of West Africa, illustrating how cultural ties transcend colonial boundaries. Set to the captivating sounds of the Kora instrument and the voice of one of Gambia's most renowned griots, the song praises the hospitality of the Mandinka people of Guinea Bissau, likening it to the renowned hospitality of the Gambian people.

Short Bio

Fanta was born and raised in The Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa. From an early age, Fanta's tiny feet seemed magnetically drawn to any open space that could become her stage. Whether it was the dusty village square or the cool tiled floor of her home, she surrendered herself to the primal rhythms of mbalakh and the intoxicating fusions of Afro styles. In college, she joined and later led the diversity dance crew, exploring genres from Coupe Decale to K-pop. In 2019, Fanta joined Afrocontigbo, where she continues sharing her passion for dance. Now teaching at the Brooklyn Park Activity Center for Afrocontigbo, Fanta believes in exercising mind and body through the art of dance as a means of shaking off stress. Her infectious movements celebrate the vibrant traditions flowing through her veins from Africa's smiling coast.

Afro-Fusion Exit: Continental Express

Choreography: Abrecia Haillasellise

Continental Express is a piece that will take the audience on a journey through Africa's vast array of music. Featuring musical artists from Ghana, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast viewers will get a chance to hear the sounds of popular dance genres such as Coupe Decale, Amapiano and Ndombolo. So, feast your eyes and ears on this compilation of art in the spirit of One Love, One Africa.

Short Bio:

Abrecia Haillasellise hails from Illinois. In her professional performance career Abrecia trained in Dance Theater at the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and served as the Artist Director for Illinois State University's African Student Association Dance Troupe. In Chicago, she served as a company member for Nunafatima, board member and captain for Jukeboxx Mas Band and principal dancer for the West Indian Dance Theater Company. Upon relocating to Minnesota, Abrecia joined the illustrious Afrocontigbo and have been dancing with them ever since!

KIds: Balaya

Choreographer: Wisna Perou

This piece capsulates the spirit of youth and their love of life and dance. It takes place on the school yard, where children laugh and play. It is a place for socializing, community, and showing off! The children bring their own swag to this playful, too-cool-for-school dance.

Born in Haiti, there has always been a natural draw towards Haitian and African based movements for Wisna. Training under Korma Aguh Stuckmeyer of Afrocontigbo in 2018 with no previous formal dance experience, has allowed for the exploration of traditional and contemporary west african dance. Exploring such movements have started a journey into other forms of dance that include Kizomba, Semba, Bachata, Heels, and Hip Hop with opportunities for residencies in various children’s dance programs and to perform such dance styles for various artists and music videos, primarily local artists.

Title: Generations

Name: Joshua Fitzgerald

This piece STEP shows the power of teamwork to achieve a common goal. Embodying the motto “One Sight One Sound”, a complex series of “body percussion” is performed by the whole team to sound and appear as one. From one generation to the next, we can achieve anything through unity.

Bio:

Josh was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He has loved dancing as a hobby for as long as he can remember but first officially joined a dance team his first year at Tufts University. There, he was Captain of BlackOut Step Team, who won the National Collegiate Performing Arts Step Championship in 2020. He also co-founded Harlem Grooves, a dance company focused on Black American dance styles, where he was co-director and Hip Hop Choreographer.

Josh’s dance journey took him to various universities, where he performed and competed. Notable institutions include MIT, Yale, Wentworth University, Williams College, and Southern Connecticut State University. Apart from dance he also achieved his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, graduating in 2022.

For Josh, dance transcends mere physical expression—it serves as a medium for therapy, healing, and connecting with others. He plans to continue sharing the joy and transformative power of dance with others.

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