Moving Spirits: A Community Intensive Dance Workshop with Tamara Williams

Join us at the Gantt Center every second Saturday of the month as we dance through the African diaspora.

“It was really poignant to me, this idea that a work of art could, somehow, turn a page, shed a light, or lead back to a source. And that’s one of the things that’s exciting about being an artist; that your work threads people to other places, and not necessarily in straight lines.”
-Alison Saar

This monthly movement conservatory will focus on bringing the dance forms and techniques of the African Diaspora to the Gantt Center. Throughout the series of five classes, we will travel, through dance, to Brazil, Cuba and Trinidad.

Integrating themes of the current exhibition, Alison Saar: The Nature of Us, the instructor will demonstrate the importance of empowerment of the female form, explorations of spirituality, and ritual practices as they relate to movement of the body. By exploring global perspectives through dance, we create even more opportunities to share and celebrate black heritage. Moving Spirits: A Community Intensive Dance Workshop is led by Gantt Center teaching artist and Assistant Professor of Dance at UNC Charlotte, Tamara Williams.

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

Workshop Focus: Samba Afro, Brazil
Guest Instructor: Vera Passos

Samba Afro is an exploration of the dances created out of the Afro-Brazilians resistance to the federal government during the 1960s and 1970s. This political movement for civil rights, equality and recognition is represented through the dances of Samba Afro. The dances highlight the rich culture of movement, music and history of black Brazilians, bringing positive attention to Afro-Brazilian contributions to society. The movements are informed by the traditional movements of the Orixás practiced in the spiritual terreiros of Brazil.

ABOUT THE GUEST INSTRUCTOR

Vera Passos is a Brazilian instructor, choreographer and an accomplished dancer. Her performing career includes dancing with the world renowned Balé Folclórico da Bahia.  She has performed in international venues in North and South America, Europe, and Africa.  Passos participated in the collaborations with the eclectic American musician Steve Coleman on his tour of Europe in 2002 and 2003. She choreographed for Orchestra Popular da Bahia, directed by Emilia Biancardi and "Terra em Transe," with music by Italian musician Aldo Briddi. Passos also danced in the Opera, "Lidia de Oxum", choreographed by Carlos Morais.  She is currently a special guest dancer with the acclaimed Viver Brasil Dance Company. Since 2002, Passos has taught the technique at the Escola de Dança Cultural Foundation in Bahia, Brazil, in the preparatory dance program to both dancers-in-training, and to professional dance students.