Broader range of african dance
Caleb Dowden
Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc., is introducing its BROAD Project, Broader Range of African Dance. The project began on October 2, 2021, by offering Hip Hop, Ballet, and Modern dance instruction to the community. An array of talented dance instructors have been assembled for this project. Classes will be held in person and broadcast online to reach the BROADest audience.
Kicking off the BROAD project is Caleb Dowden, a native of New Orleans and a 2021 graduate of the SUNY Purchase College dance program. Caleb already has formed her own performing dance company, Dow-Dance Company. As a Fulbright Scholar recipient, she plans to study the roots of various dance genres emanating from African dance. Chiku Awali has hired her to teach Saturday classes in Modern Movement for Children, as well as Asian Hip-Hop and Ballet for all ages. She has traveled to Asia and Africa to hone her dancing skills, and Chiku Awali is excited to welcome her to Rockland County as part of its teaching staff.
Kicking off the BROAD project is Caleb Dowden, a native of New Orleans and a 2021 graduate of the SUNY Purchase College dance program. Caleb already has formed her own performing dance company, Dow-Dance Company. As a Fulbright Scholar recipient, she plans to study the roots of various dance genres emanating from African dance. Chiku Awali has hired her to teach Saturday classes in Modern Movement for Children, as well as Asian Hip-Hop and Ballet for all ages. She has traveled to Asia and Africa to hone her dancing skills, and Chiku Awali is excited to welcome her to Rockland County as part of its teaching staff.
Łukasz Zięba
Working with Jason Warley of Man-in-Motion, Chiku Awali will next welcome instructors Łukasz Zięba and Warren Curtis.
Łukasz, a native of Kraków, Poland, a former professional gymnast who graduated from Cracow Dance Academy, will teach Contemporary and Modern dance. He was the winner of the Best Solo Award at the Dance World Cup in Villach, Austria in 2012 and shortly after moved to New York City to study at The Ailey School on a full scholarship. He danced with The Metropolitan Opera and joined Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 2015. Currently based in New York, he is working as a freelance artist, most recently with Company XIV, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Emery Lecrone Dance, and LED Boise. He choreographed on Poland’s So You Think You Can Dance? in 2015, and has presented his creations at various festivals in USA, Hong Kong and Poland. In June 2018 Łukasz was part of the Hong Kong International Choreography Festival where he created and performed his new work “Human Chromosome #2.” He is also a founder, creative artist, and choreographer of ACE Dance Concept that exists between New York and Paris. Łukasz will teach Contemporary and Modern Dance from October 30, 2021 to November 20, 2021.
Łukasz, a native of Kraków, Poland, a former professional gymnast who graduated from Cracow Dance Academy, will teach Contemporary and Modern dance. He was the winner of the Best Solo Award at the Dance World Cup in Villach, Austria in 2012 and shortly after moved to New York City to study at The Ailey School on a full scholarship. He danced with The Metropolitan Opera and joined Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 2015. Currently based in New York, he is working as a freelance artist, most recently with Company XIV, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Emery Lecrone Dance, and LED Boise. He choreographed on Poland’s So You Think You Can Dance? in 2015, and has presented his creations at various festivals in USA, Hong Kong and Poland. In June 2018 Łukasz was part of the Hong Kong International Choreography Festival where he created and performed his new work “Human Chromosome #2.” He is also a founder, creative artist, and choreographer of ACE Dance Concept that exists between New York and Paris. Łukasz will teach Contemporary and Modern Dance from October 30, 2021 to November 20, 2021.
Warren Curtis will teach Musical Theater and Jazz for Chiku Awali. He has been in the Broadway National Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Blanco) and the off-Broadway Productions of Hazel Flagg (Billings) and The Poisons (Mansard). His regional tours include West Side Story (Bernardo, Opera North; A-Rab, Maine State Music Theatre); A Chorus Line (Don, Berkshire Theatre Festival); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Charles, Cape Playhouse), 42nd Street (Oscar, North Shore Music Theatre), The Boyfriend (Marcel, Maltz-Jupiter Theatre) and Sugar (Dude, Westchester Broadway Theatre). He appears in the film Stumped. Warren is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. Warren will teach Musical Theater and Jazz from December 4, 2021, to December 18, 2021
Chiku Awali’s history dates back to January 20, 2003, when it had its first African dance class at the Village of Spring Valley’s Louis Kurtz Civic Center conducted by Yahaya Kamate, who continues to teach African dance for Chiku Awali. Alexandreena Dixon, the organization’s founder, put up flyers in a few county libraries and to her delight six women showed up for class. In April of 2003, Chiku Awali began classes for children and by September, it held its first African Dance Extravaganza recital at Spring Valley High School. Fast forward to 2021, Chiku Awali has held over 2100 classes in African dance and jembe drumming, performed at more than 475 venues, conducted more than 350 cultural artistic events, and taken 50 individuals to visit Africa, the Motherland. It survived COVID-19 by presenting online dance and drumming classes. Chiku Awali is excited to offer the new BROAD project.
Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc. is a not for profit organization designed to enrich its community, particularly its youth. Chiku Awali’s goal is to expose Rockland County residents to all aspects of African dance and culture. For information visit: www.chikuawali.org or call (845) 357-5062.
Chiku Awali gratefully acknowledges support for its programs from the Village of Spring Valley, Rockland County Legislature, VerticalResponse, and SEFA.
Chiku Awali’s history dates back to January 20, 2003, when it had its first African dance class at the Village of Spring Valley’s Louis Kurtz Civic Center conducted by Yahaya Kamate, who continues to teach African dance for Chiku Awali. Alexandreena Dixon, the organization’s founder, put up flyers in a few county libraries and to her delight six women showed up for class. In April of 2003, Chiku Awali began classes for children and by September, it held its first African Dance Extravaganza recital at Spring Valley High School. Fast forward to 2021, Chiku Awali has held over 2100 classes in African dance and jembe drumming, performed at more than 475 venues, conducted more than 350 cultural artistic events, and taken 50 individuals to visit Africa, the Motherland. It survived COVID-19 by presenting online dance and drumming classes. Chiku Awali is excited to offer the new BROAD project.
Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc. is a not for profit organization designed to enrich its community, particularly its youth. Chiku Awali’s goal is to expose Rockland County residents to all aspects of African dance and culture. For information visit: www.chikuawali.org or call (845) 357-5062.
Chiku Awali gratefully acknowledges support for its programs from the Village of Spring Valley, Rockland County Legislature, VerticalResponse, and SEFA.