Broader range of african dance
Caleb Dowden
Chiku Awali African Dance, Arts & Culture, Inc., introduced its BROAD Project, Broader Range of African Dance on October 2, 2021, by offering Hip Hop, Ballet, and Modern dance instruction to the community. An array of talented dance instructors were assembled for this project. Classes were held in person and broadcasted online to reach the BROADest audience.
Kicking off the BROAD project was 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 is studying the roots of various dance genres emanating from African dance. She has traveled to Asia and Africa to hone her dancing skills. We hope that she will return to Chiku Awali once she returnes from Benin to teach a few courses.
Kicking off the BROAD project was 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 is studying the roots of various dance genres emanating from African dance. She has traveled to Asia and Africa to hone her dancing skills. We hope that she will return to Chiku Awali once she returnes from Benin to teach a few courses.
Łukasz Zięba
Working with Jason Warley of Man-in-Motion, Chiku Awali welcomed instructor Łukasz Zięba.
Łukasz, a native of Kraków, Poland, a former professional gymnast who graduated from Cracow Dance Academy, taught Contemporary and Modern dance for seven weeks at Chiku Awali. 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, a native of Kraków, Poland, a former professional gymnast who graduated from Cracow Dance Academy, taught Contemporary and Modern dance for seven weeks at Chiku Awali. 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.