Alicia Hurtt hosts West African Dance workshop
Published 9:31 am Wednesday, January 8, 2025
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On Saturday morning, Alicia Hurtt, Executive Director of the Women’s Wellness Center, hosted a traditional West African Dance Immersion Workshop at 310 S. Scott Street.
Alicia Hurtt mentioned that Tifini Austin proposed the West African dance workshop, and she eagerly accepted the idea because it reminded her of her childhood. Hurtt recalled, “The dance reminded me of when I was in third grade, and my teacher reached out to my mother. I thought I was in trouble, but I was a good kid. So, I asked myself, ‘Why does she want to talk to my mother?’”
She continued, “My teacher asked for permission to pick me up on a Saturday, and I went with her, not knowing what I was getting myself into. I heard the drums playing, and they were there teaching us a West African dance. I understood the impression it made on me as a child. It doesn’t matter if you’re happy, sad, or mad. There’s a song that fits it. Music fits right in line, and just the vibration of those drums will help people feel grounded, so now we can do that for the community.”
West African Dance Immersion is an immersive experience designed to teach participants about the dance form, rhythm, and cultural context of West Africa. The workshop featured Tifini Austin, an experienced African dancer, and her drummers, Edward Dorman and Hasani Sapp, Austin’s son. Sapp played on the Dundun, a rope-tied cylindrical drum with rawhide skin on both ends, while Dorman played the Djembe — a rope-tuned, skin-covered goblet drum.
Then, Austin helped participants select their Lapa – a colorful garment commonly worn around the waist of both men and women in Guinea. After donning their Lapa, participants removed their shoes as the West African dance is performed barefoot to allow for a deeper connection to the ground. Being barefoot enables more natural movement, dexterity, and unity with the earth. Austin led the class in stretches, accompanied by the rhythmic beat of the drums. Though participants found it difficult to flex and loosen their stiff bodies, they diligently followed Austin’s movements.
Following the warm-up, Austin introduced the class to the Kou Kou Dance, a communal recreational line dance that originated in Guinea, West Africa. The dance incorporates significant movements that visually represent the daily lives of Guinean women. Austin shared, “There are various ways of movement. West African Dance has always been my go-to form of healing and the form of everything in my community. It’s been amazing regardless of what happens during the week, what happened to you during your workday, or whether you like that person. The unity of the drums brings us together. So hopefully that’s what you all will feel and take away from it today.” Participants spread out and replicated Austin’s movements in a line dance guided by the rhythmic beat of the drums. Everyone enjoyed the Kou Kou Dance.
The West African Dance Immersion Workshop will occur once a month on the first Saturday at 11:00 am.
