Keynote Speech: Global Decolonisation Conference (Aug, 12, 2022)
Abstract:
Styles such as afro-fusion should be promoted in higher education curriculum so as to offer citizenship to marginalised groups of people. Antonio draws on examples from different Universities to share experiences of how afro-fusion offers a space for free expression. It allows students to break away from the dominant colonial approach to dance learning and practices, which allows them to find their own identity that influences their artistic and creative voices.
Institutions of higher learning in dance are still mostly dominated by western theatre dance techniques such as Ballet and Contemporary. This influences the teaching and learning methods to stick to colonial approaches. Therefore, offering fewer opportunities for expression. For people coming from other cultural backgrounds, this puts students, especially those from an African heritage in a state where their bodies feel colonized.
Afro-fusion is a trendy dance style from Africa that is usually danced to Afrobeat music. It works with a blend of dance movements from different parts of the continent. The dance style is very rhythmic and expressive drawing influences from various African traditional forms of expression. At times it draws on other styles such as Hip-hop and Afro-house, which are argued to have a deeper interconnection with the African dances. Through a pre-recorded class, we are going to look at how introducing such a style adds content and new learning approaches to institutional settings. The workshop will demonstrate ideas such as imitation as a way of learning, freedom of expression, and the emphasis on a community-based atmosphere in dance learning. Therefore, creating an environment that offers a sense of belonging to prior colonized individuals.”
Findings:
