From Africa to America
Accent Ghana
October 17 & 18, 1997
Rockport Opera House
Rockport, Maine
Arthur Hall International Dance Center
Arthur Hall, founder and artistic director
Bruce Williams, photography, poster, program, producer
Patrice A. Janssen, concert manager
James Williams, stage manager
Alice Hunt, house manager
Cathy Butler-Corish, dance instructor
Erma Colvin , dance instructor
Dagney Ernest, publicity
Will Neils, sound technician
Jip M. Pruden, sales and funding
Martine Toulouse, costumes for Gadzo and Hyena
Roland Toulouse, swords for Gadzo
Dancers
John Asuncion, Meg Barclay, Cathy Butler-Corish, Erma Colvin
Dagney Ernest, Arthur Hall, Patrice Janssen, Jon Jennings, Angela Keith
Lisa Morgan, Martine Toulouse, Bruce Williams, Van Williams
Children’s Ensemble
Jed Chambers, Jacob Filderman, Isaac Gerard, Freya Levett, Nathan Morgan
Shannon Orcutt, Angus and Noah Pfister, Sophia Salas, Elizabeth Tripp
Drummunications Music Ensemble
Kwabena Owusu, music director
Dan Cummings, Arthur Floyd, Stu Gillam, Jennifer Harris, Craig Schoppe
Guest Artists
Van Williams
of the Arthur Hall Afro-American Dance Ensemble of Philadelphia
Martin Steingesser
Patti Luchetti
Deb Irons
Kwabena CHAN AnsaPilsqehSis
Mkerhe
Meg Barclay, Erma Colvin, director, Dagney Ernest, Kat Gifford
Jon Jennings, Lisa Morgan, Martine Toulouse
Jobo Kunda
Gray Parrot and Christine Covert
Stella Dance Theatre
Shana Bloomstein, Joan Proudman, Karen Tvarian
with special thanks to guest dancer Lisa Newcomb for Fatal Spell
Sisters in Spirit
Maria Armstrong, Barbara Bourgoine, Chris Colpitt
Linda Dunmon-Green, Mary Fernandes, Jennifer Harris, Kwabena Owusu
- the program -
Overture
Seche - Jeleje - Kpanlogo
Sisters in Spirit
with Drummunications Music Ensemble
Gadzo
Warrior’s dance of Ghana
Arthur Hall, choreography
from the original of Albert Opoku, University of Legon
- the company -
Adua - Kete
Classic king’s dances of Ghana
Arthur Hall, choreography
Arthur Hall, solo
Lost Journey
Arthur Hall, choreography
- the children’s ensemble -
Tigare
The witch chaser - ubiquitous to West Africa
Arthur Hall, choreography
from the original of Saka Acquaye
Van Williams, solo
Agong
The power in a woman’s hands
Arthur Hall, choreography
from the original of Saka Acquaye
Cathy Butler-Corish, solo
Hyena
Arthur Hall, choreography
from the original of Saka Acquaye
Jon Jennings and John Asuncion
Masquerade
The Moon and the Sun - Ghana
Arthur Hall and Van Williams
Kinka
Drummunications Music Ensemble
Hankitow
Social dance of Ghana
Arthur Hall, choreography
from the original of John Eshun
- the company -
- a brief address -
Kingsley Karimu
Head of Chancery
Embassy of Ghana
Washington DC
- intermission -
Wade in the Water
Sisters in Spirit
Stole and Sold from Africa
Linda Dunmon-Green, solo
Liberte
A dance of slavery and freedom
Erma Colvin, choreography
Mkerhe
The Heart of the World
An old Hassidic story told by
Martin Steingesser
His Eye is on the Sparrow
Arthur Hall, improvisation in memoriam
C. Edward White - Adam Smith
Joseph Williams - Nana Okomfohene Oparebea
Marvin Gaye, music
El Jarabe Tapatio
traditional Mexican
Patti Luchetti, solo
Cuban Medley
Erma Colvin, choreography
Mkerhe
Madrigal (Friday only)
choreography by Stella
Stella Dance Theatre
Patti Smith, music
Fatal Spell (Saturday only)
Joan Proudman, choreography
Stella Dance Theatre
with Lisa Newcomb, guest dancer
Big Audio Dynamite, music
Jobo Kunda
Music of the Gambia
Gray Parrot, Kora
Deb Irons
Jazz/Blues Improv
Red, Yellow, Black and White
First Translation
choreographed and performed by
Kwabena CHAN AnsaPilsqehSis
music - Underworld by J. Mitchell
I first became a student of Arthur Hall in 1978- Ch, October 17th, 1997
and gratefully acknowledge the impact this relationship has had on my life and work.
I believe that this undeniable strength and survival of traditions and artforms
that have come to us through the diaspora have a universal source.
Red, Yellow, Black and White (First Translation) is an homage to that source
and to the man responsible for my introduction to it,
Nana Afo Arthur Hall.
[Addendum: CHAN, born Anthony David Spotten on May 14, 1957, died in 2005 from HIV-AIDS. To the last, he was an artist and activist, loved by all who knew him.]
Lord, Don’t Move My Mountain
Karen Tvarian, choreography
Stella Dance Theatre
Mahalia Jackson, music
Rock of Ages
Arthur Hall, choreography
for the Sacred Dance Guild Festival ‘97
first performed July 15, 1997 at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina
- the company -
The Mountain Remains the Same.- AH, July 1997
Mankind constantly changing;
The Hill upon which I cast my Eyes
The Mountain, like God, Remains the Same.
We are the Mountain,
We are the Rock.
Everything changes, yet Remains the Same.
And David Danced before the Lord with all his Might.
I am the Lord of the Dance, said Christ.
Dance! Dance!
Everybody Dance!
- exeunt -
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