In celebration of Black History Month Dr. Halifu Osumare, dance educator and choreographer, directed a Afro-Haitian dance workshop in Delta’s Atherton Auditorium on Feb. 8.
This class was open to everyone as it contained a diverse group of dancers from experienced to non experienced. Dancers were encouraged to join Osumare on the stage to stretch and participate in the workshop.
The techniques used in this class were inspired by American dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham. These techniques consist of merging polyrhythmic dance styles in continual motion.
Waunita Clark, member of the SIS Club and an inexperienced dancer, said she was inspired to come up on stage after Osumare said “anyone can dance.”
Dancers were guided through each dance move which were then combined to create a choreographed dance. These dances were accompanied with Afro Asian drumming.
Third year Delta student and experienced dancer, Cheli Nunez said the class was “beginner friendly and a good introduction to dance.”
Osumare led dancers through multiple breathing exercises in which they could connect with their inner energy. She targeted different parts of the body and explained the importance of connecting with them for the sake of dancing.
Osumare is very familiar with dance and black popular culture as she has been around them for forty years. She has an array of talents as she is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, administrator and scholar. Osumare is a professor at UC Davis and has wrote two books on global hip-hop.
Nunez said the workshop taught her how to be “in tune with my body and add personality with movements.”