DanceAfrica Information
Several African-American dance companies emerged in response to the political movements of the 1960s and the popularity of dance in the 1970s. DanceAfrica, an annual celebration founded by Chuck Davis, capitalized on the excitement of those decades by showcasing African and African-American cultural practices. In the 1940s and 1950s, as seen by the performances of Pearl Primus and Katherine Dunham at BAM, an African-American cultural consciousness evolved, shifting the emphasis of dance from entertainment to modern dance while incorporating African influences.
In the 1960s, BAM hosted performances by Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, and Donald McKayle. When Chuck Davis showed up in the early '60s, the New Dance Group was already established at the Harlem Cultural Center. Davis came to New York to study the Dunham technique and jazz with Syvilla Fort and to perform with musician Babatunde Olatunji.
Davis established the Chuck Davis Dance Company in 1967 in the South Bronx Community Action Theatre. The Chuck Davis Dance Company performed the BAM Lepercq Space, which had been transformed into an African hamlet, in February 1977. DanceAfrica premiered the next spring, following the success of the engagement, with an all-day African bazaar.
Five performances were held at the BAM Playhouse, and the festival culminated with all five companies—roughly 70 performers—performing on the Opera House stage. The festival featured Arthur Hall, Charles Moore, Chuck Davis, Dinizulu, and the International Afrikan American Ballet.
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