West African Dance: Kuku

An excerpt from the production BLEND by Lavaroots Performing Arts. Footage date 11/15/08. Contact us at lavaroots.com. Drummers: Josh Frame, Michael Pluznick, Bruce Rudolph, Audley Pitter, Jesse Seymour, Ray Titus. Dancers: Michal Carrillo, Elizabeth McDonald, Melody Miller, Trisha Patton, Angel Prince, Lenita Richmond. Thanks to our Master Teachers and thanks to you for watching. ALOHA

Category:

Music

Tags:

• West
• African
• Dance

[TheNaturalSelf]

Still Stealing from Africa. Those so-called dancers should sit down, they do not hae any natural moves. Anyway, how in heck can you have an African dance, without any African women dancing! These are impostures...FAKE "wanna-Be African dancers! You go over to the African continent, tape them dancing, study their moves, copy their steps, and you STILL can't get it right! My advice to you...Stop Stealing from Africa! Get some real African dancers to dance thier native dances! Get a Grip!

[NovaStarr]

@TheNaturalSelf You know, I was thinking the same thing originally but, you have to hand it to them. They wanted to learn more so badly that they were willing to fly West African dance teachers all the way to where they are in Hawaii. In ways I am still tossed but, I appreciate their effort and their willingness to seek out real West-African teachers. That to me is a good start. Maybe someday they can fly out some of the dancers too. ;-)

[LavarootsHawaii]

@NovaStarr Thank you for recognizing where our intentions are. I myself am Hispanic,Apache,Toltec & Filipino. Should I be mad everytime I see someone who is not Latin dancing Salsa? Or angry still that people pray to Great Spirit whom are white? I feel that we are here to use our gifts to uplift one another and honor each other's cultures. One of my teachers is Moustapha Bangoura and we do our best to share the integrity and joy of the music & dance, to honor our teachers. Blessings.

[LavarootsHawaii]

@TheNaturalSelf I'm sorry you feel that way. Our dancers are African-American, Latin, Indian & white. We study with West African Master Teachers, and have received their love and support to dance these dances. Our intention is to share the culture out of respect and honor. We live 2,500 miles in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and there are no Africans living here. AND, we are all one people, it's time for us to stop hating and start working towards healing & loving. Love to you.

[saytuna2]

not to be rued or offensive or anything but i'm offended there are no African girls in this... but love it these girls can dance...:)

[LavarootsHawaii]

@saytuna2

No offense taken :) We live on The Big Island of Hawaii, and study with our West African teachers whom we bring to the islands, but there are no Africans living here. We are pretty secluded out here in the middle of the ocean and that's the only reason there aren't any Africans in this production. Love there to be, but it's too expensive to fly folks over! (One of our dancers is African American, but u meant AFRICAN, yeah?) big love to you wherever you are, come dance anytime! :)

[ladykhalia]

I love it when people of other nationalities embrace Africa.

[mzgymnast1234]

@mzgymnast1234 they kno they don't it's reallly annoying. and you can never dance african standing straight up thats what my instructor told me. and its true almost all of african movements are danced bend over and then you seee white people trying to dance it and they do all wrong! and then they laugh about it

[mzgymnast1234]

@TheNaturalSelf I think your right, maybe you should check out my dance company that I dance with , Collage dance company "seruba" Collage dance company "bird" Collage dance company "kwanzza" (which it starts at 7:26) and I don't even think that they got the rhythm right either , this sounds more like Manjani instead of kuku , because kuku is much faster than this atleast the rhythm that we use. I'm not rasicst but i hate to see white ppl dance african and they dont get have the steps right and

[swamisnyc]

@TheNaturalSelf So if you ask the African Masters themselves they say that this music is for the healing of the world, for all the people of the world, their life is dedicated to helping all nations. proud to love and play African music not matter what "color' I am ; We are all human beings. Funky Peace to you all.

[jutyful]

I am from the Ivory Coast and I am learning this dance right now (in California).

You guys did a great job! Thanks for sharing, and embracing my culture :)

P.S: Don't forget to move your head :p

[gcheavers]

@TheNaturalSelf I am Black, Hawaiian, Puerto Rican and Philipino and have been dancing West African dance professionally for over 17 years. I haven't had the opportunity to take Hawaiian dance from a reputable company but am looking forward to a teacher or company coming to my area where I am sure they would welcome all races and ethnicities. The West African company that I dance with has never discriminated against any race. I feel your comment is ignorant and I am embarrassed for you.

[drkdrgns]

This music just makes me DANCE MY FUCKING ASS OFF