Dance with the Gantt: Sacred Dundun Dance
This program is made possible by the generous support of The David and Nicole Tepper Foundation
Join us for a fun afternoon of rhythm and movement at the Gantt! Sacred Dundun Dance workshop is a technique created by dancer and instructor, Amina Heckstall-Soumah, combining traditional Guinean style dundun dance with mantras and movements to activate the body's energy centers called Chakras. This class incorporates dance and drumming for the ultimate grounding and releasing, elevating the vibration of participants.
Dundun drums or any drum and sticks are recommended, however they are not necessary to take the class. This workshop will help improve physical strength, stamina, mental clarity, attunement with Ancestral/Divine Energy, and emotional bliss.
This free dance workshop will be a part of the Gantt's special Kwanzaa celebration, so be sure to bring friends and family to enjoy the day’s activities!
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the rich cultural heritage of West African dance. All dance levels are welcome.
About The Instructor
Amina Heckstall-Soumah has performed West African traditional dance and drumming for over 40 years. She has won numerous awards and fellowships for her work in the community and with her company, Ballet International Africans.
Heckstall-Soumah has trained and danced with various masters of Guinea, Mali, and Senegal; led workshops at conferences nationally; and toured with West African dance companies. She choreographed the African diasporic dance scenes for the Award-winning, off-Broadway play, The Savage Queen. She also teaches self-created techniques combining Chakra healing dance, energy shifting, creative visualization, and African dance.
Originally from Queens, NY, since relocating to North Carolina, Heckstall-Soumah has contributed to the regional cultural arts scene as a performer for the Charlotte BOOM Festival, various multicultural arts festivals, and Juneteenth celebrations.
About The Gantt Golden Year Dancer-in-Residence
LaTanya Johnson’s rhythmic journey blends the art of movement and storytelling through voice, theater, and visual arts.
Johnson choreographed and provided movement coaching for many productions including, A Raisin in the Sun, Seven Guitars, Ain't Misbehavin’, The Bluest Eye, For the Love of Harlem, A Soldier's Play, and The Piano Lesson. She has worked with Theatre Charlotte, On Q Productions, Free Reign Theater Company, and Brand New Sheriff (BNS) Productions. In 2016, Johnson curated a dance series in celebration of the Gantt Center’s 40th Anniversary, entitled "Catch the Dance".
Johnson’s conservatory training includes Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company), Historical New Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia, and Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute, to name a few. She is the founder and artistic director of the Sycamore Project, a Charlotte-based “artivist” initiative using the arts to advocate and promote social and environmental justice.