Presenter bio:

Ojeya Cruz Banks blends West African to contemporary dance to yoga.  Selected as one of the dancer/choreographer to participate in Choreographer’s Lab at the renowned Jacob’s Pillow School of Dance in 2008.  She joined the School of Physical Education at the University of Otago as a Lecturer and Choreographer of Dance Studies in 2008.  She is the artistic director of the Dance Lab, a dance research collective. Ojeya obtained her doctoral degree in dance anthropology and education from the University of Arizona.  Her projects combine choreography, performance for well being, indigenous knowledge from places such as Guinea, West Africa and Aotearoa/New Zealand to create decolonizing/liberating dance practices.  She has studied dance in Uganda, Zanzibar, Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Cuba, and several other countries.  Ojeya has studied with renowned dancers and choreographers such as Katherine Dunham, Moustapha Bangoura, Ron Brown and Eno Washington.  Her teaching emphasizes community, cultural understanding, dance as ritual and celebration of life.  

Workshop Descriptions:

1. West African Guinea dance
This all level class will explore dance techniques, songs and culture from guinea, West Africa Participants will delve into energetic movement grounded in the music of the West African drum, the djembe. This is dance invokes a sense of community solidarity and joy. Come and share in the positive vitality.

2. Afromodern dance and Choreography Workshop
This is contemporary fusion technique class spices up modern dance with a West African flavor and style. This workshop blends contemporary, African, and Caribbean movement. Participants will develop basic dance skills, relaxation, alignment and releasing techniques and gradually move into high energy movement that is celebratory, and fluid. The class will culminate into a personal choreographic exploration.