The Relationship Between Traditional and Contemporary West African Music and Dance

Chief Ayanda Clarke (Chief Ayanda) is an African American master percussionist, GRAMMY^® Award-winning musician, arts educator, and lecturer. A gifted performer since childhood, Clarke has traveled across several continents performing with some of the world’s most revered percussionists. In 2018, he continues to do the same and still lectures frequently on African culture and music. Recently, this Brooklyn-born native New Yorker was a featured percussionist on The Offense of the Drum by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra — a recording that won a GRAMMY® Award in 2014 for Best Latin Jazz Album.

Learn more at http://thefadaragroup.com/about-chief-ayanda-clarke/

Photo by Peter Dressel

Dyane Harvey-Salaam is an accomplished performing artist, founding member of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, educator, choreographer and certified Pilates teacher. She has appeared as a principal soloist with some of the most recognized theatre and dance companies across the United States and abroad. Broadway, television and film credits include: “The Wiz,” “Timbuktu!,” “Spell# 7” and “Free to Dance.” Her choreography has been seen in many theatrical and dance projects including: “Loves Fire” and “Harriet Returns” (The Acting Company), “The African Company Presents Richard III,” “Yerma” and “Flyin’West” (NYU Graduate Acting Program), “lavender lizards and lilac landmines, layla’s dream”(University of Florida at Gainesville Graduate Acting Program), “Bones of Our Ancestors” (PBS Special) and the award winning “Great Men of Gospel” (New Federal Theatre). She continues to share her knowledge and craftsmanship with students at Princeton and Hofstra Universities through coursework and choreography. Awards include two AUDELCO AWARDS (performance and choreography), MONARCH MERIT AWARD, GODDESS AND GURUS AWARD, BLACK THEATRE AWARD, and most recently she was recognised one of 12  “DISTINGUISHED WOMEN” by the Harlem Arts Alliance in conjunction with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. ASE to the Ancestors!

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The Hearst Dance Theater is located on the Forum level of the Lewis Arts complex, 122 Alexander Street in Princeton.

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