ROLES
You will always find these ones in the center of the room. Nothing is going to ruin their moment.
BACKHOME BINTOU They come in and they are giving it what it’s supposed to give! You are getting life. You’re giving them, they are taking it. They are giving you! You are receiving it! But beware! Some of them are habitual contrari- ans. They. Will. Never. Follow. Instructions. They won’t follow your moves. They’ll do their own thing because they already know how it’s spose to go. They are irri- tating af but you can’t say shit, because, well, you’re grateful they are here. What’s that tiny bead of sweat just on the corner top of your left eyebrow? My friend, call it what it is: Molecule of Apprehension. Because with all the glee of having your fam in the building, you know, you BETTA not fuck around and do or say a move incorrectly. The eye roll and sucking teeth that will follow, enh? You will cry for your mother. SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING-THIRD EYE LUNALIGHTLOVE GRASS Africa! Oh Ancient “undiscovered” Africa. Enshrined in a glass case of pure antiquity. These ones have come to find you, your dance, your music, your ways. What does this back pop move mean? Does it open my 5th chakra? It reminds me of a move I did at this silent yoga retreat I went to last week. Can you speak more to the energy and depth of this whole experi- ence? Allison, it’s really just ‘shake. your. ass’. ROOTFUL RUWA This is their first time coming to take an African dance class. Even though you’ve been asking them for over 7 years to come. But now they have watched Black Panther. They must discover their roots. Incase Wakanda citizenship application comes. Well done sah. Well done ma. Whenever a person wakes up, is their morning. Here’s your dashiki. THRIFTY TAMMY Aunty! Do you want me to live in poverty? Do you know how many hours it takes to be learning dance, practicing routines, curating music, packing all my shit, putting a smile on my face and energy in my voice, while my life is in shambles to be here for you? I don’t have health insurance. If my leg breaks today you will say ‘sending healing vibes’. You want all the joy and life I have to give, but you want to complain about money? Listen, man cannot live by vibes and inshallah alone. Why is it so costly? Have you asked your Gucci bag the same question? God is watching you. Send Money.
TEACHERING TEACHER Maybe you’re the homegrown 5th-generation master dancer who just came from the motherland yesterday, or you spent 15 years studying under so and so, or you real- ized that hmm this African dance thing, I can do it as a profession. Either way. We don’t understand what you’re saying, and we can’t keep up. But we love it here. Do you have any of those lapas for sale? COUNTING COURTNEY Is the dip on the 5,6 or the 6,7? How many times do you twist your middle left toe, before you do the turn? But can you please count it? You keep saying Trakata trakata boom, and I don’t know if it is 1, 2, 3 4 5. Sis, this is Afri- can dance, if I say, Umm aH, boom boom, traga traga ah eh tikititi tukuttu tikiti tukutu, oooh oooh Ah-baka baka bak! Cos if it’s- then it’s-, LEAN, then it’s ra ra POP. Then that’s what it is. Adapt. SERIOUS SAMMY They never smile, or do extra galavanting with anyone. Their eyes and attention are always on you. The whole time. Unless you say otherwise, of course. Following every move. Revising and paying attention to their body. You wonder if you should have brought scantron sheets for the test. AUTHENTIC ABENA They are actually from the culture, or they are an elder in the practice. You show a move or combination and when they do it and it’s like *sun glints off an untouched river in the Serengeti *. They not even trying to show out, they just got it. Easy. A gazelle flitting through the savanna. You question your validity. LOYAL LOLA They will come. Every week. Every class. Even if you travel to Mars to do class, you will see them there. They will pay their money. Not a dollar more or less. They will say, see you next week, and you will, in fact, see them next week. COMFORTABLE COMFORT They walk in, holding their water bottle. Smiling at the wall, the floor, the ceiling, everyone. They wave. Today na today.
12 in dance SUMMER 2021
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