African Dance & Culture

Amai’s African dance class is taught from the Umfundalai Technique, a contemporary Pan-African technique created by Amai’s mentor in African Dance, Dr. Kariamu Welsh, in 1970, in Buffalo, NY. Umfundalai means “essence or essential” in Kiswahili and stands on the shoulders of the Katherine Dunham and the Pearl Primus techniques of African-based dance styles. Umfundalai focuses on the commonalities found in the dances of Africa and informs and is informed by African cultures on the continent and in the diaspora, and classes will have live accompaniment, where available.  Proper class attire includes the lapa for women (large fabric to cover the waist, hips, thighs, and legs) and kanga for men (drop-crotch, loose-fitting or flowing pants), for authenticity and cultural flavor.  Appropriate substitutes are acceptable.  It will be helpful to have hair of any length dressed away from face and neck or secured in a gele (headwrap).

Dance and movement sessions are based in the Pan-African tradition. There may also be a conversation or slide presentation on the facilitator’s experience of spiritual pilgrimage as a means to personal healing and transformation, and her viewpoint on her two-year pilgrimage in southern Africa, The International African AIDS Pilgrimage: A Walk for Global Healing (2003-2005, S. Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique).