I then went from California to Ghana to learn the Kpanlogo Dance, of the Ga tribe in Accra. This dance is known to be “the dance of the youth,” and originated during the wake of Ghana’s Independence in 1957 as a musical type for entertainment in Accra. The Kpanlogo music and dance was banned as it ‘made the body move in an indecent way.’ Today it is a dance that is performed at significant events such as funerals, festivals, and political rallies. The dance class that was taught with live african drumming provided an insight into how storytelling influences music and is translated through the body and dance.
Coaching calls with Lian Wilson over the duration of the project enabled me to ground the information I had received both from the start of the Tamalpa training course and the Kpanlogo dance class. The calls also enabled me to define clear intentions “Body Wisdom Discoveries” – a workshop specifically designed for artists in Ghana who were unfamiliar with the use of the expressive arts for self reflection.
