2010 Spring Concert - Press Release
By Kamaria101 | March 9, 2010
For Immediate Release
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Encore Magazine Feature
By Kamaria101 | February 23, 2010
Feature
Dance and Awareness
Forces of Nature Dance Theatre’s vision
Photo Courtesy of Erin Baiano
Outside St. Martin’s church in Harlem, dirty snow and slippery pavements are the rule. However, inside it’s a completely different world. The second floor, the studio and office space of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, is covered with worldly memorabilia: African masks, rugs, drums, and color everywhere.
“I really have things I want to say,” says soon to be sixty-year-old choreographer Abdel R. Salaam. Fully engaged in his role as artistic director of the company, his work seeks to go beyond the aesthetics of dance. In an afternoon conversation with the man himself, he expressed being wholeheartedly dedicated to “using dance as an artistic language” to communicate his opinions about social, ecological, political, religious or even scientific topics.
Fighting ignorance, and more so, persistent ignorance is the main motivation for the choreographer. He begins by drawing inspiration from history, religion, nature and mythology. With a mixture of research and movement exploration he creates pieces that are not only aesthetically breathtaking but also stimulate controversy and thought. As he said himself, “you don’t have to beat people over the head for your message to get across”.
Keeping with this tendency, the company is in the works of presenting on April 9 and 10 for a Haiti Relief Activity in Aaron Davis Hall. The works that will be presented feature Mr. Salaam’s new solo work, “Toc Sick” featuring Nathan Trice, a piece that explores the ills of a carbon-based society. There will also be an excerpt from their most recently acclaimed work Eclipse: Visions of the Crescent and the Cross called “A Question of Modesty”, which challenges the notion of modesty in Christianity and Islam, followed by “A Personal Choice”, a piece that deals with perceptions of sexuality amongst other issues.
Whether it is dancing to converse about nature’s destructive or creational powers, or engaging the youth of the community through a Wellness Academy, it seems Forces of Nature won’t be “just dancing” for a while.
The company will be performing at Hostos Community College Theater (149 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY) in celebration of Black History Month on March 3, 2010. For more information about Forces of Nature and about this or any other performance, please visit www.forcesofnature.org.
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FONDT in “Walter’s World : Dance for the Holidays” online periodical
By Kamaria101 | January 7, 2010
The production will take place on December 26th at 7pm. This marks the fourth year the performance has appeared at the Apollo Theater, but the Harlem based dance company Forces of Nature Dance Theater has presented the project for the past twenty-eight years. The production was conceived by Abdel R. Salaam, who is the Executive Artistic Director/ Choreographer of Forces of Nature and Artistic Director of The Kwanza Celebration- Regeneration Night. In 1981 his then fledging dance company presented the original production. “It was part of the mission of the company and the mission of my life” professes Mr. Salaam.
“My first work was created for a Kwanzaa Celebration. It was based on the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of daily living. The idea was to use dance, music and theater to entertain and empower our community”, Abdel explains. “At that performance we wanted to symbolically build a new society. HUD did not have a model of the community so I designed one myself. During the performance we brought elders (adults who were also Harlem residents) on stage to share with the audience their contributions to the community. Then a young person would join each elder on stage, the elder would present the young person with a building from the model and the young person would place it in an open space. Together the elders and the young people symbolically rebuilt the community”.
Over the years many notables have contributed their time and expertise to the celebration these include Essence Magazine editor Susan Taylor, television journalist Dean Memminger, basketball legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, dancer/choreographer Chuck Davis and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields. In addition to Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, the evening will feature performances by The Restoration Dance Theatre Company, Songhai Djeli/Flute Visions with Atiba Kwabena-Wilson, Jimi Cruz and Arch Thompson, Percussionist David Pleasant and special guest Camille Yarbrough. Radio personality Imhotep Gary Byrd will be the host of the event.
Tickets are $15, there is a group rate of $12 for groups of ten or more. Tickets for both events are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster 212-307-7171. For group sales for Kwanza Celebration- Regeneration Night call 212-531-5306
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FONDT in Britannica Online Encyclopedia
By Kamaria101 | January 7, 2010
http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/37331739/Kwanzaa-celebration-at-the-Apollo
New York Amsterdam News, December 25, 2008 by Demetria Irwin
Summary:
The article offers information on “Regeneration Night,” a one-time-only-performance to be held on December 27, 2008 at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in New York City.
Excerpt from Article:
In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga established the seven principles of Kwanzaa–an African American and Pan African holiday–and on December 27, the Apollo Theater will host its third annual Kwanzaa celebration for the whole family to engage in Dr. Karenga’s vision.
“Regeneration Night” will feature the renowned Forces of Nature Dance Theatre as well as performances from the Songs of Solomon Inspirational Ensemble and also DK Dyson, a vocalist who sings a soulful mixture of jazz, R&B, rock and everything in between. Forces of Nature Dance Theatre also presents a hybrid performance of sorts, according to co-founder and artistic director Abdel Salaam. “I built a name for myself by creating hybrids of different types of dance. People thought it was quirky because it wasn’t one thing or another,” said Salaam of his work with the 27-year-old dance company. Today, Forces of Nature keeps to that tradition by presenting passionate pieces that combine traditional West African dance, ballet, contemporary modern dance, house and hip-hop.
Salaam has been a devotee of Kwanzaa since the late 1960s, when he was a teenager, and today he hopes to continue sharing the wisdom of Kwanzaa with all those who attend. “We’re going to work to empower our own communities and continue to do that for the world at large. It’s a lot of work, but it should continue. My life is dedicated to these principles,” said Salaam, who noted that the dance company has a three-pronged mission outside of producing visually stunning work: to empower through images of the African diaspora, to encourage and engage in environmentally responsible behavior and to live in harmony within different societies and communities.
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Those principles will be illuminated in a three-part performance by Forces of Nature. First, there is “Terrestrial Wombs,” which Salaam describes as a ballet about the regeneration of the oceans, rivers, lakes and seas. Then there is “Kulture Seeds,” which focuses on a dialogue between an African and an African American about a multitude of issues including political awareness, racism, hair and code of dress. The final piece is an interactive one. It’s called the “Rite of Building a Nation.” During that piece, elders and young people (who will be selected from the community by organizers beforehand) will literally build together using models to construct a city. Past participants have included a wide range of people from local small business owners, high school students, author and former Essence editor Susan Taylor, the late Adolph Caesar and others.…
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FONDT in Caribbean Life News
By Kamaria101 | January 7, 2010
Article Link: http://caribbeanlifenews.com/articles/2010/01/06/news/doc4b3fadcb5a59e307508615.txt
Apollo hosts Kwanzaa celebration
Forces of Nature headlines performances
By Verona Forde
There was no better way to celebrate Kwanzaa than to see a performance by Forces of Nature at the world famous Apollo Theater on Dec. 6.
Imhotep Gary Bryd, radio personality on WBAI, WLIB and WBLS, hosted the Kwanzaa Celebration.
With the pouring of water. Nana Camille Yarborough conducted the libation that pays homage to our ancestors, as the audience named a lot of famous people who had paved the way. She concluded the libation by having the audience say, “Love our people more than we love our individual selves.”
About 20 years ago, Abdel R. Salaam started Regeneration Night. Since to regenerate is to restore, it is appropriate to have as a part of the celebration the Restoration Dance Theatre Junior Company to perform “Afro House,” an energetic African dance piece combined with club movements.
In honor of Mr. Salaam’s mother who works in the healthcare industry, a solo dancer performed a piece called “ER.” One dancer, one table and the kind of movements that were done in the piece should have had a disclaimer, “Professional Dancer. Do not try this at home.” The movements depicted in the dance described many different medical conditions from giving birth to having a heart attack. The soloist even showed doing a breast examination. It wasn’t provocative just obvious.
Songhai Djeli and Flute Visions performed musical libation to honor the ancestors. This Kwanzaa is based on harvest. We stand on the shoulders of the first builders and what we accomplish here, we are supposed to accomplish. Their next piece was music from Charlie Parker Suite. Songhai Djeli and Flute Visions is about consciousness in their music.
Fred Goode, who provides medicine to low-income HIV patients and Dr. Icilma Fergus, chief director of cardiology at Harlem Hospital, received a special African mask for their achievement in the African-American community.
Before the second act, there was a Building Block ceremony. Each of four children said what their career is going to be and a mentor for each gave them a principle to guide them along their journey.
After seeing Forces of Nature’s other piece “Smoove”, the audience couldn’t help being laid back. David Pleasant had to get the people up. He gave body sounds and rhythms from the Gullah people. He taught the audience the different vibration of sounds through call and response.
Forces of Nature ended the evening with a piece called ”Cult of the Wolves.” Cult is not a bad word; it’s just short for culture. The dancers demonstrated the culture of the wolves. In the dance, the “apprentice” prepared the wolves and a “doctor” released a spell and executed the ritual. All rituals are not necessarily evil and as a matter of fact, the only person who can cast a spell on a person is that person.
Each individual is their own master and apprentice, to cast the spell and execute the plan.
Imhotep Gary Bryd was right when he said that Forces of Nature carries messages in everything they do.
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EARTHRITES
By Kamaria101 | December 21, 2009
“Movement To Heal our Planet”
Living in harmony with the ecosystems and environments of the planet, has been an integral part of the mission of FORCES OF NATURE DANCE THEATRE since its inception in 1981!
EARTHRITES highlights the “Green Ballets” of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, under Artistic Direction of Abdel Salaam, whose commitments to environmental health, spirituality, and the survival of life on Earth have been seminal themes of his choreography. Dating as far back to 1989, F.O.N.D.T. presented its first Environmental Arts Gala entitled “Eternal Earth”. Whether known as GEB, GALA, or GREEN, the movement to respect our planet and see it as a “Living Being” has inspired the work of spiritualists, artists, and scientists alike. F.O.N.D.T. continues to embrace the global movement of the 21st Century by offering “EARTHRITES”, a series of concerts, lecture demonstrations, and creative programs that unite people to engage in “Movement To Heal Our Planet.”
Click here to Inquire about this program / request for more information
Topics: EarthRites | No Comments »