Kotchegna Dance Company Collaborates With Harrison High School Dancers

The students of the Harrison High School dance program engaged in an African Dance Workshop conducted by Vado Diomande of the Kotchegna Dance Company of New York City. Over 70 students participated in this unique learning opportunity with abilities ranging from Dance Year 1 to the International Baccalaureate (IB) students.

“The experience was so different than what I was used to, but I really felt that I could let loose and have fun with it,” said HHS senior IB Dance student Dominque Loguidice. “It really made me develop an appreciation for the African culture. It was such a great experience!”

According to dance teacher, Debbie Toteda, the twenty eight IB dance students were using this experience with Vado as a primary source for comparing and contrasting familiar and unfamiliar dance forms as part of the World Dance Investigation Assessment portion of the IB requirements. IB students were asked to write their observations by organizing their thinking as it related to level (working in plie), force vs. flow (as the movement gets more intense with kicking and stomping), and body parts specific to the movement (release of the torso).

“Other districts with IB Dance Programs require students to go on their own to find workshops or classes that focus on unfamiliar dance forms,” said Toteda. “Providing students with access “on their own turf” allows all students to benefit from a master class, ensures that the entire experience is an authentic IB dance source, and provides the teacher with the opportunity to monitor students’ progress.”

Vado, who was born in Ivory Coast, Africa, began dancing traditional West African dances at the age of four and became a principal ballet dancer at the Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoir, where he remained for 15 years. In Vado’s native language of Mahou, Kotchegna means messenger. He founded the Kotchegna Dance Company in New York City in 1994, where he has become an established teacher of West African Dance and Drum by travelling throughout the United States and the World.

African Drums, many of which were used in the Workshop at HHS, were constructed by Vado. In an interdisciplinary study opportunity, the HHS Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of David Blumenthal, was on hand to learn the intricacies of African Drumming. When Vado’s own drummer Justin was delayed in traffic, Harrison High School’s own Alex Spanos had the opportunity to learn and perform on stage with Vado and the HHS dancers.

At the conclusion of the workshop Vado and his drummer Justin engaged the students in a question and answer session, focusing on the origins and occasions for West African dancing versus South African or East African dancing. They discussed the instruments used, props, costuming, narratives, venues and events where African Dancing is celebrated, as well as the role of men versus women in West African dances.

“I am so glad we were provided the opportunity to participate in the West African Dance Workshop,” said senior IB Dance student Andi Rella. “Aside from learning a new dance form, it taught us a lot about learning to let go of your inhibitions and just express yourself. That, I believe, is what dance is all about.”