KowTeff African Dance Company
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KowTeff African Dance Company

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Brooklyn, New York, United States
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"Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM"


'Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM
By Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger

The KowTeff African Dance Company is one of three ensembles that will perform at an African dance and drum festival in Newark, Saturday night.
Every year a dance performance brings the Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival to a rocking conclusion. Fans won’t want to miss the thunder of live drumming and the abandon of dancers becoming one with the rhythm.
Yet Saturday evening’s concert at Newark Symphony Hall merely crowns a day filled with activities that may include various kinds of dance classes; face painting; the chance to enjoy a soothing massage; plenty of opportunities to shop and — most of all — the sociability and the thrill of discovery that are at the heart of the festival experience.
“You get to meet new people,” says choreographer Karen Love, Wofabe’s founder and artistic director. “It’s not the same people that you see every Tuesday.”
Love says that by including yoga and Afro-Cuban dance classes, she ensures a mix of people will attend, drawn by curiosity to study West African dance or tackle something new. All the classes, she adds, are open to people at all levels of experience.
“Whether you’ve been dancing for 15 years or it’s your first time, you can take any class and you will feel comfortable,” she promises.
The classes take place in Symphony Hall’s Terrace Ballroom, with vendors of jewelry, clothing, music and artwork stationed in the surrounding gallery.
Love, who has been producing the Wofabe festival for the past five years, recalls her own excitement when, in 1991, she received a scholarship to study at the American Dance Festival in Durham, N.C. At ADF, she met Baba Chuck Davis, a towering figure on the American dance scene who directs the annual DanceAfrica Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Davis took Love on her first tour of Africa, and he still serves as her adviser, turning up in Newark each year to host the Wofabe festival as a striking elder and celebrity. “His wealth of knowledge is so helpful to us,” says Love.
The evening concert will feature three professional groups, plus a presentation by students from various Newark schools. Love says that to celebrate the power of women, she chose ensembles with female directors.
The all-female Giwayen Mata company, from Atlanta, will conclude its performance with “The Masks We Wear,” a suite of West African dances that show women triumphing over adversity. The KowTeff African Dance Company, from New York, will present “Balanta,” a dance that makes light of the problems arising from an imbalance in the ratio of men to women in society. In a piece called “El Poder de Mi Folklore” (“The Power of My Folklore”), the Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Company expresses pride in the traditions that African peoples brought with them to the Americas.
“Even though two groups are doing traditional West African music, it’s really going to be three totally different sounds,” Love says.
All three ensembles will make festival debuts. Love emphasizes that she wants to present different companies each year.
Speaking of her audience, she says: “We’re trying to introduce them to the whole world of African dance.”

Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival
Where: Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad St., Newark
When: Saturday. Concert begins at 7 p.m. Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
How much: Concert tickets are $25. Classes are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Call (973) 643-8014 or visit newarksymphonyhall.org.
'Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM
By Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger

The KowTeff African Dance Company is one of three ensembles that will perform at an African dance and drum festival in Newark, Saturday night.
Every year a dance performance brings the Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival to a rocking conclusion. Fans won’t want to miss the thunder of live drumming and the abandon of dancers becoming one with the rhythm.
Yet Saturday evening’s concert at Newark Symphony Hall merely crowns a day filled with activities that may include various kinds of dance classes; face painting; the chance to enjoy a soothing massage; plenty of opportunities to shop and — most of all — the sociability and the thrill of discovery that are at the heart of the festival experience.
“You get to meet new people,” says choreographer Karen Love, Wofabe’s founder and artistic director. “It’s not the same people that you see every Tuesday.”
Love says that by including yoga and Afro-Cuban dance classes, she ensures a mix of people will attend, drawn by curiosity to study West African dance or tackle something new. All the classes, she - Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger


"Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM"


'Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM
By Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger

The KowTeff African Dance Company is one of three ensembles that will perform at an African dance and drum festival in Newark, Saturday night.
Every year a dance performance brings the Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival to a rocking conclusion. Fans won’t want to miss the thunder of live drumming and the abandon of dancers becoming one with the rhythm.
Yet Saturday evening’s concert at Newark Symphony Hall merely crowns a day filled with activities that may include various kinds of dance classes; face painting; the chance to enjoy a soothing massage; plenty of opportunities to shop and — most of all — the sociability and the thrill of discovery that are at the heart of the festival experience.
“You get to meet new people,” says choreographer Karen Love, Wofabe’s founder and artistic director. “It’s not the same people that you see every Tuesday.”
Love says that by including yoga and Afro-Cuban dance classes, she ensures a mix of people will attend, drawn by curiosity to study West African dance or tackle something new. All the classes, she adds, are open to people at all levels of experience.
“Whether you’ve been dancing for 15 years or it’s your first time, you can take any class and you will feel comfortable,” she promises.
The classes take place in Symphony Hall’s Terrace Ballroom, with vendors of jewelry, clothing, music and artwork stationed in the surrounding gallery.
Love, who has been producing the Wofabe festival for the past five years, recalls her own excitement when, in 1991, she received a scholarship to study at the American Dance Festival in Durham, N.C. At ADF, she met Baba Chuck Davis, a towering figure on the American dance scene who directs the annual DanceAfrica Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Davis took Love on her first tour of Africa, and he still serves as her adviser, turning up in Newark each year to host the Wofabe festival as a striking elder and celebrity. “His wealth of knowledge is so helpful to us,” says Love.
The evening concert will feature three professional groups, plus a presentation by students from various Newark schools. Love says that to celebrate the power of women, she chose ensembles with female directors.
The all-female Giwayen Mata company, from Atlanta, will conclude its performance with “The Masks We Wear,” a suite of West African dances that show women triumphing over adversity. The KowTeff African Dance Company, from New York, will present “Balanta,” a dance that makes light of the problems arising from an imbalance in the ratio of men to women in society. In a piece called “El Poder de Mi Folklore” (“The Power of My Folklore”), the Oyu Oro Afro-Cuban Experimental Dance Company expresses pride in the traditions that African peoples brought with them to the Americas.
“Even though two groups are doing traditional West African music, it’s really going to be three totally different sounds,” Love says.
All three ensembles will make festival debuts. Love emphasizes that she wants to present different companies each year.
Speaking of her audience, she says: “We’re trying to introduce them to the whole world of African dance.”

Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival
Where: Symphony Hall, 1020 Broad St., Newark
When: Saturday. Concert begins at 7 p.m. Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
How much: Concert tickets are $25. Classes are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Call (973) 643-8014 or visit newarksymphonyhall.org.
'Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival' preview: Fest puts dual emphasis on dancing, and drumming
Published: Friday, November 12, 2010, 8:34 AM Updated: Friday, November 12, 2010, 12:44 PM
By Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger

The KowTeff African Dance Company is one of three ensembles that will perform at an African dance and drum festival in Newark, Saturday night.
Every year a dance performance brings the Wofabe: African Dance and Drum Festival to a rocking conclusion. Fans won’t want to miss the thunder of live drumming and the abandon of dancers becoming one with the rhythm.
Yet Saturday evening’s concert at Newark Symphony Hall merely crowns a day filled with activities that may include various kinds of dance classes; face painting; the chance to enjoy a soothing massage; plenty of opportunities to shop and — most of all — the sociability and the thrill of discovery that are at the heart of the festival experience.
“You get to meet new people,” says choreographer Karen Love, Wofabe’s founder and artistic director. “It’s not the same people that you see every Tuesday.”
Love says that by including yoga and Afro-Cuban dance classes, she ensures a mix of people will attend, drawn by curiosity to study West African dance or tackle something new. All the classes, she - Robert Johnson/The Star-Ledger


"KowTeff Reviews - New York Life Performance"

Reviews of
KowTeff, African Dance Company
By: The Employees of New York Life





Keep KowTeff on your radar for future performances or even their Director Sewaa as a consideration for a Panel Discussion with her background she could be a representative for a cultural or historical interpretation.
I hope to see many more performances similar to this showing, quite inspiring and enjoyment for all.
PLEASE bring them back next year.
Performances of this caliber would be great in the future. I loved the African Dance and Drumming
Bring them back!!
Terrific Event; more events like this would be great!
Have them come back next year!
Need more events such as this or even make this an annual event.
Excellent Performance! Well within timeframe
Thank you for bringing in such a lively, exciting and cultural experience to NYL! LOVED IT!
Keep up the good work KowTeff! Wonderful event!
Great job, great show, awesome experience!
Best Performance I ever seen
The KowTeff African Dance Co. was marvelous, stupendous, wonderful, great, fabulous and magnificent!!!! PLEASE invite them back again!!!
KowTeff was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was completely engaged in it, I feel like going out dancing! Drums, dancing, costumes, everything was spectacular! The performers all had wonderful smiles and great energy. Thanks for a great performance!
Unbelievable program- I truly enjoyed KowTeff performers, they were energetic, passionate and wonderful!!! What an amazing experience!
This event had a little bit of everything and the dancers included the audience!
This event was outstanding; great motivator.
Excellent choice of using Kowteff African Dance Group! They gave a wonderful performance, very refreshing and enjoyable.
This event was outstanding. KowTeff was high energy, engaging and encouraged audience participation. I sat there thinking I can’t believe I can enjoy something so entertaining and wonderful on my lunch hour. Thank you KowTeff!
Invigorationg…yet, most informative in providing an insight into one’s culture. Thank you KowTeff.
Excellent Choice. KowTeff was absolutely wonderful and engaging

Job Well Done KowTeff!

- New York Life Insurance


"KowTeff Reviews - New York Life Performance"

Reviews of
KowTeff, African Dance Company
By: The Employees of New York Life





Keep KowTeff on your radar for future performances or even their Director Sewaa as a consideration for a Panel Discussion with her background she could be a representative for a cultural or historical interpretation.
I hope to see many more performances similar to this showing, quite inspiring and enjoyment for all.
PLEASE bring them back next year.
Performances of this caliber would be great in the future. I loved the African Dance and Drumming
Bring them back!!
Terrific Event; more events like this would be great!
Have them come back next year!
Need more events such as this or even make this an annual event.
Excellent Performance! Well within timeframe
Thank you for bringing in such a lively, exciting and cultural experience to NYL! LOVED IT!
Keep up the good work KowTeff! Wonderful event!
Great job, great show, awesome experience!
Best Performance I ever seen
The KowTeff African Dance Co. was marvelous, stupendous, wonderful, great, fabulous and magnificent!!!! PLEASE invite them back again!!!
KowTeff was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was completely engaged in it, I feel like going out dancing! Drums, dancing, costumes, everything was spectacular! The performers all had wonderful smiles and great energy. Thanks for a great performance!
Unbelievable program- I truly enjoyed KowTeff performers, they were energetic, passionate and wonderful!!! What an amazing experience!
This event had a little bit of everything and the dancers included the audience!
This event was outstanding; great motivator.
Excellent choice of using Kowteff African Dance Group! They gave a wonderful performance, very refreshing and enjoyable.
This event was outstanding. KowTeff was high energy, engaging and encouraged audience participation. I sat there thinking I can’t believe I can enjoy something so entertaining and wonderful on my lunch hour. Thank you KowTeff!
Invigorationg…yet, most informative in providing an insight into one’s culture. Thank you KowTeff.
Excellent Choice. KowTeff was absolutely wonderful and engaging

Job Well Done KowTeff!

- New York Life Insurance


"AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP SUCCESSFUL"


Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 26, 2006): The history of the Mali Empire and the dances akin to that region were the focus at a recently concluded dance workshop in African Dance.

Seventy dancers used the opportunity to make the connection with the history of their ancestry and their traditional dance, during the intensive July 10 to 15 course conducted by Sewaa Codrington of the United States. She was assisted by dancer Natalie Loney and drummer Najja Codrington.

At the end of the course participants received certificates for successfully completing the programme. Specially invited guests including Minister of State for Culture Hon. Richard Skerritt were treated with a high energy performance of the cultural dance. Permanent Secretary Lloyd Lazar and Director of Culture Creighton Pencheon also attended the closing.

Minister Skerritt commended the participants for their commitment. They were also advised by Director Pencheon to use the knowledge and experience gained to share with their groups and the wider community in the furtherance of the dance art form.

The workshop was held at the Victoria Road Community Center. It was coordinated by the ministry’s Dance Specialist Lorna Ava Henry.
- St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service


"K.O.W. TEFF"


PARTY PARTY PAR t y, P a r t y. What's that? Ohh, another party? When entertainment on this campus becomes dry and bland thank God for the month of February! It was the celebration of black history that invited a refreshing air of style, rhythm and drama to the Wesleyan stage. In this vain KOWTEFF, the Afro-Caribbean dance troupe, lit up the World Music Hall with an explosion of culture. They fascinated us with the evoking dances of the Ancient Mali Empire and held our interest captive to a vibrant repertoire of Caribbean movements. The palpitating rhythms of the drums charged the beats of our hearts, which raced in amazement at the size of the dancing Mokojumbi but fell silent, drowned in the ooohs and ahhhs, as the enormous figure towered over us.

Interspersing these many acts was the voice of the storyteller who spoke his tales of the mischievous and cunning Bredda' Anansi. And though these stories brought smiles to our faces the sight of a large, pregnant, Jamaican, woman who having discovered her baby father fraternizing in the market place chases him, with unbelievable agility over boxes and baskets of fruit, left us doubled over in raucous laughter. At no point in the 2.5-hour long show was the audience's attention divided from the stage. Yet KOWTEFF did more than capture the essence of African and Caribbean culture on stage, they also allowed for a special segment in the program for processing. A time where they explained the origins of the pieces they performed and the import of dually expressing African and Caribbean culture - representing the individual expressions of our past but celebrating the common ancestry of the black people. As such, thanks to the insight of Ms. Ghasi Phillips, who invited the phenomenal group to campus, we were all entertained and educated.
- by Antoine Birch


"OLD& NEW: KOWTEFF AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY"


Kowteff African Dance Company is located in Brooklyn, New York and is operated under the Artistic Direction of Sewaa Codrington. The name Kowteff, which means "coming from above", embodies the goal that is the motivating factor by which the group functions: to safeguard and perpetuate the purity of the cultural values and principles of African tradition by providing quality entertainment and education to our community and national audiences.

Kowteff African Dance Company executes diverse folkloric components of the African Diaspora (African, African American, African Caribbean, etc.). The company's repertoire includes traditional music and dance, Chakaba (traditional African Stilt Walking), choral selections, dramatization and more. The company features both children and adult performers.

In July of 2006 KowTeff conducted an African dance workshop on the island of St. Kitts. Seventy dancers used the opportunity to make the connection with the history of their ancestry and their traditional dance, during the five day intensive course conducted by Sewaa Codrington. She was assisted by dancer Natalie Loney and drummer Najja Codrington. Specially invited guests including Minister of State for Culture Hon. Richard Skerritt were treated with a high energy performance of the cultural dance. Permanent Secretary Lloyd Lazar and Director of Culture Creighton Pencheon also attended the closing.

Kowteff recently completed a successful and well attended concert at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University.

You can reach the company at www.kowteffafricandancecompany.com, 347-232-7834



http://www.culturecentral.org/site/old&-new-kowteff-african-dance-company.html - 2008 Culture Central, Inc.


"15th Annual Tribute to Our Ancestors of the Middle Passage"


Green also mentioned the many contributions that Brooklynites of African ancestry have made to this country, which will also be celebrated at the tribute. This includes Madame X, as she is called, who helped save the Revolutionary War by warning George Washington of the incoming British and Hessians.

On June 12th, at exactly 12 noon - simultaneously with other Tributes to the Ancestors being held elsewhere around the world – representatives of the New Kemit Society will pour the libation. This will be followed by a special drumming tribute by numerous drummers and musicians. This year's special tribute will be to Cheryl Byron, James Davis, Chief Bey and all our newly departed ancestors.

Following the drumming tribute, there will be an exciting array of speakers such as Professor James Small, Dr. Mary Umolu, Ali Abdul Perez and Dr. Zala Taylor. Their comments will be interspersed with singers, drummers, dancers and other cultural presentations by Osagyefo, Lisa Muhammad, Shanto, Something Positive, Jah Jah the Mighty Tranquil, Pharm Boyzz, K55, Ngoma, Heru Ptah, Tehut Nine, Kowteff, Ababa and E.P.M.D. Squad, the Imani Singers, Dancers & Drummers' Ensemble, Supported by PRIDE-Coney Island and others. There will also be special performances by Positive for Children, Crown Heights Youth Collective and The Children’s Legacy & Performing Arts.

- By Donna Lamb


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

Kowteff African Dance Company is located in Brooklyn, New York and is operated under the Artistic Direction of Sewaa Codrington. The name Kowteff, which means "coming from above", embodies the goal that is the motivating factor by which the group functions: to safeguard and perpetuate the purity of the cultural values and principles of African tradition by providing quality entertainment and education to our community and national audiences.

Services include workshops, dance classes, historical lectures, music and dance lecture demonstrations, wedding presentations, performances, concerts, etc.