May God the Creator continue to bless and protect you!

Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre
3900 Eastern Avenue
(East End)
Cincinnati, Ohio 45227, USA
T: 1-513-271-2005
FAX 1-513-271-6207
EMAIL contact bi-okoto@bi-okoto.com or Jeaunita@bi-okoto.com
URL www.bi-okoto.com
Class Schedule & Fees: Adult Beginner Dance
Wednesday          6:00pm - 7:30pm       $10 (Per class)
Saturday          12:45pm - 2:15pm       $10 (Per class)
Teachers Country of origin: Nigeria and USA
STYLE OF DANCE: West African - Traditional, Contemporary and Ritual
Nigerian (Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa), Togo, Benin, Ghana, Guinea

Description of Dance Classes: 15-30 minute warm-up depending on length of
class.  Students learn specific rhythms, songs, and specific dance.  End of
quarter performance for community in conjunction W/professional Company and
children's ensemble.  Accelerated students have opportunity to audition for
company.

Adult Intermediate/Advanced
Monday, 7:45-9:45pm $12 (Per class)


Adult Advanced
Saturday, 7:00-9:00pm $12 (Per class)
Children's Beginner Nigerian Dance
Saturday     11:15am - 12:30pm           $ 7 (Per class)

Afrobics - Taught for companies. Call for more details 513-271-2005

Drumming & Languages classes also available.


Resumé of teacher (if available):
Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre incorporated in August 1996 is a unique company comprised of diverse talented artists.  Majority of the dancers and drummers are Nigerian; trained in traditional cultural performing arts and are members of the Guild of Nigerian Dancers.  The remainder of Bi-Okotos' members are Ballet, Modern and African dancers. Their members have performed nationally in California, Washington D.C., Virginia, New York, Kentucky,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Chicago, Nebraska, New Jersey, the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and in 1998 Disney World's opening of Animal Kingdom and McDonald's commercial spots.  They have toured internationally representing Nigeria in South Korea's Youth Festival, Presidential welcomes in Italy, Germany, Bulgaria and France.   One of our
most recent projects will occur during August 2001, as members of Bi-Okoto will visit Vienna, Austria to instruct the First Annual Summer Afrocentric Summer Program.   Bi-Okoto will teach West African interdisciplinary classes, workshops and produce performances for native German and African students. (25) Exchange students will then visit w/Bi-Okoto during the Summer 2002.

Bi-Okoto presents an eclectic repertoire of over ninety authentic traditional Nigerian dances, dance dramas, operas and new contemporary works by various company members from the entire West Africa region.   We have earned a reputation as one of the world's finest professional African dance companies. The dance community and the media have praised us for our community service and the works we have created/produced.

Company Affiliations:
* Adopt-A-School - Relationship w/Artlinks and Tri-State area school
districts teaching interdisciplinary arts/performance based curriculum. (3)
Adopted schools - Fairview German, Schiel Primary School for the Arts, and
1st District - Covington, Kentucky
* Artability - a partnership w/area service organizations - Drake Center,
Stepping Stones, Children's Hospital, and Shiner's, that fosters creativity
and awareness for adults & children who are physically and mentally
challenged
* Cincinnati Arts Association/Aronoff Center for the Arts - Artist-on-Tour
programs
* Cincinnati Enquirer's Newspaper in Education
* OhioDance - master classes and workshops throughout Ohio (also
participation on the Advisory Board)
* Uptown Arts - instructors for dance and music offering free class to
underprivileged children in Over-The-Rhine, Mt. Auburn, Clifton, Lower Price
Hill, Newport and Covington, Kentucky
* YoArt! Mentoring program with Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Project
Succeed and other area schools for at risk students
Cincinnati Ballet Summer Program Faculty (1997-1999)
Some of our significant local performances & works include:
* Aronoff Center for the Arts - Gala Opening (1996)
* Cincinnati Opera Outreach Night (1995)
* Cincinnati Bell's Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend - Classes & performances
(Annual since 1996)
* Cincinnati Museum Center's - African Cultural Festival (Annual since 1996)
* Cincinnati Pops at Riverbend - International Festival (Summer 1999)
* Cincinnati Symphony Educational Outreach Performance Series 1997
* Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Home for the Holidays) 1998
* Juneteenth performances (Eden Park - Annual)
* Over-The-Rhine Cultural Festival
* World Peace Bell (December 1999)
* University of Cincinnati World Festival (1997)
* University of Cincinnati Clermont College - Blue Jewel performance
WCET Channel 48, Cincinnati Art Museum, AAAE - "Behind the Glass" - provided
traditional music and songs for DVD Educational kit; distributed nationally
to schools and universities (Fall 2000 - present)

Contact Jeaunita Olowe, Company Manager   for bookings - 513-271-2005

The Afrikan-American Drum and Dance Ensemble, teaches West African drum and dance classes EACH Saturday, 12:30-2:00 pm, at The West End YMCA. The West End YMCA is located 821 Ezzard Charles Drive (down the street from the Museum Center) For more info call 513 281-7909

TEACHERS are: Lateefah Kituku
Ife Judkins
Melody Rembert
Lisa Rogers

The same group of teachers teach another Community African dance class on
SUNDAY 3:00-5:00 at Evanston Recreation Center, 3204 Woodburn Ave. For more
info call 512 861-9417
If you allow your heart and soul to dance, your feet will follow!
 

KENT

Thierra Sylla
330-677-1301  
teaching a variety of West African dances styles including Orisha dance technique.

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