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November 19
Afro One: Dancing To The Beat Of African Culture
By Birshari C. Greene
Staff
Last fall students in Dr. Sonja Stone’s
Afro-American 67 (AFAM 67) course
wanted to create more cultural and
educational outlets for African and Afri-
can-American studies at the University.
Under the tutelage of Stone and with the
assistance of Black Cultural Center di
rector Margo Crawford, the group, that
later became the African Studies Club,
went on to bring many culturally en
lightening programs to the university.
Among them were Kwanzaa, an Afri-
can-American holiday based on seven
principals, and Afro-One.
Afro-One, based in Willingboro, New
Jersey, is a dance, drama and drum
company that was founded by Patricia
Reid-Bookhart l6 years ago. Donee
Tliomas, who was not only one of the
students in Stone’s class but who later
became the African Studies Club Presi
dent, studied with Afro-One for 15 years.
When the Club decided to bring Kwan
zaa to the UNC last year, Thomas thought
that it would be a good idea to ask Afro-
One to preform. And when Afro-One
and the Kwanzaa celebration bedazzled
and excited the university community,
Crawford thought it would be a good
idea not only to continue the celebra
tion, but also to have Thomas incorpo
rate Afro-One the community.
They decided on starting a Chapel
Hill chapter of Afro-One that would
teach Kwanzaa and African dance to the
African-American community at UNC
and would help prepare them in partici
pating in their own Kwanzaa celebra
tion to be held this summer. Thomas
.was chosen as the instructor for this
Chapel Hill chapter.
“Donee was an easy candidate [for
the Afro-One teaching position]. Not
only is she a beautiful dancer, but she
knows Kwanzaa,” said Crawford. Tho
mas has ako been teaching dance for
about six years. When given the oppor
tunity to teach here, she said she jumped
at it, to give others a chance to experi
ence the same thing she did while
growing up.
“It’s educational. It’s social, and it’s
a form of exercise. I was hoping to give
others the chance to have the same ex
posure.” said Thomas, who was per
suaded into Afro-One at a very early age
by her mother, said that Afro-One gave
her an outlet for culture that some chil
dren do not have. Thomas continued
that most children do not have one main
place to go for cultural identity.
“I am very lucky to have had Afro-
One in my life at a young age. It gave me
a sense of who I was. African dance has
its own expression. It's something you
can't explain, it's very free. It's almost
like a form of therapy for me.”
Afro-One-Chapel Hill, like the origi
nal Afro-One, patterns its style on West
African technique. The class, with about
fifteen members, is a part of the BCC’s
Artist-in-Residence program. It meets
on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 to 5
pm, in Teague basement. Thomas said
that the class is taught on a begirmer’s
level.
“I’m very pleased with the students
who came out to my class. They’re
excited and they’re serious. That’s all I
ask— just interest in African dance.”
Thomas’ class is evolving as an Afri
can-American dance company, being
the sister organization to Afro-One-Will-
ingboro. The class will perform at this
year’s 7-day Kwanzaa, and do a routine
with Afro-One-Willingboro.
Jackie Chadwick, the artistic direc
tor and choreographer for the Opeyo!
dancers, is also member of Thomas’
Afro-One class. Opeyo! is a sub-group
of the Black Student Movement (BSM).
"I joined because I like African
dance...I thought I could learn a lot from
her (Thomas) and it helps me to teach
Opeyo!" Chadwick choreographs the
African dance steps that Opeyo! does .
Melvin Farland, a senior from Beulav-
ille, NC, said he joined because Thomas
dared him and because the technique is
different. Farland said that he likes the
atmosphere that is formed in Thomas’
class.
“We’re getting to know each other
on a spiritual level,” he said.
Kendal McDevitt, freshman from
Asheville, NC, said that the main thing
she liked about African dance was the
musical beats.
“I like it when we warm-up. She
(Thomas) just turns on the music and we
just do it. With dance, you can’t think
too much, especially with African, be
cause its from the heart.”
When asked if African dance was
difficult to learn, Patrick Thomas, fresh
man from Raleigh said, “It’s really fast.
The moves themselves aren’t hard. It’s
the speed that makes it interesting, fun,
and challenging.”
Chadwick added that she thought it
was important to show different types of
dances that African-Americans can do.
“You know how some people have
this idea that black people only know
how to boogie. It’s good to show that we
can do different types"
When asked why we need cultural
outlets like Kwanzaa and Afro-One at
UNC, Thomas stated that Kwanzaa is an
important holiday, and although new to
a community like ours, it should be
widely celebrated.
“It’s for us to celebrate our African-
American culture that is based on Afri
can culture. We celebrate the similari
ties, ” Thomas said.
Thomas’ Afro-One dance class was
equally important. “It’s a very symbolic
thing to me. I think it’s important to
preserve every part of our culture be
cause so much of it is being lost,”
Thomas said.
Thomas said that for centuries, Afri
can-Americans have been estranged from
Africa, and have been forced to accept
American ways. Kwanzaa and her Afro-
One class are just two ways to proudly
identify with Africa.
*We have to hold onto where we
came from, because we’re not totally
accepted in this white world,” Thomas
said.
Another important thing to remember is
that identification with our African heri
tage does not necessarily promote hatred
against whites.
“It’s not at all a rebellion against the
white world. It’s for us. It’s something
for us to hold onto,” Thomas said. “We
know all about the white world. We’ve
been forced to learn about everything in
it. Nowhere, no how do they have to
learn about African-American culture.
Events like these greatly enhance per
ceptions of what African-American cul
ture really is, and where its roots lie.”
Thomas encourages interested danc
ers to sign up for her Afro-One class
next semester and for everyone to at
tend this year’s 7-day Kwanzaa celebra
tion, and for all.