New Year's 2010: I give the gift of forceful dance... of fearless action!

Ah I'm back from Senegal.

And I just had fortune of returning home to St. Louis Missouri for New Year's.

Now I thought I'd come home for some relaxation and ease -- but as soon as I landed, I got a call to join Creative Pandemonium, dancer and drummer Andrea Peoples and Weedie Braimah, for a New Year's show, a forceful jolt.

And right on-- for 2010, I danced with an unusual force and I think it's because now is not the time to recline. We must dream, strike and fly! How can we benefit from the joy of attempting our won creations!?

So just for you, here's a bolt of hope!



--Malena

Time for a break move! Until November

I've been in Senegal for two months -- yet Africa is consuming.

My English students are a geyser of character and brilliance. Teaching them writing and reading is like sitting at a table of great leaders, helping them elevate the already sky-high power they hold.

My students inspire me to keep making my post-master's university the engaging interactions with people across the world. They inspire me to write and dance with a force of a continental people, not just one mind and one body. In the evenings, when I join my dance company for practice, my gladiator dance mates impress my every sense and pull my attention to every detail of excellence in my body.

I'll return to We Make Moves by November 2009! For now -- here's a video, a precious love-story about a man who can't tell the woman he really loves his true feelings. The dancing men in the clip sizzle with some of the best of Senegalese expression-- they change the way we reason the limits of our body, of our appeal, and our energy. Senegal is reigning crown of dance -- can't you see; and we, we are reigning rulers of our ever spectacular moves!

Fela! lives on Broadway; Leave your shoes at home

I dare you... Go see Fela!

Ivory keys tickle sweat on your neck.

Bronze horns command your hips into a grind.

Tight, hand-whipped drums chant rebellion in your soul.

Dancers poke in and out of a circle of clapping bodies. You want to join them.

Then, the voice of Nigeria's legendary Afro-Funk man pumps through a mic.

His bass, his words, his prying into your thoughts, holds you for a minute.

Then suddenly -- his set releases you into motion.

And you. You're an instant rendition of your better self.

"Suffa, Suffa, Suffa for what?" Fela Kuti inhales hard and puffs harder. "Now your fault be that."

Fela's seizing performance confronts you, debates your inhibitions, then blows them down, one stiff bone at a time.

Can you feel that?

Well, you can.

This October, "Fela!" comes to Broadway -- and 12 years after the late death of the stage nymph.

But Fela! has arrived right on time and to transform us in a global climate deserving of a serious wake-up. Even better, Tony-Award winning Bill T. Jones choreographs Fela!, and pulls fire out of African dance quiver Ismael Kouyate on board. Together, and with a shining crew of actors, musicians, and dancers, Fela re-emerges-- the man and his dancing mutiny.

Fela, pronounced in a huffy breath... Faylaaaaah... makes us remember:

Listen. Feel. Push. Move.

"Deh secret of life is to have noh feaaaar!" Fela warns at the top of his song, "Fear Not For Man."

Can you feel that roar? Can you Fela your fears?

Fela! is the return of the lion king.

But more than song and dance, Fela! the musical reveals the struggle of political art, of a conscious soul -- Fela's music was a virus in the body of Nigeria's government corruption.

Man. vs. Militia. Music vs. Weapons.

The musical follows Fela's cultural war to its bitter ends: Fela's compound was attacked by 1,000 officers; that army then killed Fela's mother, his star, and brutalized Fela's lovers, a harem of them. Since the attack, Fela was on the run from order. And later, he'd run for president.

All along, Fela has fueled controversy, and in no small part because he appealed to hungry listeners Earth-wide. Now still people spar on sides. Was Fela a Chauvinist or Shamanist? Sinful or Saved? A Symbol or a pitiful Sacrifice?

Not one thing but many, Fela explodes the thin lines separating our lusts and our lived lives. Fela shows us our smiling, frowning faces. He necessarily unites our demons with our angels for a revealing conversation.

A visualist, Fela employed a troupe of dancing Queens, a rolling application of beautiful gyrating African women. Fela never promised peace, only sweat. With his Queens, Fela was a parade of flesh and raw passion; the opposite of gaining permission, Fela lunged into national politics, played his horn, and scantily dressed his own. He was progress' opulence, burning under the spotlights of even the people who denied him.

Now, Fela! the musical asks audiences to hop to their feet. Not to judge the man. But to join his brilliance which is hardly debatable.

"I waka, waka, waka," Fela sings in Pigeon English. "I go many places. I see see see."

While we take dance for granted. In Fela's world -- movement was the cure.

So --the best way to experience Fela! is to take off your shoes.

Don't sit back. No, let the journey of this man's life wiggle through you.

Let Fela! deliver you to that hooting and hollering dance circle. Where you start loving yourself and others without even thinking hard about it.

Wear your loose clothes if you have to. And leave your hefty bags, blackberries, and things at home.

But most dearly, bring your feet -- as Fela! will teach you; they are arrows of your heart.

I dare you...

go see Fela!

--Malena Amusa

Addlifeworld.com

7 months of Obama; Seeing the change in we

My 55-year-old mother can’t stop looking at this Obama-Beyonce spoof on YouTube. In it, a man bearing Obama’s scrunched eyebrows and sandy skin-tone, re-enacts Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” video, nailing her wobbling rump shakes and hilariously re-wording her look-at-me rhymes.

Since Obama’s campaign, my mother’s online usage has spiked tremendously and in large part because of this spoof and other Obama media, which is never-ending. My mom loves Obama for putting the “can” back in ’American’ —and if she has to follow Obama’s rise onto a star-ship enterprise, she would.

Among the Internet’s latest newcomers, I bet half of them were following Obama’s story. Now, it’s a matter of time until they beam-up new inspirations and solutions.

And it’s because of people like my mother that I can say — among all the changes under President Barack Obama’s first seven months in office, I am most comforted by the shifts of consciousness among everyday people.

People are talking a lot more about owning their right to a more fulfilling life (even if that means mastering YouTube)—which is probably why Tim Ferriss’ motivating life-design guide: “4-Hour Work Week” still dominates global bookshelves, after two years on top.

The thinking goes: well if Obama can battle the recession’s depression and healthcare’s coverage disability, all the while speaking clear and intelligent sentences, appearing very-good-looking on date nights, and rallying self-reliance in Africa—well, then who are we to go about our lives, complaining of hard times?

Through Obama, we are realizing the un-ceasing river of human potential. And with this, many of us are shedding bad habits and adopting new eye-opening ones.

Ultimately — it’s by looking into the change within ourselves — that I assess the seven months of Obama’s term.

Sure we can keep watch on the bailout and surely put our nose to the healthcare grindstone. But in the end, will we be more advanced friends, mothers, lovers, brothers, and doers? Well, we must.

—Malena Amusa

"African dance in Delhi" --Round 2 Workshop, Summer 2009 -- a fierce awakening

Ladies and men!

We have the real deal: Video of our July 4 "Freedom!" West African & Jazz dance class in Delhi, dedicated to Michael Jackson and the Gracious Warrior in us All!

Believe it::)

Lucky us, Diepiriye Kuku caught the end of the class from his laptop camera. So this is some major rare village footage. :::)

I'm pumped to read your reflections! And please do share your hopes and dreams, about dance. about inspiration. about loving this life!

For now, I'll tell you my favorite part of the video. It's when we all bounce into the solo circle, jumping straight in the air like determined basket-balls. Ah, but we are actually taking Sumeet's lead, dancing the leap of the Kenyan Masai warrior. And sweeties, we worked it out! Now, here's some raw cuts of some serious Masai jumpers.


And Lord! If you loved the Doundounba warrior dance from Guinea, West Africa, do eat up this WOW Doundounba solo circle video. You'll see folks bustin out the steps we learned, oh and flying into the sky with them!



After seeing us and these gravity-defying dancers from Africa -- how can we be quiet? How can we be discouraged?

There's noise and magic to be made!

Step by fierce step -- swirling hip by swirling imagination -- lets keep building this moment.

Lets practice bolder and fiercely loving communication.

Lets move with confidence. Togetherness and creative self-expression.

Lets wade in the miraculous waters of our modern demanding times.

Lets love harder and laugh louder.

We are visionaries. And we're sooo blessed: for now, this world is ours!

So, I'm very excited to read from you & see you again:::)

--Malena Amusa

My hometown St. Louis tributes Michael Jackson; our voices part skies

I flung all my Michael Jackson mourning into helping promote one of my hometown's latest Michael Jackson life celebrations, hosted by Better Family Life. I loved hearing my STL folks talk animatedly and firmly about Jackson. People in St. Louis are born vocalists -- proud and clear, we speak our hearts. Here's what I had to write about our voices and our Jackson love for the St. Louis American newspaper.


Community to Celebrate Jackson's Vision tomorrow at West End Community Center
By Malena Amusa for the St. Louis American
Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:52 AM CDT
***

When Dem Twins started singing Michael Jackson's 'You Are Not Alone' on the Teen Swagg Tour at Kiener Plaza this past Sunday -- their voices faced thundering rain threatening to close the concert. But as they rounded the chorus, the sun burst out. "People were like 'whoa,'" said Sonny Metcalfe, managing the regional tour. "Mike must be smiling."

This Friday, Dem Twins will rally with St. Louis residents for an interactive and performance-decked celebration of the late Michael Jackson, hosted free to the public by Better Family Life, Inc. at the West End Community Center.

The tribute presents an opportunity for families to recall the genius of Jackson who passed on June 25; for artists to honor their mentors; and for supporters to join Better Family Life's campaign to build a cultural center dedicated to advancing creative talent, organizers say.

"Watching young children get excited by playing Jackson during class, I said 'wow,'" said DeBorah Ahmed, an African dance instructor and Senior Vice President of Cultural Programs at Better Family Life. "Jackson is very much present in our atmosphere right now. We can embrace that to think differently about how we can improve our lives."

Across St. Louis, people are charged up about Jackson. Step outside long enough and you'll hear heart-broken fans belting Jackson's hits with a newfound passion. From rattling car speakers to intense cafe-side debates about Jackson's life, sounds of Jackson are drumming everywhere. A gab of people dining inside the St. Louis Bread Company in the Delmar Loop Wednesday spoke animatedly about their personal Jackson tributes.

"When he died, I cried," said 48-year-old Marnita Stovall-Brown studying social work. "Then I went to my phone and put on Jackson's 'Who's Lovin' You' ringtone."


Across the shop, two women chirped over lunch. "I'm old for Michael Jackson, but I do love 'Billie Jean'", said 75-year-old Anna Bell, a retired postal worker. "My kids have all the music." Then Bell's friend, Vivienne Dobbs, jumped in. "I loved Michael like he was a member of my family."

Michael Joplin, who was working on his laptop, is a typical fan of Jackson. "He just made me want to dance," said the lawyer, 29.

Friday's celebration invites everyday people to publicize their Jackson love and make St. Louis history, but also, to flank a mass recitation of Jackson's most motivating and life-changing lyrics.

Guest artists, including MaTiff hip hop dance company, jazz band Inside Out, and Diadié Bathily's Afriky Lolo dance force, will perform break-out sets inspired by Jackson. A social night, the tribute encourages everyone to don their favorite Michael Jackson gear and bring dancing shoes for a moonwalking contest.


Fans say they hope St. Louis will keep Jackson's vision alive. "He just wanted everyone to get along, no fussing, no fighting," Stovall-Brown said.

Better Family Life presents: A Celebration of the Life of Michael Joseph Jackson. Friday, July 17 at 7pm. 724 N. Union, West End Community Center. Free.

"So You Think You Can Dance" catches African dance & Bollywood bug! Outshines competition

For promoters of African dance --this airing means everything. There's a move to take our passion across bridges, to untapped worlds, and spread this fierceness! And we're leading it.
We're ahead of tv's future:::)




A multi-racial troupe of men, taught by Jeffrey Page, drew Guinea steps from several powerhouse West-African rhythms and dances; judges were so wowed, and Debbie Allen said "African dance is the mother of all dance!" Guys: this means a lot to we dancers-- that the contest stage is being leveled for once, now that the theatrics of African dance is entering the ring! Oh and -- the show so spoke to my dream of re-introducing Asian dance to African dance, both forces that capture beat and spirit! So You Think also featured a band of competing girls in the show's first really sizzling Bollywood number.



Just as a warning-- there's a really racist mask worn during a part of the performance. But we have a lot to celebrate here.

--Malena Amusa