ALL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE HELD AT UBUNTU NANKAMA (OLD JOE'S) AT 
3802 34 th Street , Mt Rainier, MD 20712, Tel: 240 744 6693

MONDAY 6:00 - 7:30 PM                                                            
Afro-Fusion with Lesole Z. Maine
                                                          
WEDNESDAY 6:00 - 7:30 PM
PANTSULA WITH Lesole Z. Maine 
                                                                     
SATURDAY 1:00 – 2-00 PM Drumming & Dance (ages 5 +)
3:00 - 4:30 PM Afro-Fusion with Lesole Z. Maine 

Afro-fusion developed as a conscious choice to integrate elements of African ritual and music with Western contemporary dance forms. Rather than preserving the elements of the different cultures as discreet entities frozen in time, they were blended or fused. This process involves both integration and transformation.

Afro-fusion is a style of dance whereby the use of weight links the dancers to the earth. The complex and subtle Polyrhythm of African music are the basis of the movement. Associated movements from styles such as Indlamu, Gumboot, Pantsula, and Western contemporary dance are incorporated into the fusion to enrich the work through diverse cultures.

Gumboots dancing originated in the gold mines in South Africa during the oppressive Apartheid years. Black laborers worked in total darkness for three months at a time in appalling conditions. They were chained to their stations and were forbidden to talk each other. They stood to their knees in infected water causing skin diseases; resulting in lost time from work. Those in charge of the mine work discovered that it was too expensive to drain the mines, so they made the workers wear Gumboots. The miners used the gumboots as a method of communication by slapping the boots, stomping their feet and rattling their ankle chains. Later, this became a form of recreation for men during long months away from their families. The tradition of Gumboots dance was born.

During the 60’s, when migrant laborers where taking their families from their homeland to the fast life of Johannesburg townships, children where exposed to city life, different cultures, new ways of living, and new music. They quickly adapted the way of living and dance by mimicking the fast life in the townships. This give birth to the street dance called Pantsula.

Pantsula, focuses on a lot of fast foot work, attitude, and the ability to wiggle and jerk the body into different unsual rhythms. This dance is usually done with colorful attire, Converse "All Star" sneekers, dickies pants and hats "Sporty".

Pantsula became popular in the 80’s among the youth of the townships. Youth clubs will have competition among themselves and choose the best group/dancer to represent them.