Aforika the beginning, the end.

So I hang around a lot of people who assume they are `privileged` maybe cause they are from a so called first world country. Sharp. Traveling half-way round the world to find that people from so called third world countries are rich in culture, love and even happiness...is a little strange.

I grew up in a time when the history you find in textbooks was being written. I grew up going to ballet classes cause those were the only dance classes offered at my school. This was of course supported by my hard-working parents.

As a mover now I look back and see that I really had no support from my white teachers....cause as much as I was going to class year after year and receiving the most improved dancer every year...I was never as good as the white kids. For some reason they managed to be better a it.....of course I was never told about any other things that happened around my studio that my parents were working hard to pay.

I would never be told how much I can improve or how I could get better....I always fought myself to better dancing purely by my self. As someone who has had the privilege to have taught dance...I know that the dance student should always be fed information about their craft all the time even if the dance teacher refuses to see that that child has a talent in dance....which may not be a ballet dancer but something more...a mover of sorts. Looking at my future I see that there is a definite need for dance education within my continent...its not about teaching hip-hop to poor underprivileged Aforikans...or teaching ballet.....see slavery and colonisation must never happen twice in the same continent.



The western philosophy about dance and the techniques used waken the body...but Aforika has been dancing far longer than any other continent was created. A different type of awareness needs to happen. It should be the individual awakening to a reality that says they can choose any dance form to express themselves and be able to....that they can be recognised for their research and knowledge without a white or any other race validating their talents.

Teachers and those going to volunteer in the great continent should always build themselves first so that they are able to guide...guide the scholars to reach levels that can take the world forward.

Simply teaching dance steps is for the old, tired ballet teacher that gives the same class since getting their certificate. A new way of approaching work should be thought out....going deep in yourself and finding reasons why a student can`t progress....why they keep hanging round your class after school without saying anything. A more spiritual take should be looked at in terms of teaching...cause those steps can get old but the spirit is always alive.

Aforika has always had rhythm, beat and movement.

And should never be asked to point to second in pointe shoes to validate that they indeed can dance. It should never be asked to prove that they in fact are using a technique by writing books and Europe-nising their dances.Our Aforikan intellects are being under valued because they have never been overseas...never were in particular social circles. This is of course creating a situation where our intellects can`t help take the community to higher levels.

All this leaves me thinking all the time about home...when I finish my studies...educate and help my people cause they need so much more sometimes after the beatings we have taken in history....love through education should reach them.