Sounds in Dance

Quote found on the Internet

“The soundscape plays a crucial role in shaping the overall ambiance of the dance performance, significantly affecting the audience's perception and emotional engagement. The music sets the tone, enveloping the viewers in a specific atmosphere that enhances their experience. As the dancers move, the melodies and harmonies intertwine with their movements, creating a rich tapestry of sound and motion that captivates the audience's senses.

The rhythm embedded in the music serves as a guiding force for the dancers, dictating not only the tempo of their movements but also the nuances of their expressions. Each beat acts as a pulse that can accelerate or decelerate the flow of the choreography, allowing for dynamic contrasts and intricate phrasing. This interplay between rhythm and movement invites the audience to feel the energy and intention behind each gesture, making the performance more immersive and impactful.

Ultimately, the combination of musical elements and dance creates a dialogue that resonates deeply with the audience. The way the dancers interpret the music through their physicality adds layers of meaning to the performance, transforming it into a shared experience. As the audience witnesses this synergy, they are drawn into a world where sound and movement coalesce, leaving a lasting impression that lingers long after the final note fades away.”

DANCE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES (partial listing)

June 2, 1996. Africare Family Festival. SAMBAFRICA. Soul In Motion Players.

February 1, 1997. NationHouse, Washington, DC

June 13, 1997. Marcus Garvey PCS, Washington, DC

October 1999. Balafon Women’s Ensemble. Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC

November 2, 1999. Balafon Women’s Ensemble. Georgetown University Law School, Washington, DC

November 4, 1999. African American Heritage Celebration. Soul in Motion Players featuring Balafon Women’s Ensemble. Bowie State University, Bowie MD

April 7, 2001. Celebrate the Rites of Spring. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Market 5 Gallery, Washington DC

May 20, 2001. Unity Rally in honor of Malcolm X. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Ideal PCS, Washington DC

June 2, 2001. Beyond the Monuments Neighborhood Day. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Market 5 Gallery, Washington DC

June 15, 2001. Friends of Brother Ah. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Market 5 Gallery, Washington DC

June 19, 2001. Citywide Juneteenth Celebration. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, MLK Library, Washington DC

September 28, 2001. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Josephine Butler Parks Center, Washington DC

December 1, 2001. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, St, Marks Church, Washington DC

December 8, 2001. 50th Birthday Celebration of Damu Smith. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Josephine Butler Parks Center, Washington DC

December 15, 2001. Cultural Cafe, Washington, DC. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

February 17, 2002. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Metropolitan AME Church, Washington DC

February 19, 2002. Black History Month Celebration. Cada Vez. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC

February 24, 2002. Black History Month Celebration. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC. Sponsored by Riverside Baptist Church and Collective Voices of DC.

February 26, 2002. Celebration of the History of Black Music. Fairmont Heights Municipal Building. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Fairmont Heights, MD. Sponsored by the Town of Fairmont Heights.

May 19, 2002. A Tribute to Malcolm X. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers. Malcolm X Day, Malcolm X Park, Washington DC

April 6, 2002. Black Voices for Peace. Faith in Action Ministries. Plymouth Congregational Church. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC

April 6, 2002. Homegoing Ceremony. Tree of Life PCS. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC

April 7, 2002. Kokayi Winston Patterson 50th Earthday Celebration. Cada Vez. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC

April 20, 2002. Rites of Spring. Market 5 Gallery. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Washington DC

June 6, 2009. DanceAfrica 2009. Dance Place, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

August 13, 2009. Malcolm X Park, Washington, DC

August 16, 2009. NationHouse, Washington, DC with Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

September 4, 2009. Potter’s House, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

September 27, 2009. Fiesta DC 2009, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

December 4, 2009. Potter’s House, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

December 27,2009. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers Kujichagulia Celebration hosted by UNIA-ACL Division 332. Zanzibar on the Waterfront, Washington, DC.

January 1, 2010. Kwanzaa Celebration. Plymouth Congregational Church, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 28, 2010. SHAWARMAKING, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

June 11, 2010 and July 18,2011. Potter’s House, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

August 14, 2011. NationHouse, Washington, DC with Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

August 27, 2011 and October 15, 2011. DC History Center, Washington, DC

April 12, 2011, September 14, 2011 and September 17,2011. Festival Center, Washington, D.C. with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 21, 2011. Malcolm X Park. African Liberation Day with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 28, 2011. The Fusion Grill, Washington D.C. with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

December 3, 2011. Unity Rally, Washington, D.C. Umoja House with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

January 1, 2012. Kwanzaa Celebration. Plymouth Congregational Church, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

April 9, 2012. Howard Theatre Re-Opening. Howard Theatre, Washington, DC. with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

April 29, 2012. Natural Health Festival, Washington, DC

May 18, 2012. African Liberation Day 2012, Howard University Blackburn Center, Washington, DC. 5pm (open to the public) with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 20, 2012. Malcolm X Park, Washington, DC. 3pm. (open to the public) with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

June 8, 2012. Potter’s House, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

September 8, 2012. Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC.

September 9, 2012. 34th Annual Adams Morgan Day Festival, Washington, DC.

October 19, 2012. Potter's House, Washington, DC

August 25, 2013. Malcolm X Park, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 3, 2014. Funk Parade. U Street NW, Washington, DC with the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers

May 12, 2014. Greenbelt Green Man Festival. Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt MD with Bele Bele Rhythm Collective

May 17, 2014. Lotus Festival. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Washington, DC

July 2, 2015. World Children’s Festival, National Mall, Washington, DC.

September 27, 2015. Hyattsville Festival with Bele Bele Rhythm Collective

October 10, 2015. Greenbelt Rhythm and Drum Festival. Roosevelt Center, Greenbelt MD with Bele Bele Rhythm Collective

December 19, 2015 and January 2, 2016. Hands on Drums, Ivy City, Washington, DC with Bele Bele Rhythm Collective

January 4, 2016. Akoma Drummers, All Souls Church Washington, DC

Memory of African Culture - Baba Djimo

When Baba Djimo created Memory of African Culture, " a cultural arts and education organization based in Washington, D.C. since 1983", I was 7 years old and a student at NationHouse. "Baba Djimo Kouyate, a jali, oral historian and 149th generation of the Kouyate family of jali, historians and musicians, died in Washington, DC, on August 1. He was 57. An outstanding musician and singer as well as a warm and generous individual, Kouyate introduced many people to the regal beauty of the music and histories maintained by the jalis of west Africa. Since moving to Washington, DC, in 1983, he co-founded and directed Memory of African Culture, Inc., a cultural arts and education organization. Kouyate led Mamaya African Jazz ensemble and served as an Adjunct Lecturer of African Music and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland. He performed at festivals and events throughout the U.S. and toured with the National Council for Traditional Arts’ “Echoes of Africa” tour. In his...

PRISCILLA MUNTEMBA TAYLOR - RODA MOVEMENTS

In 2015, I spoke with Ms. Priscilla M. Taylor and she was looking for someone to provide services for classes that took place at Roda Movements. However, due to lack of attendance and other hr issues, I informed her that I will no longer serve as her dance instructor. The challenges of hiring instructors such as myself is marketing, cost, attendance and location of the classes. Keeping instructors as staff members means to make sure that your operations are consistent and strategies for marketing the classes are effective. It was a nice experience for me, however. PRISCILLA MUNTEMBA TAYLOR - RODA MOVEMENTS "Priscilla has served as the Sidwell upper school co-clerk for the school’s Parents Association. She collaborates with the upper school faculty and administration and approximately 35 parent volunteers to create programs and provide resources that serve the needs and interests of 9th-12th grade families. Priscilla has also played a leadership role with ...

The Dance Within

Quote found on the Internet I am passionate about exploring and appreciating the art of dance in movies. I strive to analyze and critique dance-themed films to showcase their impact on culture and entertainment. I am a straight African - American woman with only interest in straight single men over the age of 30. When I was a student, I worked with different types of people and was introduced to numerous dancers between the years of 1980 - 1996. I have had the pleasure of watching these movies on television. Among them include Shall We Dance, The Christmas Dance, Footloose (1984) and The Christmas Ball. Each movie captured the importance of eye contact, rhythm, understanding of dance and innovation. Selected skills: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills for evaluating film techniques and themes Strong capability of sharing insights on dance movies

PDC Branding Blog

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Dating Ethics

Dating co-workers in professional work settings is inappropriate. When employers hired me to provide a specific service from 1980- 2016, I will always remain professional. I do not believe in dating my former co-workers of the opposite sex. I will remove myself from the setting first when I have noticed that I developed such attraction. Making a bet and bribing co-workers to go against their standards is unethical. If you have an interest in me, then you should have asked for my contact information. Numerous people do not know me at all. Contact me only by phone at 202-384-5925 Preference - single straight male over the age of 30 I no longer provide educational, career day and free services. It is not the past and I am not interested in dating women nor boys.

Professional Dance Consultant Promotional Materials

NationHouse Anniversary, 1980s. Washington, DC While, Ms. Afrika Abney was a middle school student at NationHouse, she had the opportunity to provide services. Ms. Abney gave away this dance outfit many years ago. Trained in West African dance and ballet by various dance companies and individuals based in Washington, D.C.. Some of them include Melvin Deal, African Heritage Dancers and Dancers; Kadiatou Conte, Balafon Women's Ensemble; NationHouse West African Dance Staff, Afia Akoto, Makini N., Akua Kouyate; and Sherrill Berryman Johnson Invited by Principal Maria Tukeva to participate in the school assembly that took place at Lincoln Middle School in January 1992 The point of me posting and sharing the promotional videos is to gain traffic to my branding blog and dance consulting site, as well as to receive paying contracting services. https://afrikaabneydanceconsult.weebly.com I am not seeking a date. I am looking for paid work only. In 1993, I was 16 years old and graduated fr...

Conversations and Services

Quote found on the Internet I am unaware of the conversations taking place, but I have not visited Malcolm X Park since 2015 and do not plan to return. Additionally, I have not offered any dance performance services since 2016. Furthermore, I would like to clarify that my blog, which I established in June 2024, does not allow for comments. I encourage readers to thoroughly engage with each post to gain a comprehensive understanding of the content. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Working from home

For many years, I am often asked why I want to work from home without you realizing that is where I work from. In fact, most of my dance consultant work came from me working from home. I rarely came outside of my home when I provided my dance consulting services. "I want to work at home so I can be more productive and use all my available time to focus on my job. Rather than spending an hour a day in commute and furthermore, I can skip traffic and avoid delays due to weather conditions, I could use this time to plan and execute my work. I understand the impact I can have on the environment and wish to reduce it by working from home. I can help the company accomplish its environment-friendly goal by reducing waste and energy use. Moreover, I am more productive when I work from home. I love the work-life balance that working from home offers. When I work remotely, I can focus on my work and more focused when I work from home, where I have fewer distractions. I appreciate buil...

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays. Digital art created on canvas. November 23, 2024. Afrika Abney The holiday season has always been a time for warmth and connection, a cherished opportunity to gather among friends and loved ones. It's a season marked by the sharing of genuine memories and meaningful conversations, where the focus shifts away from gossip, manipulation, and the mind games that can often threaten to sabotage relationships. Instead, the spirit of the holidays emphasizes kindness and understanding, Reflecting on my own experiences during this season, I recall vividly how I spent my time providing both pro bono and paid services at local churches, serving meals to those in need. Each plate I handed out wasn’t just food; it was a moment of connection, a shared smile, a fleeting yet impactful memory etched in time. Alongside this, I poured my creativity into making homemade cards and gifting my artwork, each piece handcrafted with love to spread joy in simple yet profound ways. Eac...

My Charter School Experiences

In 1992, I did not attend a charter school. I have had a wide range opportunities that took place at various schools. I have not provided any services for schools as a professional dance consultant for a while. PAST COMMUNITY CAREER DAY DANCE WORKSHOP 2016. Roots PCS, Washington, DC. (invited by Principal Bernida Thompson) DANCE PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES (partial listing) that took place at DC Public Charter Schools mentioned below: June 13, 1997. Marcus Garvey PCS, Washington, DC May 20, 2001. Unity Rally in honor of Malcolm X. Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Ideal PCS, Washington DC

Ms. Afrika Abney - Professional Dance Consultant Branding Blog

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