Salaka Performs For Kids

As part of their regular outreach programmes, members of the Salaka Dance Ensemble last week performed and interacted with cheery kids of the Elyon Day Care Centre in Nungua, near Accra. The performance, which attracted and sustained the interest of the kids, was followed by a workshop to introduce the children to basic movements in some traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance pieces. A number of Salaka dancers and percussionists including Alimatu Sadia, Samuel Bortey, Samuel Odoi Laryea Kusi, Daniel Borlabi and Nicholas Bortieh Oko explained the significance of some of the dances as the kids took their very first steps in traditional dance. Indeed, the kids cheered and applauded as the Salaka dancers moved and twisted their agile bodies with relative ease, prompting some to imitate them as their colleagues looked on with utter amazement. As the workshop progressed, some of the kids, who followed the exploits of the Black Stars during the just-ended CAN 2008, introduced the famous Kangaroo dance which was displayed by the Stars during the tournament, prompting more cheers and shouts of ‘Agogo, Agogo’. According to the leader of the group, Isaac Afutu (aka Tuza), the aim of the workshop/performance for the kids was to get them to appreciate the value of Ghanaian traditions and culture, adding that he was impressed with the interest shown by the children. He mentioned that the group had since the year 2000 hosted several groups of Australian students and professionals at the Salaka Centre in Nungua for workshops in Ghanaian traditional music and dance. Tuza revealed that as part of promoting the rich and diverse Ghanaian culture overseas, Salaka Dance Ensemble was planning a tour of Australia, where they would put up a number of performances in theatres and workshops in schools.