INTERVIEW: Young woman journeys into the Big City in ‘Drum Love’
Photo: Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater presents Drum Love Saturday, Feb. 2. Photo courtesy of Solwazi Afi Olusola / Provided by Michelle Tabnick PR with permission.
Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater will present a special performance of Drum Love Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space in New York City. The work features a classic love story and coming-of-age elements, all inspired by ballets from national companies in West African nations.
Yao Ababio serves as artistic director of the company, and he conceived, choreographed and directed Drum Love. In the dance piece, a young woman journeys to the “Big City” and becomes involved in three relationships, all of which might impact the connection she has with her family back home.
Drum Love is brought to life by seven dancers, five drummers and a traditional Malian band. The entire evening is set to music from Ababio’s 2014 album.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Ababio about the show. He has been met with great success over the years. Since founding Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater in 2001, he and the company have earned a Bessie Award, created 17 different productions and trained more than 1,000 performers. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can audiences expect from Drum Love?
The audience should expect and be ready to see a show of love and passion that needs to be cultivated by community. High energy, beautiful rhythms and African dance at its finest.
What inspired this particular story of a young woman and her journey?
It’s a journey of a young woman who gets caught up in the glitz and glamor of the big city, but it also shows about a young man that, although he’s a great musician, he also has to learn responsibility. So I wanted to show two far ends of the coin: the established smooth musician and the naive girl who wants to be an artist.
For audience members who are new to African dance, will this show serve as a good introduction?
It will show that African dance is first and foremost entertaining. It has techniques, and it’s a beautiful and rich art form.
Why is it important to have live music accompanying the dancers
Traditional and contemporary African dance has always been done to live music, from Le ballet Africans to Fela. The music tells the story with the dance.
When did you first fall in love with this art form?
I started drumming and dancing very young, and from [a] young [age] I fell in love with creating, performing and the ability to bring a vision to light.
Do you settle on the choreography before working with the dancers, or do you need them in the rehearsal room to finalize the movement?
I like to see the bodies. I feel every artist has something special about them, so I always like to explore that. I also like to create the music while I’m choreographing; it brings the story to life differently.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater’s production of Drum Love will play Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
