Service Description

FREE Community Dance Workshop Sunday, January 18 2:00pm-3:30pm In Front of CMCArts, 10 Strand Street/ Waterfront RSVP **Event open to all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian** “In the heart of our waters, let us be moved. Let our intention be to honor our Earth Mother and her waters, locally and globally. Let us dance for the ancestorial waters on the shores of St Croix. May we dance in a sacred way.” Novuyo Masakhane, Artist-in-Residence We will dance Yanvalou, honoring Damballa, the Haitian Vodou Loa (god) of creation, our ancestorial linage, the wise one, the rainbow serpent of the continuum and the promise. We’ll dance for our ancestors who traveled the ‘Trade Winds’ from Africa to the Caribbean. Let’s dance in community and prepare for this new year, grounding our prayers and planting our feet firmly in 2026. I’m so honored to dance with you! All are welcome, from babies to elders. I invite you to wear white, blue or green or a combination there-of. This is barefoot style, wear yoga or workout clothing, (bring a long, full skirt or Lapa (sarong), and a bottle of water for hydration! About the Instructor: Novuyo Masakhane, MFA, is an interdisciplinary artist: Dancer/choreographer, Author, filmmaker, change agent and educator. Born in Denver and reared in Southern California in the African American sacred and secular dance traditions. Her study and work are focused on understanding the realm of trance possession through dance as it shows up in indigenous spiritual systems. “Dance is my God speak.” Her style is eclectic, including African American sacred and secular dance, Dunham Technique, Afro-Haitian, Afro-Cuban, Congolese, and Modern. Her teachers: Marguerite Baker, Linda Trego, Katherine Dunham, Joe Bunton-Keel, Malonga Casquelourd, Baba Chuck Davis, Kelly Marie Berry, Jawole Zollar, Baba Richard Gonzalez, Pat Hall Smith, Colette El Wah and Blanche Brown, EMESE, to name a few. Masakhane has worked as an artistic director, choreographer, principal dancer and company member for most of her life. She has taught as a guest artist and guest professor throughout the United States. She is a mama and grandma and makes her home in Los Angeles California.