The Classical Odissi dance is in the little-known Mahari (powerful female temple dancers) tradition of Guru Pankaj Charan Das. Essential parts of this tradition are acting (or abhinaya) and storytelling through dance and drama. The pure dance movement is unique in its rhythmic stomping juxtaposed with lyrical torso movement. The dance tradition is outlined in…

‘Sankofa’, a saying dating back to the Akan tribe in Ghana, which translates into ‘It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.’ In this case, a Sankofa dance project refers to ‘Reaching back in dance in order to move forward,’ so that West African arts and culture may be understood through…

Northwest Coast Native Art in the Tsimshian tribal style is a beautiful and intricate art form of the Alaskan Native people. At one time forbidden to be practiced, masters of the tradition have worked tirelessly on its revitalization and rebirth. Such work includes the study and understanding of the complex design system called ‘Formline’, as…