About
Connect to the rhythm of the Earth through the grounded movements of traditional Mandé dances from West Africa. Led by Lua Shayenne, this workshop invites you to celebrate your body as a temple of spirit, rooted in the energy of Mother Earth.
Through breath, grounding, inner rhythm, and flow, Lua will guide participants to explore movement as both a personal expression and a connection to something greater. As part of the second edition of KUUMBA 365, Lua Shayenne has created a new work in response to Charles Campbell’s How many colours has the sea at The Power Plant. Inspired by Campbell’s exploration of the Middle Passage and its lasting impact, Lua’s piece delves into the complex relationship between memory, loss, and healing. Her performance will be presented at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre on February 1, 2025.
All levels are welcome for this workshop.
Tickets are available for registration starting January 11, 2025.
Presented by TD Bank Group through the Bank’s Corporate Citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, KUUMBA 365: Second Edition is in partnership with Harbourfront Centre and The Power Plant, where we celebrate the dynamic achievements of Afro-Canadian artists now and into the future.
About Lua Shayenne
As the Artistic Director, choreographer, curator and producer of LSDC, Lua Shayenne’s creative leadership has been recognized with a K.M. Hunter Dance Award nomination and the 2013 BMO Seeds Fund Award for Artists working in the community. She is the creator and interpreter of the dance theatre children’s series Tales and Dances Around the Baobab, of which Yassama and The Beaded Calabash is the fourth tale.
Through LSDC, Shayenne boldly envisioned and launched the YENSA Festival in 2022, a biennial festival highlighting the incredible multiplicity of Black women dance practitioners and nurturing an environment where they can have substantive conversations, take risks and be given due recognition.
Her performing highlights include HOLOSCENES tours in the United States, the UK, Abu Dhabi, Australia, Italy and Toronto. She teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University’s dance program and brings African dance, music, storytelling and culture to grassroots organizations and schools across Canada and Europe.
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