THE DRUM CALL!

The company’s repertoire includes dance, monologue, song, rap, poetry, and live musicians when applicable to the choreography. What makes them different from most other contemporary dance groups on the horizon is that they are able to blend all body types, all dance techniques, and a message into each piece. AMINAIZM’s goal is to move the audience emotionally, mentally, and physically to make changes within and around themselves. They are currently working on the first suite, “The Reflection Collection”, which features some of their favorite works in progress such as, “Remember Me, Africa”, about the struggle to maintain African roots while trying to embrace African American heritage; and “In Pursuit Of” a dance where the dancers take on the roles people play on their quest to make it in the world. This collection is a reflection not only of the choreographers, but also of society. It is a look at various life struggles faced by them as artists, it is also the voice of African American dancers who have gone through the loves and losses of loving another artist. Amina Heckstall, Director of Ballet International Africans and Nikki “Storm” Heckstall, Artistic Director of Storm Dancers have unified to bring together folkloric traditions, theater arts, the beauty of dance, and it’s marriage with music through their vessel, “AMINAIZM”. To find out more about them click here or here.

Modupue Children's African Dance Troupe are the youngsters of Ballet International Africans. Most of the choreography for these dancers and drummers ages 3 to 16, is done by Latisha Jeanette Heckstall an accomplished dancer with 24 years of dance experience. The children are trained in traditional African dances, songs, and rhythms and participate in writing workshops, singing, and acting workshops.

Ballet International Africans is the umbrella company to these youth and they also, along with a Board of Honorary Elders, take the children through a Rites of Passage ceremony that allows them to mature, but also remember that they are still young. The children must attend dance school or outside classes for training, as well as keep good grades in school, and for those not yet in school, their parents are asked to come in for an interview with the child to confirm seriousness and desire to learn. There for, every member of Modupue is a performing artist and yet still able to be a “kid”. Any child who is accepted into this group will find themselves being able to perform and develop into a great dancer. ‘Modupue‘, is the Yoruba term for, "We Are Grateful" and this name was chosen because without the youth we'd have no future, no one to carry on our legacy for the ancestors. There for we are very thankful that we have these children who have volunteered to be the torchbearers of our lineage. There are 15 members of Modupue For Children and they all dance, drum, sing, or act. The group has even begun to include an option for siblings of members to learn stage management/ tech in order to be a part of the “family”, and work behind the scenes at performances, whether they are artists or not. Learn more about Modupue here.