KWAME SHAKA OPARE

Teaching Performing and Visual Artist

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Triumph Of Disruption : A Movement to Subvert (Promo Clip)

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Triumph of Disruption was an evening-length work performed on March 14-15, 2013 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in partial fulfillment of the M.F.A. degree in Dance from the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. It was an artful attempt to show through dance and music, an epidemic of failure in America's methods of educating its youth. Using pop iconic imagery and popular music, Triumph was a funky, hip, and engaging journey entertaining the concept of Disruption as a method to alleviate the problems facing a particular group of young people. This paper is a documentation of my process, background research, experiences, and conclusions for this project.

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This clip is a combination of excerpts from two pieces.

"Black Steal" was a piece about a mythical world governed by wise and powerful female spiritualist who look in on Earth from time to time and visit to heal and right the wrongs. In this intstance they were coming to the aid of a young African American male who had been shot down by police, imprisoned, and mentally castrated by mass media.

"Love Lost" is the shortened title for "A love lost rage of the beautiful". In this work we look to convey a sense of urgency and fight. As an excerpt, we coupled this piece with the "Black Steal" to complete a story for a short evening’s work. The women from the mythical planet dance with the young man they came to save in a display of support, strength and solidarity.

Both pieces were initially created in 2007 and have been developed since in different modes and presentation.

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Simply an amazing dancer…

Debbie Allen

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Wonderful, captivating & exciting performer…

 Oscar Winning Actress, Helen Hunt

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The field of education would lose a valuable resource if Kwame stopped teaching with and through his art -Susan Brightman, Founding Art Teacher, City Neighbors Charter School

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1hTIPf5w-s2M19KdHR5V3NYV0E/edit?usp=sharing

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ARTIST BIO

                         Kwame Shaka Opare is a classically trained West African dancer. At 14 he became a principal dancer with Kankouran West African Dance Company under the tutelage of mentor and artistic director Assane Konte. As a young adult Kwame moved to New York City where he quickly established himself as a dynamic and exciting instructor and choreographer. By 21 he had performed and produced works for all of the major traditional African and traditional/contemporary African dance companies in the city. In 1998 Kwame began touring with the Broadway show STOMP. While with STOMP, Kwame attained the lead role and became rehearsal director for two touring casts. Using his diverse experience in the performing arts Kwame founded DishiBem (pronounced dee-shee-bim) Traditional Contemporary Dance Group in 2003 to bridge the gap between traditional West African and contemporary performance modes. Kwame has created critically acclaimed, award-winning work that speaks to social issues around the World including a Katherine Dunham Award in the category of Best New Choreography for “Suite Nina” which he choreographed for Muntu Dance Theater Chicago. In 2010 Kwame was awarded an appointment as Masters of Fine Arts candidate at The Graduate School of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies at The University of Maryland College Park.  Kwame currently consults with classroom teachers and administrators as an Arts Education specialist, is a professor of dance at the University of Maryland, Maryland State Arts Council artist, k-12 teaching artists, artistic director of DishiBem Traditional Contemporary Dance Group and director of Kwame Shaka Opare Photographic Arts (KSOPA).

Kwame is renowned for his ability to engage an audience and effectively transfer meaning and purpose. This talent is echoed in the classroom and dance studio with students of all ages. He is praised by students, teachers, and principals alike for his successful methods of making learning an engaging, fun and rewarding experience.

Sought after for his experience, insight and artistic vision, Kwame also works as a consultant on film projects, photo shoots, music production and musical and dance performances.

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Artist CV/Resume

        As a teaching artist, Kwame Opare has been working in Maryland public and charter schools as an Artist-in-Residence for the better part of a decade. His extensive career as an artist and educator includes, among other things, performing and touring with the hit Broadway show "STOMP" and working extensively as a freelance choreographer, teacher and performer of West African dance. Using his diverse experience in the performing arts Kwame founded DishiBem Traditional Contemporary Dance Group to bridge the gap between traditional West African and contemporary dance and music.

  Kwame has created critically acclaimed, award-winning work that speaks to social issues around the world. He attended the Maryland Teaching Artists Institute in 2007, and completed the comprehensive professional development program, which trains and strengthens artists' ability to fully integrate the arts with state curriculum. He then went on to complete a BFA degree in Dance and Education at Towson University, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance.

  In the spring of 2013, Kwame completed his thesis work, Triumph of Disruption: A Movement to Subvert, in partial fulfillment of the M.F.A. degree in Dance from the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. Also performed as an evening-length work, it was an artful attempt to show through dance and music, an epidemic of failure in America's methods of educating its youth. Using pop iconic imagery and popular music, Triumph was a funky, hip, and engaging journey entertaining the concept of disruption as a method to alleviate the problems facing a particular group of young people.

Kwame Opare

  3305 Elgin Avenue Baltimore, MD 21216

Tel: [phone]

[email protected]

    Education

  2013            Masters of Fine Arts in Dance – Performance and Education

                        University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                        Thesis: Triumph of Disruption: A Movement to Subvert

  2010                        Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Dance Education

                        Towson University, Towson, MD

  2008                        Teaching Artist Institute Graduate-Special training in Arts Integration

                        Young Audiences, Baltimore, MD

                        Honors and

Scholarships

                          Fine Arts Award

                        Dance Department Award

                        Towson University (Towson, MD)

                          Smith Family Scholarship

                        University of Maryland (College Park, MD)

                          UMD and Smith Family Research Grant

                        Facilitated travel to Ghana. Conducted thesis research in traditional education and arts in

                        education. 2011, 2012

                          Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey Award

                        Best choreography in a play or music/dance concert

                        2008 (Chicago, IL)

  Presentations and

Conferences           

  2013                        American Vernacular Dance Week

                        Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College (Elkins, WV)

                          National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS)

                        Artist Advisor for Dance Cohort

                        (Reston, VA)

                                                Baltimore County Schools Annual Arts Integration Conference

                        (Baltimore, MD)

    2012                        Prince George’s County Artist Teacher Institute

                        Benjamin D. Foulois Creative Arts Center (Suitland, MD)

                                                Central Pennsylvania Consortium Africana Studies Conference

                        Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA)

                                                TEDx Talks

                        Triumph of Disruption; Disrupting the Miseducation of African American Youth

                        TEDx Chester River (Chester River, MD)

  2011                        21st Century Arts Integration Conference

                        Bates Middle School (Annapolis, MD)

  Professional

Affiliations

                          Maryland State Arts Council

                        Young Audiences of Maryland

                        National Dance Education Organization

                        Dance

Training

                          Ballet

2009 - 2010            Towson University

                        Towson, MD

                                    Teachers

                        Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrel (Former principal dancer for Alvin Ailey American Dance             Theater)

                          West African Dance

1994 - 1997            Maimouna Keita School of Dance           

                        New York, NY

              Teachers

            Marie Basse Wiles (Director), Olukose Wiles (Co-Director), Amadou Bayo (National                                     Ballet of Senegal), Bouli Sanko (Director of National Ballet of Senegal)

  1989 - 1994            Kankouran West African Dance Company

                        Washington, DC

             Teachers

Assane Konte (Director), Wilhelmina “Ritchie” Moore, Jimmy Butler, Babacar Mbaye (National Ballet of Senegal), Djibi Traore (National Ballet of Senegal/Ballet Du Mali), Marie Basse Wiles (National Ballet of Senegal), Youssouf Koumbassa (Ballet Djoliba/National Ballet of Guinea), Abdou Kounta (National Ballet of Senegal), Malang Bayo (National Ballet of Senegal)

  Independent Study

                                    Teachers

                        Kevin Iega Jeff (Director Jubilation/Deeply Rooted Chicago)

                        M’Bemba Bangoura (National Ballet of Guinea)

                        Mamadou Dahoue (National Ballet of Ivory Coast)

                        Bernice Johnson (Bernice Johnson Dance School)

                        Karamba Diabate (National Ballet of Guinea)

                        Mamady Keita

                        (world renowned Master drummer/Ballet Djoliba/Founder of Tam Tam Mandingue)

                        Rich Baba Niang

                        (world renowned Sabar dancer and former dancer for Youssou N’dour)

                        Baba Chuck Davis (Founder and Artistic Director of Dance Africa)

                        Kimati Dinizulu

                        (Percussionist/Director Dinizulu African Dancers and Drummers/Historian)

  Teaching Experience

  2010- Present            University of Maryland (College Park, MD)

                        West African Dance Instructor/ Adjunct Professor

  2007- Present            Young Audiences Maryland (Baltimore, MD)

                        Performing and Teaching Artist

  2006- Present            The Adinkra Group (Washington, DC)

                        Artist Management and Direction

  2005- Present            Howard University (Washington, DC)

                        Teacher in Workshop

                        Traditional Contemporary Technique and choreography for dance majors and summer intensives for dance department prospective students

  2007 - 2010            DishiBem Performing Arts Preparatory (Baltimore, MD)                                                                          

                        Founder / Artistic Director

  2008 - 2009            Towson University (Towson, MD)                                               

                        Professor-Adjunct

                        West African Traditional Contemporary Dance/DishiBem Technique (open)

  Jan - Apr 2008            City Neighbors School

                        Teacher in Residence

                        Instruction in theater and movement (Grades 1-6)

  2007 - 2009            Empowerment Academy (Baltimore, MD)

                        Teacher

                        Instruction in dance and performing arts (Grades PreK-6)

  2007 - 2008            Academy for College and Career Exploration (Baltimore, MD)

                        Teacher in Residence

                        Instruction in dance and performing arts (9th Grade)

  2007            Young Audiences and Arts in Education Maryland School (Baltimore, MD)

                        Professional development for teaching artists and teachers

  2006            Towson University (Towson, MD)                                                      

                        Visiting Artist Workshop

                        Traditional Contemporary Technique and choreography for dance majors

1997            Fareta School of Dance and Drum

                        West African Dance Instructor

                        Technique and execution of traditional West African dance (adult dance class)

  1995 - 1997            Aims of Modzawe Cultural Center (Queens, NY)

                        West African Dance Instructor

                        Technique and execution of traditional West African dance (adult dance class)

  1994 - 1996            Bernice Johnson School of Dance (Queens, NY)

                        Teacher in Residence

                        West African Dance Instructor (Ages 11-18)

  Performance

Experience           

(Abridged)           

                        Dance Africa Brooklyn Music Academy

                        Dance and Music Festival

                                    Kennedy Center -Opera House (Washington, DC)

                        (Kankouran)

              Lisner Auditorium-George Washington University (Washington, DC)

                        (Kankouran)

              Symphony Space (New York, NY)

                        (Maimouna Keita)

                          Sony Music Festival-Manhattan Hilton (New York, NY)

                        (Children of Africa)

                                    Private Performance at the home of Ms. Diana Ross (Greenwich, CT)

                          Cultural Festival (Accra, Ghana)

                        (Drum and Dance Solo)

                          Aaron Davis Hall (New York, NY)

                        (Forces of Nature)

                          Sounds of Brazil- “S.O.B.’s” (New York, NY)

                        (Kotoko Society)

                                    Top of the Pops - BBC London

                        (Gala)

              Berci Arena (Paris, France)

            (Gala)

              Stomp 1998-2003

            Orpheum Theater (New York, NY)

            2 National Touring Companies (A cast)

            1 International Tour 

            Rehearsal Director of National tour and San Francisco Show and

            Orpheum Theater Boston, Ma

            NBA All Star weekend (Stomp Solo-Televised)

            Stomp Out Litter San Francisco (TV Spot) –Choreographer/Assistant Director

              International Association of Blacks in Dance (Toronto, ON)

            (DishiBem-2007)

              Baltimore Museum of Art(DishiBem Traditional Contemporary Dance Group)

             “The Lext Nevel” 2005

            “The More Things Change” 2009 (commissioned)

            “American African” 2010 (commissioned)

  Choreography

              Howard University Dance Company

            Asase Yaa Dance Theater

            Forces of Nature Dance Theater

            Djoule West African Dance Company

            Muntu Dance Theater Chicago

            Towson Dance Company

            Children of Afrika Pan African Dance Company

            Maimouna Keita Dance Company

            Wombwork Productions and Theater Group

            DishiBem Traditional Contemporary Dance Group

    DishiBem

  DishiBem is an ongoing project and constant experiment in the performing arts; with a consistent effort to push the boundaries of expression in movement and music performance. We are the voices of affected world citizens amplified with a concerted rage / passion / love / peace / righteousness and uncompromised technique. Kwame Opare forms alliance with various artists to produce works that represent his efforts to display, through dynamic performance, the truth of the world as he interprets it. DishiBem performs in memorial to and in allegiance with all artists past and present that have, and continue to use their gift in an effort to positively educate, enlighten, and further the struggle for freedom and peace.

       Reviews

  “His talent as a percussionist, his dynamic stage persona, and his capabilities as a dancer

made him a valuable member of the STOMP team.”

-Tim P. Grassel, Company Manger-STOMP

    “Simply an amazing dancer…”

-Debbie Allen

    “Wonderful, captivating, & exciting performer…”

-Helen Hunt, Oscar Award Winning Actress

    “Kwame has had a prodigious career and its impact on me and my creative pursuits has been profound… New traditionalists such as Kwame work in both the academy and in the professional world (locally, nationally, and internationally) to build dramatically new, meaningful bridges between and among students, scholars, and artistic practitioners.”

-Robin Gee, Assistant Professor Department of Dance-University of North Carolina Greensboro

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K-12 Assembly/Workshop/Residency Description

G.R.O.W. (k-8)

The Great Recycled Orchestra Workshop (G.R.O.W.) began as a simple concept—a performance using instruments made from repurposed materials. G.R.O.W. is comprised of three artists, led by Kwame Opare, renowned performer, and two additional musicians. G.R.O.W.’s mission is to bring awareness about the solid waste crisis facing the world today and inspire young people, through performances and residencies, to take action in their own communities utilizing the power of music and the arts.

Kwame Co-directed a Public Service Announcement for the city of San Francisco called STOMP Out Litter which was an effort by the Mayor's office to keep the city streets clean by properly discarding waste and recyclable items. While living in Baltimore he discovered that mass amounts of garbage collects in the city's harbor from the citizen littering. So like in San Francisco, Kwame felt it his duty to bring awareness to young people through the arts about caring for their communitites, city, and the Earth.

The G.R.O.W. assembly is a 45 minute performance that utilizes non-conventional instruments such as The Drain Pipe Organ to perform songs that are favorites of young and older audiences alike as well as songs that have been repurposed to the theme of environmental responsibilty. There are elements of music lessons, science facts, and messages of safe social responsibility.  This enganing and educational assembly will have students out of their seats singing and dancing, all in the name of fun, and saving the environment.

ORIGINS (k-12)

Origins is a 45 minute assembly program that consists of exciting, high-energy West African dance, music, and song.

Origins takes your students on a musical journey from the origins of West African music to the orgins of Hip Hop culture in America. The connection between the initial purpose of the drum and music used in Africa to communicate a message and the initial purpose of rappers/MC's to deliver a message is made. Tenets of African culture such as respect for one's self, one's elders, one's things, and for each other is creatively presented in this show. Origins also engages its k-8 audience in a song called "In Africa" that introduces facts about African culture, geography, and Africa's natural resources and wildlife. This vibrant and interactive program impresses upon students the power of music and dance as a positive tool of communication and self-expression. The student's exuberantly join in West African call and response songs, dance, hand-clapping, and a few get to play instruments with performers!

Watch an important video on the importance of arts in schools and see clips of Origins and Kwame speaking 

  WORKSHOPS (k-12)

Workshops are 45 minute sessions (30 minutes for kindergarten) where Kwame teaches students either a dance or percussive art form. All of Kwame's lessons are arts integrated in that they connect to an academic content/standard. Workshops can be geared for enrinchment purposes only or for content integration, this choice is left to the teacher or administrator. Examples of workshops are:

Boot dance, Step/STOMP, Bucket Brigade, Basketball Music, West African Dance

A minimum of 4-6 sessions (depending on art form) is necessary if the students are to perform or have a culminating event. The culmination can serve as a form of summative assessment as well as involve other students in the school to be an audeince for their classmates.

Sample Lesson K-5 (Language Arts)

Sample Lesson 4-6 (Math)

Sample Lesson 3-8 (Science[Physics])

Sample Lesson 3-5 (Social Studies)

Sample Lesson 3-5 (Math)

   500 HANDS & 500 FEET* (3-8)

500 Hands and 500 feet is an assembly/workshop. For 45 minutes to 1 hour, Kwame will perform parts of a body percussion/Stomp solo and utilize call and response with the audience. The audience will also learn a brief history about the South African "Bootdance" and Kwame will demonstrate some parts of the dance. In this assembly/workshop Kwame also enriches the experience with lessons in basic music notation and connects to math principles. Next is time for the students to learn some basic but fun and funky body percussion patterns. By the end of the session, all 250 (+/-) students will be able to perform these patterns in an "informance".

*This performance session can accomodate grades 3-8. It is important that each class be accompanied by a classroom teacher. Best results come when the teacher participates in the assembly/workshop with the students!*

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Professional Development Sessions

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

   45 / 90 minute sessions

Professional development sessions are in 45 and 90 minute blocks. The sessions are comprehensive though each can be geared toward a specific topic:

Classroom Management: "Tough Skin, Soft Heart" is one the approaches Kwame has developed over the years of teaching in inner city and suburban schools. This technique stresses the fact that the students are still children regardless of a seemingly harsh exterior and the exhibition of, at times, reckless and obnoxious behavior. Kwame stresses the needs of the children as paramount and discusses methods that ensure the development of the students for the time they are with us. This session prepares teachers and administrators for the possibility of hearing language and witnessing behavior unbecoming of a young student and helps them to deal with it effectively, with minimal stress, and  with the least of amount of disruption to the class and lesson plans. Keeping a "soft heart" but "thick skin" along with other techniques of managment, will aid educators in gaining control of their classrooms and creating an optimal space for learning and sharing.

Arts Integration:  The arts sometimes must make their way into the classroom via an academic content connection.  As an arts integration specialist, in these sessions, Kwame will share with teachers methods to successfully implement an arts integrated lesson. The sessions begin with a thorough explanation of what arts integration is and how it differs in principle and practice from terms such as "arts immersion" and "arts inclusion". The session highlights lesson writing as a main component of integrating the arts in a lesson. We use academic and fine arts standards from state curricula and Common Core to create arts integrated lessons. A successful arts integrated lesson uses an art form to facilitate academic content to students. 

Arts Enrichment: This most popular of all the PD's we offer. Teachers and administrators learn an art form such as dance or percussion. The history and components of the art form are taught and the then its on to the practical! Teachers will learn a dance or a form of percussive music and have the oportunity to create their own variations of each in group form and present to the group. This session has been praised by principals and teachers because of how much fun they have and how it gives them first hand knowledge of how learning and practicing an art form in the classroom adds to the overall development of the student. 

Arts Enrichment sample clip

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