UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 28, Page 5
April 21, 1994
Visiting dance company Saturday in Mitchell Hall

     The Ko-Thi Dance Company will offer a public performance at 8 p.m.,
Saturday, April 23, in Mitchell Hall.
     Ko-Thi was founded in l969 by Ferne Yangyeitie Caulker, a native of
Sierra Leone, West Africa. The company aims to preserve, document and
promulgate the African and African-American traditional performing arts.
     Yangyeitie Caulker received professional training in modern dance and
ballet from 1965-67 at the University of Wisconsin and certification in the
American Forum for African Studies in 1969 from the University of Ghana,
where she studied African dance with the National Dance Company of Ghana.
     The program for the April 23 performance includes "Mwanemke Ngoma," a
commissioned piece for nine drums and the women of Ko-Thi inspired by the
Kikuyu women of Kenya; "Toussaint," dedicated to the memory of Haitian
leader and revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture; "Juba," a tribute to
William Henry Lane, who popularized dance during the 19th century;
"Lamban," which depicts an historic pilgrimage by Mansa Musa of the Mali
empire in the 13th century; and "Dundunbah," a dance of strong men.
     Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for University faculty,
staff and senior citizens and $4 for students. For reservations or more
information, call the University box office at 831-2204.
     Today, Ko-Thi will present two classes for community dancers at the
New Dance Studio, Delaware Avenue and Haines Street. A class will be held
for dancers ages 8-12 from 6-7 p.m. and for adults ages 13 and older from
7-9 p.m.
     For further information or to register, call Martha Collins-Owens at
831-8741.