Rara Tou Limen goes to Montreal!
Donation protected
RTL GOES TO MONTREAL!
August 10 - 14, 2016
Greetings Community, Family and Friends,
I am excited to announce that Rara Tou Limen (RTL) Haitian Dance Company has been invited to take the stage and perform with Mapou Ginen, Haitian Folkloric Dance Troupe in Montreal, Canada . In addition, RTL will host a dance, song & drum workshop over the weekend, with Artistic Director, Portsha Jefferson and Musical Director, Daniel Brav Brevil. We are thrilled for another opportunity to share the Bay Area's love for Haitian culture and arts internationally! We would be honored to have you, our beloved Bay Area dance community, help us spread the message of love and light for Haiti.
About Us:
Rara Tou Limen Haitian Dance Company has consistently offered Bay Area residents, and people from all over the United States, the opportunity to experience Haitian culture through classes, workshops, performances and educational events in the United States and Haiti. Our troupe of dancers, vocalists and celebrated musicians, bring traditional rhythms, chants and movement to the stage, infused with the grace, strength, fluidity and precision of Haitian Folklore. Rara Tou Limen is committed to preserving and nurturing Haitian dance and musical traditions in the Bay Area.
Our mission is to educate audiences about the richness of Haitian culture through artistic expression, while building working relationships with other Haitian cultural groups in the U.S., Haiti and now in Canada. In our 12 year history, we have been recognized through grants and awards from esteemed funders like the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Theater Bay Area CA$H Grants, Akonadi Foundation, and most recently, FOKAL - (Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète).
About Mapou Ginen:
Mapou Ginen dance group takes a starting point from the spiritual virtues of the tree crowned Mapou, from her motherland, Guinea. Since 1973, the group works to emphasize all the resources of the Haitian culture combining dance, songs, rhythm and literature of African, Haitian and West-Indian background. Throughout the years, the group has performed in Quebec, the US and Europe.
The Mapou Ginen Dance Troupe
celebrated its 40th year of existence in 2013!
On the troupe's 40th birthday, Mapou Ginen was crowned the Personality of the Decade in Arts, Culture and Communication by the HYCC (Haitian Youth Chamber of Commerce). In 2014, the members were also honoured by the City of Montreal, to sign the Golden Book. The Troupe was also presented with the Best Traditional Dance Act Award during the Black Canadian Awards in Toronto.
Mapou Ginen is proudly celebrating over forty years of existence and profoundly believes that its passion and its will to keep the Haitian culture alive will always prevail. The work will continue on for generations. To this date, Mapou Ginen is recognized by its peers as the point of reference in traditional Haitian dance.
Our performance in Montreal will have a special meaning.
About the Project: TWA
Mapou Ginen is hosting this event, not only to commemorate Bwa Kayiman, but to also explore, through our creative process, the contribution of women to the Haitian Revolution. Specifically, the contributions of Cécile Fatiman.
1. What would it take for an ordinary woman to rise above her current circumstance and be a fundamental actor in a major turning point in Haitian history?
2. What would her personal and spiritual process look like?
3. What are the different ways the spirits that walk with her would accompany her, helping to fulfill her mission?
"Surely, we all can relate to such a process, regardless of spiritual beliefs; be it in our personal or professional lives. We want to engage in this exchange not only with the public, but also with our sisters and brothers in dance and drum because as its for our nation, this piece is built by all, for all. As our coat of arms declare: Union Fait La Force!" ~ Mapou Ginen
[Rara Tou Limen & Mapou Ginen at Vinn Pran Baget | Jacmel, Haiti - 2015]
About the Performance:
As part of TWA, RTL will perform "Freedom Rising" on Saturday, August 13th at Salle Désilets
Cegep Marie-Victorin, in Montreal Canada
Freedom Rising uses the Petwo dance and rhythms to actively convey one of the most important events in Haitian folklore, Bwa Kayiman (Alligator Woods). Bwa Kayiman was the site of a historic meeting on the night of August 13-14, 1791, which culminated in a traditional religious ceremony led by Houngan Boukman Dutty and the sacrifice of a black pig by priestess, Manbo Cécile Fatiman. This ceremony provided the final impetus for the uprising of Africans which led to the only successful slave revolt in the Western Hemisphere, and to the Western Hemisphere's first independent black republic. This was the only incidence in world history of an enslaved people breaking their chains and
defeating a powerful colonial force using military might.
About the Trip: Education and Edification
To continue our mission of educating audiences about the richness of Haitian culture and to expand the local community's knowledge of Haitian folklore, we will also provide the Montreal community with an experience to participate in a dance, song and drum workshop. In doing so, we will continue to keep dance and musical traditions of Haiti alive.
[Haitian Folkloric Dance Class in Oakland, Ca.]
What can you, our loyal community do to help?
We are grateful for all the love and support our dance community has shown us. To make this trip successful, we need your financial assistance. Our goal is to raise $8,000. Rara Tou Limen company members are currently hard at work raising funds towards this trip. Your generous donations towards our financial goal will
cover:
• Airfare
• Lodging
• Transportation/Gas
• Baggage/Costume Fees
All monies donated towards our goal is tax deductible. We are truly appreciative of your financial contributions! We cannot do this without you. Your continued support allows us to shine the light on and for Haiti. Together, we can share the richness of Haitian life through drum, song and dance!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Portsha T. Jefferson
Artistic Director, Rara Tou Limen
www.raratoulimen.com
August 10 - 14, 2016
Greetings Community, Family and Friends,
I am excited to announce that Rara Tou Limen (RTL) Haitian Dance Company has been invited to take the stage and perform with Mapou Ginen, Haitian Folkloric Dance Troupe in Montreal, Canada . In addition, RTL will host a dance, song & drum workshop over the weekend, with Artistic Director, Portsha Jefferson and Musical Director, Daniel Brav Brevil. We are thrilled for another opportunity to share the Bay Area's love for Haitian culture and arts internationally! We would be honored to have you, our beloved Bay Area dance community, help us spread the message of love and light for Haiti.
About Us:
Rara Tou Limen Haitian Dance Company has consistently offered Bay Area residents, and people from all over the United States, the opportunity to experience Haitian culture through classes, workshops, performances and educational events in the United States and Haiti. Our troupe of dancers, vocalists and celebrated musicians, bring traditional rhythms, chants and movement to the stage, infused with the grace, strength, fluidity and precision of Haitian Folklore. Rara Tou Limen is committed to preserving and nurturing Haitian dance and musical traditions in the Bay Area.
Our mission is to educate audiences about the richness of Haitian culture through artistic expression, while building working relationships with other Haitian cultural groups in the U.S., Haiti and now in Canada. In our 12 year history, we have been recognized through grants and awards from esteemed funders like the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Theater Bay Area CA$H Grants, Akonadi Foundation, and most recently, FOKAL - (Fondasyon Konesans Ak Libète).
About Mapou Ginen:
Mapou Ginen dance group takes a starting point from the spiritual virtues of the tree crowned Mapou, from her motherland, Guinea. Since 1973, the group works to emphasize all the resources of the Haitian culture combining dance, songs, rhythm and literature of African, Haitian and West-Indian background. Throughout the years, the group has performed in Quebec, the US and Europe.
The Mapou Ginen Dance Troupe
celebrated its 40th year of existence in 2013!
On the troupe's 40th birthday, Mapou Ginen was crowned the Personality of the Decade in Arts, Culture and Communication by the HYCC (Haitian Youth Chamber of Commerce). In 2014, the members were also honoured by the City of Montreal, to sign the Golden Book. The Troupe was also presented with the Best Traditional Dance Act Award during the Black Canadian Awards in Toronto.
Mapou Ginen is proudly celebrating over forty years of existence and profoundly believes that its passion and its will to keep the Haitian culture alive will always prevail. The work will continue on for generations. To this date, Mapou Ginen is recognized by its peers as the point of reference in traditional Haitian dance.
Our performance in Montreal will have a special meaning.
About the Project: TWA
Mapou Ginen is hosting this event, not only to commemorate Bwa Kayiman, but to also explore, through our creative process, the contribution of women to the Haitian Revolution. Specifically, the contributions of Cécile Fatiman.
1. What would it take for an ordinary woman to rise above her current circumstance and be a fundamental actor in a major turning point in Haitian history?
2. What would her personal and spiritual process look like?
3. What are the different ways the spirits that walk with her would accompany her, helping to fulfill her mission?
"Surely, we all can relate to such a process, regardless of spiritual beliefs; be it in our personal or professional lives. We want to engage in this exchange not only with the public, but also with our sisters and brothers in dance and drum because as its for our nation, this piece is built by all, for all. As our coat of arms declare: Union Fait La Force!" ~ Mapou Ginen
[Rara Tou Limen & Mapou Ginen at Vinn Pran Baget | Jacmel, Haiti - 2015]About the Performance:
As part of TWA, RTL will perform "Freedom Rising" on Saturday, August 13th at Salle Désilets
Cegep Marie-Victorin, in Montreal Canada
Freedom Rising uses the Petwo dance and rhythms to actively convey one of the most important events in Haitian folklore, Bwa Kayiman (Alligator Woods). Bwa Kayiman was the site of a historic meeting on the night of August 13-14, 1791, which culminated in a traditional religious ceremony led by Houngan Boukman Dutty and the sacrifice of a black pig by priestess, Manbo Cécile Fatiman. This ceremony provided the final impetus for the uprising of Africans which led to the only successful slave revolt in the Western Hemisphere, and to the Western Hemisphere's first independent black republic. This was the only incidence in world history of an enslaved people breaking their chains and
defeating a powerful colonial force using military might.
About the Trip: Education and Edification
To continue our mission of educating audiences about the richness of Haitian culture and to expand the local community's knowledge of Haitian folklore, we will also provide the Montreal community with an experience to participate in a dance, song and drum workshop. In doing so, we will continue to keep dance and musical traditions of Haiti alive.
[Haitian Folkloric Dance Class in Oakland, Ca.]
What can you, our loyal community do to help?
We are grateful for all the love and support our dance community has shown us. To make this trip successful, we need your financial assistance. Our goal is to raise $8,000. Rara Tou Limen company members are currently hard at work raising funds towards this trip. Your generous donations towards our financial goal will
cover:
• Airfare
• Lodging
• Transportation/Gas
• Baggage/Costume Fees
All monies donated towards our goal is tax deductible. We are truly appreciative of your financial contributions! We cannot do this without you. Your continued support allows us to shine the light on and for Haiti. Together, we can share the richness of Haitian life through drum, song and dance!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Portsha T. Jefferson
Artistic Director, Rara Tou Limen
www.raratoulimen.com
Organizer
Rara Tou Limen
Organizer
Oakland, CA
