Who are we?
Badenyaa is a multi-racial company of dancers and musicians based on O'ahu, Hawai'i. We are dedicated to the dance and music of the peoples of the African continent south of the Sahara and the various peoples of the African Diaspora in the New World. Our goals are to educate others, perform traditional music and dance and engage in creative expression with the purpose of fostering respect and appreciation for the creativity and vitality of black cultures everywhere.
Badenyaa is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and was recently awarded Artistic Teaching Partner status by the Hawai..i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts which enables our partners in the State educational system to gain funding to support work with us.
Our name
Badenyaa means "The way of the children of the same mother" in the Malinke and Bambara languages of West Africa. Badenyaa is a metaphor for collaboration and harmony which is a major part of our goal.
Diaspora is a term that refers to people who originate in one place but who live in another. The African Diaspora refers to the descendants of African people who live outside the African continent.
CLASSES
We teach formal classes in West African, Congolese and Afro-Caribbean drumming and in Congolese and West African dance. We're also available to teach workshops and residencies at other institutions.
Dance class:
Sundays 11.30 - 1.00 pm. Pupukea Rec. Center (across from the Foodland on the North Shore). $10/class
Drum classes:
Sundays 10.00 - 11.30 am. West African. Pupukea Rec. Center (across from the Foodland on the North Shore). $10/class.
Tuesdays 7.00 - 9.30. West African. Capoiera Hawaii Studio 1003 Waimanu St (one block makai of Kapi..olani Blvd off Ward Ave., downtown Honolulu).
Wednesdays 7.15 - 9.15. Conga. Kailua (contact us through the site for details).
Other classes: We endorse the following other classes taught by qualified teachers:
West African Dance
with Starr Anastasio
Saturdays 10.00 - 11.30 am
Studio 3, UH Manoa Rec. Center. Lower Campus
$10, on-campus parking = $3 extra
Availability
We are available for lecture-demonstrations (keiki - seniors), workshops, performances, openings, parades, weddings and other celebrations.
Past events have included: GiRLFeST 2008, Optimysstique 2008, The Contemporary Museum fund-raiser 2007, Hawai'i Pacific University graduations, Moloka'i Public Library 70th Birthday, The Leeward Community College Dance Festival 2008, Hawai'i Pacific University Black History Month celebrations, and public performances at Art on the Block, Mardi Gras 2008, UH Manoa Sustainability Fest, "Live Green and Save" Eco-Fair, the Kaunoa Senior Center, Maui and public libraries in Wai'anae, Waialua, Salt Lake, and Kapolei arranged through the University of Hawai'i Outreach Program.
We have given presentations and workshops at the following schools around O'ahu:
Academy of the Pacific, Hawai'i Pacific University, Midpac, Punahou, Kamehameha Schools, and Waialua Elementary School.
Testimonials
"Thanks so much to all of you for your wonderful performance, professionalism, and ease to work with. I loved your performance (especially coming down the escalators and the dance at the end - so cool)." Lianne Chan, Contemporary Museum, Honolulu
"What an excellent presentation! We certainly hope that your experience was as wonderful as the one that you provided for the senior citizens who attended and participated in this fun program." Kathy Ramos, Kaunoa Senior Services
"The performers were very co-operative and talented. They educated and entertained those who listened to them." Curt Fukumoto, Salt Lake Public Library
Group Format
The company currently consists of seven senior company members and three apprentices. Performances can be tailored for as few as two and as many as twelve performers depending on a client's wishes and budget.
Our senior company are all highly-experienced performers and cultural workers. They have all worked and performed with other companies and studied with master musicians and dancers from Africa, Cuba, Brazil and the United States prior to joining Badenyaa.
Our company also includes professional educators from Hawai'i Pacific University, Leeward Community College and the department of education. We have tailored our educational programs to suit any audience from college seminars to pre-school children's reading groups.
Repertoire
The company's repertoire currently consists of dance, music and song from
• the Manden peoples of West Africa (Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire) performed on djembe, dundun, krin and percussion.
• the Kongo people of Central Africa
• the Shona people of Zimbabwe
• Afro-Cuban sacred and secular music
• Afro-Haitian sacred music
• Afro-Brazilian secular music