Tuesday, March 31, 2020 — 6
Multimedia
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Learning to live with intent
through West African dance
PHOTO ESSAY
PAULINE RAJSKI
Staff Photographer
As crowds of students
rush from one class to the
next, eat in dining halls
in the next building, and
run hard on treadmills only
several feet away, a unique form of energy
is unleashed in Studio B of the dance building.
As a freshman, I had no idea the dance building
had existed until I signed up for West African Dance
this semester with Imani Ma’at AnkhmenRa Amen and
Marwan Amen-Ra.
The first thing that Imani emphasized to our class was the
connection between our dancing and the music. Before this class, I had
very little experience dancing to live music. The moment class starts
and Marwain begins beating on the drum, the classroom is transformed.
We were quickly taught of the power of ase. It was described as an
energy, a frequency, a spiritual connection of sorts. It is that moment
when you are thinking of someone just for them to call you seconds
later. In class, the idea of unity and connections between individuals is
emphasized daily. It makes it difficult to believe that hatred and violence
can exist when we are embraced in so much kindness, joy, and passion.
We start each practice by honoring our greatest muscle - the heart.
As the warm energy created by the friction in our hands is transferred
back into our hearts, we are reminded of the importance of remaining
present. This space allows us to do just that. We are completely
immersed in ourselves. I become aware of every joint, muscle, and
blood flow within my body. Energy appears to course through me
without end.
Imani reminds us that we all have something to be grateful for each
day. I am a skeptic, I will admit it. I want to believe in the energy around
me, the concept of a rites of passage, and that our ancestors exist to
protect and guide us. However, I am also an engineer. Throughout my
life I have had an internal conflict between my passion for science and
mathematics and my spirituality. Yet, Imani made a strong point. All
energy is conserved. It is never created. There is an energy that exists
beyond our limp corpses. Once we become aware of it, we stop existing
and we begin living.
As we dance, Imani constantly asks us what our intentions are. In
life, everything we do should have a purpose. When we start living with
intention, we grow happier. This can occur in the smallest of forms,
such as when we pick out cereal for breakfast. When we start living
with intent, we gain a deeper sense of ourselves and our energy.
Through this class, I have learned a small fraction of the rich culture
in Western Africa. Dances including Kuku, Soli, Sunu, and Sinte. The
history of people is embedded into the moves we practice in class.
The most amazing part of the class is the atmosphere that is cultivated.
I know every time I enter Dance Studio B I am not judged. All of my
worries fly out the window as I let my body flow freely. This class
continues to teach me something new each week. Everyone is welcome
and encouraged to join.
Each class ends through the honoring of the drum as is tradition in
West African dance. This class has been my favorite one taken at the
University of Michigan. I highly recommend every person experience
this class at least once during their studies here.
Imani Ma’at AnkhmenRa Amen dances happily with her students.
We end our class by honoring the drums out of respect.
Dylan Sivin embraces all of herself through dance.
Marwan Amen-Ra leads the tempo of our dance with the sounds of his drum.