Diasporic Fusion
Diasporic Fusion is an amalgamation of various African Diasporic dances. The theatricality of swing, sensuality of salsa, illusions of funk styles, vitality of Afro-Brazilian, and advanced polyrhythmic musicality of Afro-Cuban exemplify this form. Derrick forged this dance by extensive experimentation in Cuba, Brazil, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Fusion Technique’s combination of choreography, improvisation, acting, and flexibility benefits dancers of all skill levels.
Objectives
Diasporic Fusion: Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced Movement
- Introduction to bodily non-verbal communication
- Introduction to African Diasporic dances and Fusion Technique
- Knowledge of body abilities and possibilities (kinesiology and anatomy)
Diasporic Fusion: Musicality, Improvisation, & Choreography
- Connecting Diasporic Fusion to the rhythm, melody, and mood of music
- Knowledge of body possibilities to move in space and time (choreology)
- Competence in skilled improvisation
- The composition of choreography
Diasporic Fusion: Stage Work
- How to convey story and narrative to audiences
- Logistics of a professional staged performance
Rationale
Diasporic Fusion, forged in the streets of San Francisco, developed in the sweltering Caribbean sun, provides dancers an unparalleled opportunity to learn musicality, improvisation, choreography, and stage logistics. Diasporic Fusion is excellent for the dance enthusiast, or the professional dancer wanting to expand his or her repertoire of technique.
The Collective
The Diasporic Movement Collective is a hub for artists involved in all forms of Diasporic movements (poppin, breakin, locking, krumpin, hip hop, house dance, ragga, freestyle, Cuban rumba, capoeira, soca, son, merengue, cumbia, etc) to teach, share ideas, research, fellowship, and perform. This organization seeks to use Diasporic dances as a tool for personal expression, cohesion, community, and social change. We use an amalgamation of different forms to step out of boundaries to create unmistakably new styles. More than a dance troupe, we seek to use movement as a tool to educate the public on economic, social, religious, and racial issues. The ultimate product of our dance is knowledge; a concerted attack on ignorance. The Diasporic Movement Collective:
- Teach the full history of these dances giving due respect to the many creators and innovators that have not been properly acknowledged.
- Believe the philosophy that dance should not be taught in a commodified fashion. A shift from reproduction to creation.
- Take dance outside of the studio and bring it to the open air, parks, fields, plazas, and back into communities who birthed and nurtured these art forms.
- Understand that racism and ethnocentrism are strong on the social level. Dance provides a space for interpersonal interaction between people of different ethnicities and races. The Collective does not just foster tolerance, but builds real friendships.
- The Collective is open to all dance practices (performance, education, stage, recreation, therapy, research).