THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602200109
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
With the drums of Africa pounding in the background, Keith Dames and his dancing companions worked up a sweat.
``Put your body into it!'' exhorted Dames. ``Shake what your mama gave you!''
The six students in his African and Caribbean dance class at the Bayside Recreation Center did as he said. They shook, leaped and twirled across the studio floor, their moves reflected in mirrors lining two walls.
At other times, students learn Russian folk dancing or even arts and crafts from England, Egypt or China. It's all part of the center's effort to promote the cultural diversity in the area it serves by offering a variety of classes on dance and arts and crafts from various cultures, for all ages.
``I used to take an African dance class many years ago,'' explained student Pamela Pittmon, of Weblin Place. ``I live in Virginia Beach and was happy to see an African dance class here. This just makes me happy. I took his first session; this is my second. I'm going to sign up for the next two. It's a wonderful class. It makes you feel full of energy.''
Dames, whose parents came from the Bahamas, started his career in Miami. Later in New York, he earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance at the City College of New York in Harlem and danced with the Alvin Ailey Dance Center. Dames, who also teaches modern dance, has studied under Charles Moore, Pearl Reynolds, Camille Yarborough and Karen Stewart and has conducted workshops in African and ethnic dance.
``Wiggle! Wiggle and giggle!,'' he told his students after a gradual warm-up, as he put an album titled ``Olatunji! Drums of Passion'' on the turntable and his students, following his lead, spun and gyrated, dipped and danced to the pulsing African rhythms. Sounds of the Caribbean from an album titled ``Rainforest,'' by Paul Hardcastle, followed as the dancing continued.
It appeared effortless but, when the music stopped, all in the room were breathing hard and perspiring.
``This is my second time taking this class,'' explained Rosalind Gaines, of Bayside. ``I take it for exercise and coordination. You can't compare this to aerobics. I'm going to sign up for the next class.''
If you're looking to dance to the beat of different culture, instructor Marilyn Danitz will be offering two series of classes on the Balinese scarf dance and Russian folk dance beginning next month.
Danitz, who moved to Virginia Beach from New York six years ago, has choreographed for the Bolshoi, Tbilisi and Varna ballet companies and taught dance in China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and Italy. She has performed with the Strasbourg Ballet in France and the Geneva Ballet in Switzerland.
The classes, says Danitz, are a means to understand different cultures by studying their arts.
``You're understanding the diversity of cultures and why . . . and the universal element of different cultures that binds them together. Very young kids develop a process very early, a way to understand different people. We're studying world culture by studying the arts,'' she said.
She models her classes after Hadassah (1909-1992), a famous ethnic dancer, who, according to Danitz, sought to unite commonness and honor differences.
In a less athletic way, Edna Johnson hopes to achieve through arts and crafts for children what Dames and Danitz strive for through dance.
``Long term, I plan on exploring different regions of the world, and American Indians,'' said Johnson. ``I want to give children an idea what their cultures are like. If they understand, they are less likely to be biased and prejudiced.''
Starting in early March, she will offer ``Amazin' Amazon'' to preschoolers and ``Amazon Adventures,'' ``American Adventures'' and ``From the Emerald Isle'' to kids 6 to 10. In mid-April, she will offer ``A Visit to the Land Down Under'' to preschoolers, ``Australian Adventures'' to kids 6 to 10 and ``Merrie Olde England'' to those 6 to 12. All are six-week classes and will be available with either day or evening sessions.
``I did African animals last time,'' said Johnson, ``and I'm planning to do Egypt. I would like to do China and Japan.''
Fees for the dance and arts and crafts classes at Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road, range from $14 to $21. Classes are open to members and non-members of the recreation center and residents and non-residents of Virginia Beach. For more information, or to register, call 460-7540.
Dames' next classes begin on March 4 and April 15, running six sessions each. The classes are offered in two groups: ages 9 to 12, and age 13 up. They are open to males and females.
The Balinese scarf dance and Russian folk dance classes taught by Danitz are for ages 4 to 8, 9 to 13 and 14 to adult. They begin March 6 and again April 17. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DAWSON MILLS
Keith Dames, whose parents came from the Bahamas, earned a bachelor
of fine arts degree in dance at the City College of New York in
Harlem and danced with the Alvin Ailey Dance Center.
by CNB