TORONTO — It took less than five minutes for each member of the Vintage Dancers, a local dance troupe, to respond affirmatively about performing in Ghana.
Esther Pifko
When their teacher, performing artist and educator Sarina Condello, e-mailed the 12 women, all between the ages of 62 and 73, she wasn’t surprised at the quick responses, she said.
The troupe, 11 of whom are Jewish, travelled in March along with Condello; Kwasi Dunyo, an internationally recognized drummer and teacher; and two photographers, to Dagbamete, Ghana, to take part in the spring festival, a spiritual event in that region of Ghana.
“Most had not been to Africa, and they all have a sense of adventure. They were ready immediately to come with me,” Condello said.
Dancer Frances Bleviss, who was accompanied by her 33-year-old daughter, said that despite the “extreme heat and humidity, the trip was amazing.
“The dancing was a hit – about 1,000 people attended one performance – and we all managed to ignore the drops of blood from a goat carcass on the floor of the shrine when we danced barefoot wearing traditional African gear.”
When one dancer, whom Bleviss described as short and heavy, came onto the stage, the crowd went wild, she said.
“There were cheers and shouts. They applauded her for her size and her spirit. She said she had never been appreciated like that before.”
Condello, 44, said that our culture is youth-driven. “We do not recognize the creativity, wisdom and power of our elders. They are almost invisible. Attached to that is the notion that their bodies are not sexually attractive, and that they have no agility. All of that is absolutely untrue. My dancers are sensual and energetic, and most are over 65.”
Condello said that Africa is the birthplace of communal dance, and her intention in planning the trip was to bring the women together to celebrate the ecstasy and joy of communal dancing.
“Dancing is an inherent part of African culture. They dance to pray, to mourn, to celebrate, and I wanted my dancers to experience that. In Africa, they dance until they die moving. Nothing is ever the same after you’ve danced to drums in Africa.”
Bleviss, who has been dancing with Condello for three years, said that until then, she hadn’t danced in three decades.
“Then I retired, my mother died, and a 91/2-year relationship ended. I knew I would find myself through dance, because it was a way to connect my heart and spirit through movement.”
Every woman on the trip came back with a sense of pride, she said. “We all got something from the experience, and we all have a magic moment that opened our hearts. We came face to face with the good things and the bad things that drive humanity.”
A defining moment for her, she said, was a banquet that took place on dancer Sharon Hampson’s – of the children’s singing group Sharon, Lois and Bram – 65th birthday.
Canadian in Ghana
“Fifteen elder women invited us to the banquet. There were 15 of us and 15 of them, and only one of them spoke English. The African women came in full traditional gear and tasted champagne for the first time.
“We proved that people can bond without language when we danced the horah together to drums, and when we all hugged and kissed good night.”
Bleviss said that since she met Condello, “I have been moving in ways our culture does not promote. For the first time, it really feels good to be a woman. Dancing has freed me in ways I never thought possible. I may move less and less, but I will never stop.”
The Vintage dancers will be performing in African outfits at a cabaret in November to raise money for a water reservoir in Dagbamete. For more information, e-mail Condello at [email protected].
Ghana dancers
