Part 2 of 3 - Afro Urban Dance Workshop Vol. 11
About this Event
Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre Inc. presents Afro Urban Dance Workshops (AUDW) Vol 11: Traditional Cameroon dance - Bikutsi and Coupé-Décalé Foundations.
Join us for a vibrant celebration and recognition of popular Afro-diasporic dance forms. This workshop series invites participants to explore movement, history, and cultural context through African traditional, street, and social dances that continue to shape urban culture in Calgary.
In this eleventh installment of the AUDW series, we are excited to spotlight dynamic modern and traditional styles from Africa and the Afro-diaspora. Participants will have the opportunity to engage deeply with both Traditional Cameroon dance - Bikutsi and Coupé-Décalé Foundations, learning not only the movements but also the cultural stories and influences behind them.
We look forward to welcoming you for an energetic, educational, and inspiring dance experience!
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Ordinateur - Coupé-Décalé Foundations
10 am - 12 pm
Class Description: Step into the vibrant world of Coupé Décalé, the iconic dance and music style that emerged from Ivory Coast and has become one of Africa’s most influential street dance forms. This high energy class introduces participants to the history, culture, and signature movements of Coupé Décalé, including foundational steps inspired by football culture, animation, and playful social interaction. Through fast paced footwork, rhythm, and performance driven movement, dancers will build confidence, musicality, and an appreciation for the spirit of bonne ambiance, the joyful energy at the heart of Coupé Décalé.
Athena Lucie Assamba - Bikutsi
1 pm - 3 pm
Class Description: Rooted in the traditions of the Beti people of Cameroon, Bikutsi is a powerful dance and music form known for its driving rhythms, grounded footwork, and expressive movement. This class explores Bikutsi through dance, rhythm, and cultural storytelling, introducing participants to its distinctive polyrhythms, body isolations, and dynamic energy. Suitable for all levels, the class offers an engaging opportunity to connect with Cameroonian culture while building musicality, coordination, and confidence.
TICKETS:
One Workshop (Traditional Cameroon dance - Bikutsi OR Coupé-Décalé Foundations): $30
Both Workshops: $50
NOTE: This is one of three AUDWs that are happening in July. The other dates are July 11 and 25, and the guest dance artists are teaching Traditional Ethiopian Dance, Kuduro, Coupé-Décalé Evolution and Azonto.
Contact Aissatou at [email protected] if you have any questions or for more information.
Born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Ordinateur is widely recognized as a pioneering force in Ivorian urban dance and the originator of the distinctive Magic Feet style, a technique celebrated for its speed, precision, and rhythmic complexity.
Identified early for his exceptional agility and creativity, he quickly rose within the coupé-décalé movement, contributing to its evolution both on the streets and on major stages. His collaborations with influential artists such as DJ Arafat helped amplify his visibility and solidify his role in shaping the visual identity of the genre during a critical period of its global expansion.
Now based in Europe, Ordinateur continues to extend his impact internationally through performances, masterclasses, and cultural exchange initiatives. His work goes beyond technique, rooted in a philosophy that positions dance as a tool for empowerment, transmission, and social connection. Through workshops and community engagement, he actively invests in the next generation of dancers, particularly within diasporic and underserved communities.
Balancing stage practice, pedagogy, and humanitarian efforts, Ordinateur embodies a generation of artists who are both culturally grounded and globally engaged. His explosive yet intentional style reflects not only artistic excellence but also a deep commitment to unity, resilience, and the transformative power of movement.
Athena Lucie Assamba is a multi- and interdisciplinary artist, an emerging performer and choreographer in dance. Their practice is rooted in traditional and contemporary African dances and in Street Dances. Being of Cameroonian origin, their initiation into traditional Dance began in their homeland. Then in 2019, Athena discovered the street dance community more deeply, which allowed them to learn and practice different dance styles such as Waacking, Dancehall, as well as various African urban dances such as Ndombolo, Mbolé, and Afro house. In 2020, they joined the professional dance group Afrodomtl, where they collaborate with its members to provide support to dancers in their initiation and professional practice of African and Afro-descendant dances, with the aim of promoting diversity in the Montreal and Canadian dance scene.
In addition, Athena is an emerging choreographer and artistic director. In 2023, they created 2 dance pieces: BOSEMBO, a piece about vulnerability and acceptance to be free, and NkulNnam, an interdisciplinary piece that aims to be a study on spiritual freedom, moving from the village to the moon via the club. These pieces were presented at Open Body, Festival Phénoména, and Ausgang Plaza in Montreal, respectively. In 2024, they created a duo piece entitled African Celestial Beings, which highlights the art and spirituality of African masks and mask dancers, particularly among the Bamiléké people of western Cameroon. Parallel to creation, they are currently training at the Nyata Nyata center of philosopher Zab Maboungou, continuing to explore the ancestrality of movement in African dance by revisiting its foundations. They also trained at École des Sables in 2024.
As a multidisciplinary artist, they express their art through various mediums such as styling, music and singing, and movement. They describe their art as the product of the mysticism of the African essence: its spirituality, its culture, its imagination, and all its states of existence. Through their art, they explore ancestral and untransmitted knowledge.
A graduate in neuroscience, they explore different means of healing through movement and art.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 33.40 to CAD 54.73
