When I was 14 years old I attended a summer arts program at Everybody's Creative Arts Center downtown Oakland, California. One of the styles of dance I was introduced to was Dunham technique created by the the great Katherine Dunham: black dance pioneer, activist, choreographer, and cultural anthropologist. My Dunham teacher was Halifu Osumare. This summer program was a great learning experience where our young minds were fed music, dance, theater and given our own opportunity to create choreographic expressions.
From Dr. Osumare I learned the importance of ownership of self and the things important to us. The way she took up space in occupying beautiful dance studios and theaters in Oakland that housed generations of african, jazz and hip hop dancers inspires me to this day. It is in these spaces I learned activism and how art can help
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B-Love's BlogA view into the world of Artist/Entrepreneur Traci Bartlow Archives
October 2023
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