September 10, 2015

Ananya Dance Theatre performing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 

Crossing Boundaries Profile PhotoAnanya Dance Theatre will present the keynote performance at the Crossing Boundaries Festival & Conference, September 25, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The company will present “Roktim: Nurture Incarnadine,” its new production that premieres at The O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul, September 18-19, at the Ethiopian National Theatre.

At the invitation of the U.S. Embassy, the ensemble also will perform in celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Ethiopia, and will present workshops and build relationships with local women’s groups in performance. The Embassy was particularly interested in the way ADT uses the arts to build community.

The Crossing Boundaries Festival is organized by Ethiopian Theater Professionals Association (ETPA) with the collaboration of Addis Ababa University (AAU) College of Performing and Visual Arts, Ethiopian National Theater, and Sundance Institute’s East African Theater Program Ethiopian Alumni. 

Crossing Boundaries Festival Ethiopia is part of 15 festivals held all over the world by Performance Studies International (PSI). “Performances won’t just be entertainment but opportunities to think, and explore thoughts of Pan-Africanism” said Surafel Wondimu, international relations coordinator of the event.

‘’We used to wait for westerners to come and conduct such events and when they go we don’t keep them up, but now we believe we can do it independently and responsibly,” said Azeb Worku, artistic director of the festival.

Performers from 10 different countries will perform. There will be 19 performances, 12 from abroad and the rest by local artists. Meaza Worku, program director, said that the festival and conference will include a variety of events such as photograph exhibitions, food art performance, visual art, traditional Ethiopian dance, and poetic Jazz. In addition, there will be presentations and discussion on various topics related to art in the region. 

Nebiyu Baye from Addis Ababa University said that the Festival and conference will help students see theater from a new perspective and learn about theatrical arts beyond the confines of the classroom.

Ananya Dance Theatre departs Minneapolis-St. Paul on Sunday, September 20, and returns on Tuesday, September 29.