Akoma de Gado Dance & Drum Performance Ensemble

www.akomarva.org

Akoma De Gado, affectionally known as ADG, is an organization of students, educators, performers, dancers, musicians, and other individuals dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and appreciation of pageantry performance arts. Through community outreach, ADG expands arts medium to audiences and their donors through music, dance camps, seminars, workshops, performance theater, conferences, and working with the youth. Check out their website to learn more about their performances and their drop-in African Dance classes on Wednesdays at 7pm at 148 N Sycamore Street in Petersburg, VA. Adults: $10, Children: $5

Mission Statement: Akoma de Gado is a performance ensemble dedicated to the promotion of African diaspora principles, culture, and appreciation of pageantry performance arts: Through performance theatre, workshops, conferences, seminars, and classes. We promote educational and quality entertainment with programs to our youth, audience, donors, and community at large.

I've had the privilege of collaborating with ADG many times:

• collaborating and painting on their costumes (lapas and shirts)

• performing with them at various showcases

• painting live, dancing and drumming together (filmed by NPR for the 2020 Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF)

• hosting the dance and drum ensemble for all 3 JusRé Black Butterfly installments

ADG is important to my development as an artist and to the mentorship of hundreds of young people in the region over the years. They are hard-working, loving, kind and phenomenal performers, dancers, story-tellers and human beings. They show up and show out! They bring their energy, spend their time rehearsing and do so with little recognition. They are my sisters, brothers, neighbors and friends. They are family.

I have also been under the creative tutelage of our beloved Babadunjo Alagunke, Director and Creative force behind ADG! Whether you know him as “Baba D” or “Mr. McCain” through winter and color guard, his impact on the city, and the world is unmatched and unmistakeable! A true “creative,” Baba D has mentored, taught, inspired, led, and done so with a spirit that is uniquely rooted in service, art and creative expression in all forms! He is a champion of showmanship, a master of banter, a hilarious and talented performer, dedicated servant and King of “GO BACK and do that again because you tried it!” Baba D doesn’t always “get his flowers,” but I’m standing, with the thousands of creatives who’ve been able to be encouraged by him, to offer them today! We salute you and celebrate you today! Asé!

Check out "We Rise" below (an ADG & JusRé collaboration with NPR/PBS for the Richmond International Film Festival 2020)