Workshop Dates and Times starting 14 Oct 2015
Wednesdays at 5:30pm -7pm & or Fridays at Noon -1:30pm
2 Sundays before the show
University of Otago School of Dance Dunedin,New Zealand
665 Cumberland Dance Studio
RSVP by Oct 13th 2015. For more information, contact
Jessica Latton akeake@actrix.co.nz or Uzo Nwankpa nwankpa@gmail.com
Come and experience self transformation facilitated by Uzo Nwankpa, a global figure who is merging ancient knowledge with innovation in collaboration with Jimmy Dale from Drumtalk.
For booking call Jimmy Dale at 846 9663 or 012 123 2037
$20 when you book in advance by June 21st. $30 at the door. www.drumtalk.co.nz
I am finally here in Aotearoa!!!!!
I am ecstatic about this moment. I remember when I was informed about this fellowship and I thought to myself ” This is perfect for me and I must go for it” and then the self doubt began. Am I good enough? What about my full time job? What about my living arrangements? Would they care for what an African woman living in the U.S has to say? Would they care that I am not a trained classical dancer? Would they care that I am not a stick figured dancer? What if they don’t understand my accent? Are there black people there? (this was before I found out the meaning of black in Aotearoa is different from where I live). I pushed through all the doubts and moved forward with the application. The application process was much simpler than I had expected. I had to send in a proposal about what I planned on doing through a paper and an unedited video. I had so much anxiety around making the video. I looked through youtube and could not find any previous winners of the fellowship posted. I had one week left to go before the deadline and no video. A friend suggested the interview style I used which made it less nerve racking and it worked. I had sent in numerous proposals which all got rejected so why would this time be different? sent it in with crossed fingers hoping they wouldn’t judge all the background noise and my hair (its a black girl thing to be worried about the perception of the hair). It was less than perfect but because of the timeline, I sent it in anyway. I prayed that it would be selected. I envisioned myself jumping up and down from hearing the good news. Once it was submitted, the anxiety dissipated and all I had control over was my mantras, visualizations and positive thoughts.
Photo Credit : Jade Beall
I am super excited to share with the world this wonderful news. I have been awarded a fellowship to work with a population that is near and dear to my heart women, children and their family. Check out the press release below.
University of Otago Arts Fellowships for 2015 announced
In my last blog post, The Uzo Method Project- A Public Health Solution- Community Based Resource Center for PMAD, I shared some research data that shows the importance of music and dance on energy and stress levels. This curiosity about music and dance continues as I continue to tie my graduate studies work to the power of music and dance. I am striving to build the relationship between being a health care provider in public health nursing and my gift and passion for dance, it is a no brainer to explore and study the best way to merge the two disciplines and worlds.
I was fortunate to be awarded this fellowship at the University of Otago. Yes!!!!! I am going to Aeotoera (New Zealand) as the 2015 Caroline Plummer Dance Fellow. I get to live my dreams combining dance with Maternal and Child Health nursing. This opportunity involves working with the community members of Dunedin NZ as well as the health care providers exploring the culture and perceptions around pre-natal and post-partum mood disorders (PPMD). This would lead to an informed community dance experience and a performance/arts installation at the end.The goal of my Maternal-Child Dance project is to share cultural ideologies around PPMD and engage in community awareness of the benefits of music and dance as a support for the mother, babies and their families and communities as a whole as members experience disturbances due to PPMD.
My dream…..
I wonder what it would be like if nurses, nurse home visitors, nurse midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, OB/GYNs, mental health providers, and family members used music and movement as a part of relieving the anxiety, preventing further depression, decreasing stress, building community, developing positive pathways in the brain, building relationships, improving caregiver child interaction, and improving communication through everyday practice.
Uzo Nwankpa
Founder Uzo Method Project
Back by popular demand….
A Pan African Dance Fusion Class taugh by Uzo Nwankpa
June 11th and 18th
7-8:30pm
10 Chase Court San Francisco CA
See you there
I am honored to continue my journey in life through dance. Dancing is something that brings stillness to my mind. Dancing helps me grow, heal, and survive.
I was asked to help coordinate the Flash Mob to the Overcomer Song by Mandisa in Tucson AZ. The song is very empowering and I jumped on the opportunity. On jan 8th 2011, 17 people were shot and 6 people died. One of the survivors is former congress woman Gabby Giffords. On Wednesday Jan 8th 2014, we remembered the victims and survivors of this tragic event at El Presidio Park downtown Tucson through the flash mob. There were multiple classes held in the community, hospital, high school and YMCA. People committed to learning the moves and they showed up to dance. I was excited to join a team of wonderful visionaries that made this all happen. It was a success. Check out the video and photos from the event.
On Jan 11th, the Beyond Tucson event asked for more and I taught the community the dance. including the Mayor of Tucson Jonathan Rothchild and his wife.
Check out the video
We also got some press coverage
Kids Fit Life Fall Program- HAPPY organization
This is the after math of the wonderful experince I had with the HAPPY organization. What a blast. We danced, we laughed, we told stories and moved. I love working with these young people. Their energy was inspiring and I am honored to have had that moment. Enjoy.
Uzo
We will be here. Community healing at its finest. What better way than to play Live music and motion towards wellness.
It is all a balance.
The Uzo Method Project is proud to support the Tucson community in promoting wellnesss and elevating the spirit through music and movment. Lets celebrate hope.
Richard Noel and Uzo Nwankpa at Cyclovia Tucson AZ 2013
