Start off your summer with a 2-hour high energy and style-loaded dance workshop by Kanukai and Shemica (Caliwynd). This workshop explores Zimbabwean traditional dance by Kanukai, Caliwynd (dancehall, afrobeats, hip hop dance and traditional African) dance by Shemica, and the latest Afrobeats dance moves.
Afro Dance Workshop- Kanu-Cali
June 2 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Sierra 2 Center-Studio 1
2791 24th Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
$15
ABOUT
Kanukai Chigamba
Kanukai Chigamba started dancing at a young age in Harare, Zimbabwe, at Biras, all night ceremonies. She later joined the Mhembero Dance Troupe, performing traditional Zimbabwean dance locally. In 2010 she moved to Oakland and is now part of the traditional Zimbabwean dance group, Chinyakare Ensemble. Chigamba has performed all over the United States including at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Zimfest in Oregon, Monterey Bay Reggaefest and the Africa Day Celebration in Washington, D.C.. Kanukai is also proficient in various dance styles in the Congolese, West African, Ndombolo, Afrobeats, Pantsula and Kwaito cultures. Chigamba believes dance is a wonderful way to communicate, share cultures and make new friends.
Shemica Watkins-Johnson
Shemica Watkins-Johnson is a dancer, performer and teacher with extensive experience in traditional and contemporary dances of the African diaspora including Afro-Haitian, Hip hop, Senegalese and Dancehall. Her performance experience includes appearances in John Lee Hooker’s “Dimples” video (2010) and the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival (2012) with Rara Tou Limen, a Bay-Area based Afro-Haitian group directed by Portsha Jefferson. She has choreographed and directed dance pieces for performances at Dance Mission Theater, Oakland's Pan African Festival, East Side Arts Cultural Center, and many more. In 2013, Shemica was crowned Oakland's Dancehall Queen.
Shemica is the originator of Caliwynd, a dance style with influences in Afro-Haitan, Reggae Vybz and Hip Hop. Watkins-Johnson’s goal is to leave a dance legacy for her daughter, which includes rolling out Caliwynd to a broader audience across the United States, her birthplace of Germany and all over the world.