Dance to FreedomDance to Freedom tells the story of the Ewé people who were taken from West Africa to the Caribbean as slaves. This simple piece performed by two dancer / facilitators uses the medium of dance, mask and physical theatre with the addition of very simple dialogue. 
The Ewé celebrate their lives through dance and the performance begins with a typical dance to honour first the harvest and then the birth of a new born baby. Their happiness is soon shattered when their families are torn apart as adults and children are captured and taken on board a slave ship.
After a long journey on a tightly packed ship the slaves arrive in the Caribbean where they are put to work harvesting sugar cane. The dance this time shows the physical restrictions placed upon them and the sadness and burden of the work. But they still remember their families and their old lives and the dance changes to reflect those memories and to demonstrate that freedom of imagination and memory that can still be retained whatever the circumstances. Finally the abolition of slavery brings both freedom and influences from India and China which are highlighted in a joyful Calypso. Follow on workshops can both explore the issues raised here and teach the children some of the simple steps that have been used to create these – at times – emotionally charged dances. Suitable for: Key Stage 1 and 2 Curriculum: In addition to contributing directly towards a greater understanding of Black History, this piece also supports Dance units with the PE curriculum.
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