It’s Saturday morning and I’m at one of my favorite beaches with sand between my toes, sweaty, surrounded by powerful women, and flowing to the beat of West African rhythms. This is Leida Tolentino’s West African Summer Flow Sessions, an uplifting and empowering session of dance that includes routine, partnered duets, solos, and improvisation to live drumming by Panzumo musicians.
This particular flow session focused on two traditional West African rhythms: Yankadi, a slow, feminine, and seductive dance traditionally performed by both men and women; and Makuru, a dance similar in style that takes place after the slower Yankadi.
After a lively warm up while facing Mother Ocean, each dancer was given two pieces of silk ribbon to hold in their hands. Participants were instructed to use them as an extension of their movements. Since this style is based on seduction, these props can also be used in a flirtatious fashion to single out a chosen partner.