Gechett
Piece for 7 dancers: 3 males, 4 females
Duration: 15min
Premiered on the Wednesday 27 October 2010 at
National Theatre - Addis Ababa
Commisioned by
Adugna Dance Company
Choreography: Dam Van Huynh
Rehearsal Director: Dom Czapski
Music: Lee J. Malcom
Performed by
Adugna Dance Company
Addisu Demissie, Abraham Tamene, Andualem Amare, Asrat Mamo, Meseret Yirga, Shiferaw Tariku, Genet Demissie, Nuria Mohammed, Junaid Jemal, Gebremeskel Shewarega
This project was supported by
Dance United and
The Gemini Foundation (formerly The Ethiopian Gemini Trust).
See also:
Dance United
www.dance-united.com
The Gemini Foundation (The Ethiopian Gemini Trust)
www.geminitrust.org
About Adugna Dance Company
Adugna Dance Company based in Addis Ababa - Ethiopia - was founded in 2001. The Company began as an initiative by the founders of
Dance United and its current directors. Since its inception the Company has been supported by
The Gemini Foundation.
The creation of Adugna was based on the belief that young people, when given the opportunities, have enormous talent. Eighteen former street and working children were trained to become professional dancers, dance artists and teachers. The project grew until reaching the status of a now international dance company.
The Company has collaborated with many African and European artists and performed in international venues and festivals including the
Montpellier Dance Festival and the
5th African and Indian Ocean Choreographic Festival.
But theatres are not Adugna’s only stage. Adugna members are also skilled community workshop leaders. Most days they can be found working hard in their communities teaching and sharing their knowledge and skills with all members of the community: children, other young people, the disabled and the elderly. Through dance and drama, they provide other Ethiopians with a greater realisation of their own worth as individuals and with an increased awareness about a range of social issues, including HIV/AIDS, the status of women and discrimination.
In 2009, two of the Company’s members,
Junaid Jemal Sendi and
Addisu Demissie, performed in
Destino presented at
Sadler’s Wells.
Junaid was also the recipient of the
International Rolex Protégé Award for Dance and Choreography in 2004, the first African and youngest recipient of this honour.