Friday, March 28, 1 – 2 PM, Dance Tech Studio PAHB 231, reception to follow, RSVP
Thomas Talawa Prestø is a pioneer in Africana performance studies and a foremost specialist in polycentric dance technique. As the founder of the internationally acclaimed Tabanka Dance Ensemble, Prestø has performed in over 30 countries and developed the Talawa Technique™, which has significantly enriched the field of dance with over 80 novel terminologies and concepts. This comprehensive dance method, taught worldwide, integrates ancestral movements with contemporary sensibilities. Prestø’s research delves into the ethical considerations of cultural heritage utilization and the impacts of globalization on African cultural expressions.
Created by Thomas Talawa Prestø, the Talawa Technique™ seamlessly merges ancestral movements with culturally contextualized vocabulary and contemporary movement sensibilities. This innovative approach bridges the gap between diverse forms of dance, including stage dance, social dance, club and street dances, traditional and spiritual dances, and many other expressions. The Talawa Technique™ is an Africognosomatic technique grounded in the African and African Diaspora understanding of the body, rhythm, and complex polycentric movement. This fusion creates a rich, dynamic framework suitable for both stage performances and artistic productions, enabling dancers to explore a wide spectrum of movement qualities while remaining deeply rooted in cultural heritage. This technique serves as both a repository and a dynamic framework, facilitating a deeper engagement with Africana dance practices and their philosophical underpinnings. It transcends cultural boundaries, offering significant value to practitioners from diverse backgrounds through its systematic and accessible approach to kinaesthetics and body mechanics.
Thomas Talawa Prestø’s 25-year career has been dedicated to elevating the technical and intellectual appreciation of these dance traditions. He holds an MA in Choreography and is in his final stages of a Phd in Artistic Research from Østfold University College in Norway. His work has been instrumental in redefining the technical mastery of African and Caribbean dance, ensuring that it is recognized for its complexity and richness on a global scale.