Nzinga Dance

A big thank you to you and the guys for the performance on Monday, received lots of positive feedback from our attendees who all enjoyed it!
Wandsworth Primary Care Trust 'Dancing Away Depression' Event April 2009

African dance workshop - Nzinga Dance
In November 2008, Nzinga Dance Company came to the Academy to deliver a dance workshop in a Ghanaian style of African Dance. The workshop was taught to a group of year 8 and year 11 students by Deanna De Sousa and accompanied by her live drummer.

The students developed an understanding of how important the relationship between the music and dance is. The students learned a set dance, which they performed to each other at the end of each session. The structure of the dance was determined by set musical cues, which was an excellent way of developing the students listening skills. They thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and inspired by the tutor from Nzinga dance so much that demanded that she come and work with them again !
PGCE Teacher of dance, Harris Academy Peckham, November 2008

We enjoyed the most superb day with Nzinga - we were all absolutely bowled over by the fantastic performance at the
start of the day (to get up and do that early in the morning too!!) and then the pupils so enthusiastically threw themselves into the workshops. Members of staff also took part and thoroughly enjoyed the experience which added to the whole day's enjoyment. A resounding success and a truly memorable day. The feedback after the day has
been full of praise for Nzinga.
St Olave's School, York. June 2008

I wanted to say a massive thank you to the band and dancers, you have all been amazing and very helpful. They were truly fantastic, they really were and such a pleasure to be around even when they were not dancing and drumming. Our guests enjoyed the entertainment very much and were mesmerised by the dancing, and had fun joining in too.
Panacea, Manchester

Just to say a big 'THANK YOU' for Saturday evening, you were all spectacular! What entertainment, skills and energy I could not have wished for anything better. Nzinga Dance made my party and really got everyone in the mood for dancing later on. For me it was a truly memorable 50th birthday party. Thank you once again
S. Siddle, March 2007

Thanks for the fantastic and inspiring drum workshop
North Bridge House School, January 2007

Thanks once again to you and your performers for a wonderful performance today. Both the young people and the staff are still 'buzzing' and talking about it!
Royal Bethlem Hospital October 2006

Thank you so much for helping to create a wonderful and memorable day for our family, and guests. From the delight on guests' faces, their leaping up and down, the applause - I know they were enchanted by your performances. Thank you for giving us the joy of experiencing your art.
P. Gormley, Wedding August 2006

I totally enjoyed both the performance I was able to take part in and seeing the incredible smiles and athlecticism displayed by the amazing Nzinga dancers! I invited my family along to watch and they too really enjoyed the show - the are still talking about it! We really enjoyed taking part in the lessons and have been impressed at how much we have learned. We are both really excited to start again in April and learn more skills. Thank you once again for this incredible experience
Horniman Museum course student/end of term show

I felt I had to email you to say a huge thank you for the most wonderful and exciting performance at our Wedding Party last Saturday. I had no idea what I was booking for our wedding celebration, other than what I’d seen on your website – we were just desperate to have some African dancing to remind us of our time spent in South Africa. Your performers were fantastic and made our party really special, we have had nothing but compliment after compliment on Nzinga Dance...
Performance January 2006

"I really couldn’t believe my eyes how quickly Nzinga’s energy transformed a room full of sleeping people into a room of energised dancing! – the grins on the faces in the audience said it all. We’ve also had elated feedback from supporters who enjoyed dancing next to Nzinga in the dawn procession. Many thanks to everyone at Nzinga Dance."
Christian Aid, re. Trade For Justice March/April 2005

"Just wanted to confirm how delighted we were with the Nzinga group of Dancers and Drummers. Their performance was amazingly energetic and exciting. They really captured the mood of Africa, even in the darkness of deepest Essex on a winters night! A great performance which was well received by an audience most of whom had never experienced such an event.
Well done and thanks."
L. Olins

"You were really good with the children and really got a lot from them in a short space of time. The parents all commented on how much they enjoyed the show too, and one lady was delighted with how her daughter's confidence had increased over the 3 days."
Sutton House - The National Trust

"The carnival was a huge success, thank you. Thanks so much for the help from Nzinga - the workshops you put on for us were fantastic, particularly the percussion and Carnival parade ones."
Hollydale Primary School, London June 2004

"I've only just got back after 'Rock Bottoms!' The Nzinga Dancers & Drummers were fantastic! I'm far too old so just watched - along with 50 or so others - a good crowd of participants getting totally worn out having a complete hoot. It's not often that a class gets a thunderous round of applause from the *observers*, let alone the participants, but this was the exception!!! Amazing stuff. And the cabaret act was awesome."
'Rock Bottoms' Dance Weekender, May 2004

"Well just to say - the course is fantastic and the teacher is great. Really enjoyed, thanks"
J. Cray, Student/ Horniman Museum Dance course 2003 & 2004

"The children and parents (and workers!) really enjoyed themselves and I believe it was the highlight of the day." Sure Start Tulse Hill/Music workshops October 2003

"Your performance was wonderful with complete acceptance of the children's interaction. Thank you very much."
Maytree Nursery School London October 2004

"A big thank you for Friday's Launch performance. I have heard nothing but praise from visitors on the night."
National Maritime Museum BHM Launch Performance , October 2004

I just wanted to let you know how much the staff and students enjoyed the Drumming and Dance workshop. The students who took part will be able to use what they have learned in their 'A' level coursework and more importantly have had their lives enriched by the experience."
Herne Bay High School, September 2004

"Pupils were very enthusiastic about the drumming & really enjoyed it"
St Josephs Junior School London SE5/African Drumming Workshops May 2004

"Staff were most impressed by the way the workshops were tailored to each year group. It was an excellent day and one we hope to repeat. Many thanks".
St Edmunds Junior School, Canterbury, March 2003

HOMOWO, African Dance Masterclasses @ Oval House Theatre 2002.
"Classes attracted dancers with experience in a variety of styles... Artists inspired a sense of welcome & unity distracting any feelings of intimidation sometimes experienced by dancers learning new styles. Students were taught to be relaxed & intuitive with movements & understand meaning in relation to dance. I would recommend if you get the opportunity to participate in one of Nzinga's classes, the dance spirit will reach out & inspire you to do more!"
extract from HOTFOOT - Association of Dance of the African Diaspora magazine issue 3 Summer 2002