Duniya Dance & Drum
Company
The Bay Area's Only South Asian and West African Dance & Drum Company
2023 South Asian Choreography Fest:
When Eyes Speak is San Francisco’s first South Asian Choreography Festival! Come join us as we celebrate the rich heritage and diversity of South Asian dance and will feature performances from some of the most talented choreographers in the Bay Area!
Featuring Radical History Walking Tour of the Mission led by Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee and Ghadar Geet performed by Joti Singh and Duniya Dance and Drum Company.
Three Performances from May 12-14!
Friday, May 12 - Performance at 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 13 - Walking Tour from 5:30-7:00 pm. Performance at 8:00 pm
Sunday, May 14 - Walking Tour at 2:00-3:30 pm. Performance 4:00 pm
DONATE TO DUNIYA TODAY!
Open Call for Dancers
We are looking for professional South Asian or other BIPOC dancers who are available for weekday, daytime rehearsals, 3-6 hours/week from February to April 2023. Dancers will be paid $22/hour for rehearsals and an additional fee for performances, at least $300 for each performance. Performances are May 12-14. Dancers must be flexible the week preceding the performances for tech rehearsals.
We are preparing for "Ghadar Geet: Blood and Ink" at Dance Mission Theater in SF. The performance tells the story of choreographer Joti Singh's great grandfather and his role in the Ghadar Party, which was based in the Bay Area in the early 1900s. Ghadar members were fighting for India's independence from the British. The performance interweaves dance, music and spoken poetry.
Dancers should be trained in a variety of dance forms. Singh's training is primarily Bhangra and West African, but dancers from other forms are welcome. Exact rehearsal days/times will be decided upon collectively, depending on everyone's availability. Rehearsals will be in Oakland and San Francisco. We welcome all gender identities. If interested, please contact joti@duniyadance.com with a brief description of your dance background and your rehearsal availability.
UPCOMING Workshop
Pasoori Dance workshop with Artistic Director of Duniya Dance and Drum Company, Joti Singh
Date: Sunday, January 29, 2023
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Location: Shawl Anderson Dance Center, Berkeley
Click below for more details
TAKE A LESSON
Duniya teaches traditional and innovative performance arts from Guinea, West Africa and Punjab, India.
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OUR MISSION
To cultivate respect for traditional forms, foster cultural exchange, effect social justice and engage in community building, Duniya performs and teaches traditional and innovative performance pieces from Guinea, West Africa and Punjab, India.
About
DUNIYA
Formed in April 2007, Duniya Dance and Drum Company creates dance and music from Punjab, India, and Guinea, West Africa, as well as unique blends of these forms and beyond. The word duniya means “world” in a wide array of languages, including Punjabi, Arabic, Susu and Wolof. Duniya’s work embodies this word, as it explores the forces that have brought together the members of the company and their dance and drum styles, including, but not limited to, colonization, globalization, immigration, art, dance, music and love.
SUPPORT THE ARTS
Help us to continue to promote social justice through performance art and cultural exchange. Become a donor today. All tax-deductible donations are made through our fiscal sponsor, Dancers’ Group.
TRADITION
Duniya cultivates respect for the music and dance of Guinea, West Africa and Punjab, India, as well as the history of these forms and the people who practice them, by creating and presenting traditional dance and music from these regions.
Cultural Exchange
Duniya builds awareness of and exchange between diasporic and traditional populations by creating innovative work that crosses boundaries of genres and explores cross-cultural themes, and by taking students annually to Guinea, West Africa.
Social Justice
Duniya promotes immigrant rights and the important role of traditional dance and music in society, through telling the stories of immigrant and diasporic communities with music and dance and collaborating with local nonprofits to offer low-cost or free performances and classes.
Community Building
Duniya contributes to a network of artists and audiences that supports and values the contributions of its cultural artists by collaborating with other companies, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
