Rara Tou Limen is thrilled to offer the community programmed activities featuring dance, music and cultural enrichment.
Here's to a dance season filled with CREATIVE ABUNDANCE * PROSPERITY * STRENGTH and SOLIDARITY within our dance community. We look forward to collectively celebrating the richness and vibrancy of Haitian culture with you!
Have You Heard The GOOD News?!
RTL turns 10!
Veve Sessions: Lwa Embodied
Concept/Stylist: Portsha Jefferson
Veve Artists: Sandrine Malary, Halima Marshall
Photo Credit: Chaplin Street Studio
Rara Tou Limen supporters, devotees of Haiti, and loyal community,we are THRILLED to announce to the world that in celebration of our 10th Anniversary,
Rara Tou Limen Dance & Drum Performing Company
will travel to Haiti to perform August 20-September 3, 2014!
We are deeply humbled, honored, and excited for the opportunity to share our
artistic offerings with the people of Haiti.
"Minokan Session" Concept/Stylist: Portsha Jefferson
Photo Credit: Chaplin Street Studio
We value and appreciate our community, as your participation and support has allowed Rara Tou Limen to present the rich, cultural traditions of Haiti, through educational platforms and performance. We need your support more than ever to make our dream a reality! Every dollar you contribute will get us closer to our goal.
Please consider donating to our Go Fund Me Campaign by clicking on the link below.
Help us to continue to uplift a country whose culture has increasingly sustained the Bay Area's artistic community and beyond.
Please consider donating to our Go Fund Me Campaign by clicking on the link below.
Help us to continue to uplift a country whose culture has increasingly sustained the Bay Area's artistic community and beyond.
check out what our donors are saying...
Rara Tou Limen has brought me so much joy, and I would love nothing more than to see you beautiful people make it to Haiti! Blessings to you all! - R. Cobbs
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Thanks to Daniel Brevil, who so generously brought us through the doors and into the heart of Haitian culture, and to Portsha Jefferson and Rara Tou Limen for imparting the spirit at Sunday church.
- M. Garbus 
Your story is wonderful, and having just spent a magical 10 days in Haiti I would love to help support you to get there! Best of luck to you! - C. Williams I'm so proud RTL is repping the Bay in Haiti! I'm honored to support your amazing adventure! - C. Barnes Blessings to you on this important journey! - A. Tabor-Smith |
You've been waiting! It's FINALLY here!
Order your RTL10 Anniversary T-Shirt!
VEVE Sessions: Lwa Embodied
We thank you in advance for representing Rara Tou Limen in style!
FRONT - Click on photo to PURCHASE
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BACK - Click on photo to PURCHASE
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UPCOMING EVENTS
2014 is our year, the 31st is our day, and during the month of MAY we are celebrating in a BIG way. We have a host of offerings for the community to begin in May. Join us in the festivities!
MAY 4
RTL honors Kouzen Zaka (Azaka, Azaka Mede, Minis), the patron Lwa (spirit) of farmers and agriculture, during his feast month [May]. Known as a Lwa travay, a work Lwa, Kouzen Zaka is a hard worker who works the earth with his hands and enjoys the simple things in life. Join us as we sing and learn Zaka's dances: Djouba, Konbit, and Chawo Pye.
Suggested attire: Straw hats, straw/wicker baskets, karabel clothing (denim/chambray) skirts, shirts, patchwork, plaids, gingham prints, etc. Offering: Please bring a fruit or vegetable for the altar. The Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, OAK 2pm-4pm *$15 |
MAY 18
May 18th is observed as an official holiday in Haiti in observance of the creation of the Haitian Flag Day. The Flag was created on May 18, 1803 in Archaie, a town outside of Port-au-Prince.
RTL celebrates Haitian Flag Day - a symbol of freedom, pride, and unity with RARA, a FUN & FESTIVE dance thats guaranteed to get you moving! Suggested attire: Red, Blue, Haitian Flag paraphernalia The Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, OAK 2pm-4pm *$15 *a portion of class proceeds will be contributed to our "Help Rara Tou Limen travel to Haiti" gofundme campaign. |
JUNE 1
Celebrating a Milestone!
10 YEARS - Creating. Teaching. Performing. Building. COMMUNITY!
AUGUST 8-10
RASANBLE!
Haitian Arts & Culture Festival 2014
[click on photo for RASANBLE! info]
BRAZIL + HAITI UNITE!
Rara Tou Limen presented our latest artistic offering, Serpent BLESSINGS, to a warm, inviting, and responsive audience, at CONTINUITY: a collaborative dance workshop + performance with celebrated Brazilian dancer, and choreographer, Rosangela Silvestre, and Portsha Jefferson, artistic director of
Rara Tou Limen.
Rara Tou Limen Performance Company
We were honored to share the stage with Rosangela Silvestre, bringing Brazil + Haiti together, while intertwining the powerful Serpent energy of Oxumare and Danbala Wedo. What a magical evening!
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Haitian Folkloric + Orixa Movement with Portsha & Rosangela
Community Dance Class at Dance Mission Theater
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RTL Kanaval NEWS!
There was a winding, curving, hissing, moving entity that slithered it's way into San Francisco's Carnaval. The Serpent!
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Photo Credit: Chaplin Street Studio
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Oakland | San Francisco | Haiti email: raratoulimen@gmail.com
DANCE * SONG * DRUM Workshops
Master Classes | Performances
School Residencies | Cultural Exchange Trips | Kanaval Group
PORTSHA T. JEFFERSON
FOUNDER/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Click on Portsha's image for Oakland North Article
DANIEL "BRAV" BREVIL
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Click on Daniel's image to hear the Haitian rhythm Ibo
Rara Tou Limen embodies a deep and cherished legacy, developing strength
and solidarity within its Haitian communities...
Rara Tou Limen continues to uplift a country whose culture has increasingly sustained the Bay Area’s artistic community and beyond!
Our objective is to help nurture and cultivate Haitian dance and music traditions in the Bay Area through building & enhancing working relationships between artists promoting Haitian culture across the U.S. and in Haiti.
In keeping with this tradition of exchange, Rara Tou Limen conducted its first cultural exchange tour to Haiti with 10 members in April '09 & April '13 to further investigate & research Haitian cultural traditions. [click pic 4 video] |
