Our Beloved Dance Community!
 Give THANKS for our amazing drummers! |
 Portsha teaching NAGO |
Community Dance & Drum Offerings... in Motion!
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Testimonials
"Every move I make, my muscles remind me that I danced hard. I love this kind of muscle pain, the I got a good work out pain. I just can't help it when those Haitian drums start going, it just gives me ENERGY. I can always count on Portsha to deliver a fabulous class. It's that consistency, her good teaching energy and the live drums that keep me going even though I have this little one at home tugging on me. Oh and watch out when she comes back from a trip to Haiti - she's on fire! Love it!" - Parousha Z.
"Portsha Jefferson and Rara Tou Limen is the best, combining high energy in her dance classes with attention to detail and folkloric technique. Portsha also takes the time to explain the cultural background of traditional Haitian dances and rhythms. With skilled drumming by recognized masters, classes are suitable for all - from beginners to advanced students. You'll come away from these classes truly inspired by the rhythms, and ready for more! It's addictive!" - Coco K.
"What makes this "more than a dance class" so authentic is the knowledge, respect and overall love the instructor and lead drummer have for Haiti and its people. They stay connected to the larger Haitian community in the US and abroad. They truly love what they are doing, as it is seen in the way they take their craft seriously and operate so professionally. This class is the highlight of my week. I leave class feeling emotionally refreshed, physically strengthened, and spiritually full." - Halima M.
"A fabulous workout and cultural experience! Portsha Jefferson teaches a dance class that will not only work every muscle in your body, but will inspire you to learn all you can about Haitian culture. Her choreography is beautiful and varied and is always both mentally and physically challenging. She breaks down not only the movements she is teaching, but explains what the dance and its accompanying rhythm means and what you should be expressing while you dance." - E. Aviva
"A fabulous workout and cultural experience! Portsha Jefferson teaches a dance class that will not only work every muscle in your body, but will inspire you to learn all you can about Haitian culture. Her choreography is beautiful and varied and is always both mentally and physically challenging. She breaks down not only the movements she is teaching, but explains what the dance and its accompanying rhythm means and what you should be expressing while you dance." - E. Aviva
Workshops ~ Master Classes ~ Retreats
Brooklyn, NY | October 2019
New Orleans. LA | December 2018
New Orleans, LA | August 2018
Rara Tou Limen & Grupo Mbele
in collaboration with
Dimensions Dance Theater of Oakland
present:
LA FANMÍ
An interdisciplinary research and performance project, originally conceived by Angel Yoel Mulen-robert, Pablo Soto Campoamor & Portsha Jefferson. Bringing together the rich Haitian traditions of Eastern Cuba (Guantánamo in particular) with their equivalents in present-day Haitian folklore.
Drum, song, dance, costume, theater, language, and spirituality. All these components survived among the Cuban descendents of Haitian migrants. So important is the connection between the two islands that, outside of Haiti itself, the second largest population of Haitian Kreyol speakers is in Cuba. In many other ways, Cuba has served as fertile ground for Haitian roots.
In our workshops we focus on a variety of dance & music forms present on both islands, and teach them side by side. In this way we not only deepen our understanding of each form, but also uncover the similarities, and variations between them. These dance intensives are enriched by cultural, and historic information related to the particular expression, providing further context.
in collaboration with
Dimensions Dance Theater of Oakland
present:
LA FANMÍ
An interdisciplinary research and performance project, originally conceived by Angel Yoel Mulen-robert, Pablo Soto Campoamor & Portsha Jefferson. Bringing together the rich Haitian traditions of Eastern Cuba (Guantánamo in particular) with their equivalents in present-day Haitian folklore.
Drum, song, dance, costume, theater, language, and spirituality. All these components survived among the Cuban descendents of Haitian migrants. So important is the connection between the two islands that, outside of Haiti itself, the second largest population of Haitian Kreyol speakers is in Cuba. In many other ways, Cuba has served as fertile ground for Haitian roots.
In our workshops we focus on a variety of dance & music forms present on both islands, and teach them side by side. In this way we not only deepen our understanding of each form, but also uncover the similarities, and variations between them. These dance intensives are enriched by cultural, and historic information related to the particular expression, providing further context.
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NAGO
This workshop will present Haitian Nagó, followed by its equivalent in the Haitian-based folklore of Eastern Cuba. We will explore the similarities, and unique differences between the two, and how migration, language, and memory can survive, and adapt. Leading the Haitian session is Portsha Jefferson, and the Cuban-Haitian session with Royland Lobato, both keepers of the culture within Haitian, Cuban, & Cuban-Haitian folkloric expressions!! |
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Havana, Cuba | August 2017 | Haitian Folkloric + Cuban Haitian Workshop with Rara Tou Limen & Ban Rarra
Havana, Cuba | August 2017 | Haitian Folkloric + Cuban Haitian Workshop with Rara Tou Limen & Ban Rarra
Haitian Folkloric Workshop with Portsha Jefferson & Daniel Brevil | Sponsored by: Mapou Ginen | Montreal, Canada | August 2016
Dance with us this SUMMER! UC Berkeley Summer Sessions - 2014
These beautiful people spoke Kreyol with ease
(thanks to their fabulous instructor, Daniel Brevil), sang with their heart, and danced from their soul! I am so proud of their progress and am blessed to be on this journey to share, inspire, and change lives though the power of DANCE!
