UNCG: Gee's new dance concert explores notions of 'home'

Robin Gee, associate professor of dance at UNCG, in action. Photo by David Wilson, UNCG University Relations.

Robin Gee, associate professor of dance at UNCG, spent six months last year studying dance and music in Burkina Faso, a small country in French-speaking West Africa. Now Gee and her company, Sugarfoote Productions, are bringing home what she discovered there.

In celebration of Black History Month, Sugarfoote Productions presents “Finding Home” — an evening of music and dance celebrating the art of West Africa and beyond —  on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1. The concert begins at 8 p.m. each night in the UNCG Dance Theater, 1408 Walker Avenue.

“Finding Home” is an eclectic program reflecting the diverse voices of the diaspora and featuring  professional guest artists from around the country. The project celebrates Gee’s return from Burkina Faso and explores the notion of “home” and how we define our most intimate  spaces emotionally, physically and intellectually.

Gee’s trip to  Burkina Faso from January through July 2013 allowed her to continue her research into the changing economies of performing castes in Western Africa. The trip was funded through an international Fulbright Scholars Award.

The concert is an extension of Gee’s work on the continent and her investigations into her own identity. The evening of collaborative dance,  music and spoken word will feature the work of guest choreographer Kwame Shaka Opare, former principal artist with Broadway’s “STOMP!!” and artistic director of DishiDem Traditional Contemporary Dance Company.

Established in 2006, Gee’s Sugarfoote Productions is a multipurpose arts organization created to help local audiences experience the richness of African and Diasporan cultural traditions.

Tickets are $15 general admission; $12 for seniors and students; and $9 for UNCG students with a valid ID. The box office opens two hours prior to performances.

For more information, contact the Dance Department at (336) 334-5570 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com to buy tickets online.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a challenging, supportive and engaged community where learning is carried forward to Do something bigger altogether. Founded in 1891, UNCG is the largest and most diverse university in the Triad, serving more than 18,000 students. Standing apart from other universities, the UNCG community is joined together by a shared value: We define excellence not only by the people we attract, but by the meaningful contributions they make.