The Beauty of Communion

Communion Performance. (Photo by Joyce Llopis-Martell)

A few weeks ago, Elon University’s Department of Performing Arts presented a dance concert in honor of Black History Month. It was an event many had waited for, and it ended just as beautifully as it started.  

Over winter term, 12 Elon students studied abroad in Ghana and performed with members of the Ghana Dance Ensemble at the University of Ghana Legon. They practiced the dance for about three weeks and continued to rehearse it before the show. The dance, Communion, honored traditional West African dances from Guinea and Ghana, two countries in West Africa.

We spoke with Miguel Fernandez, a junior BFA Music Theatre major, who shared his experience with and thoughts on performing in this show. 

Fernandez said there was a different feeling dancing in Ghana than dancing at Elon. He said in the past, dancing felt as if it was filled with the reliance on certain techniques and tricks rather than having the liberty to move, which he said is evident in Ghanian dancing. 

However, when in Ghana, Fernandez said he was reminded of what dancing truly is: a celebration of one’s own body and expression. 

“Ghanaian dance is truly about celebrating the body you have now and expressing your present emotions to share with the audience,” Fernandez said.

That exact feeling of celebration and expression was evident when watching the performance unfold. The audience saw and felt the energy from the dancers and members of Africa Unplugged, a group of musicians who also performed at the show.

First-year Aulani Barnes said the performance was a joy to see, as she had not experienced that part of Elon from the Center for the Arts (CFA). Barnes said it was an adjustment at first, as she was not expecting the small number of people of color on stage.

“However, once the show continued it was evident to see that no matter the representation on the stage, it was a learning experience for everyone off and onstage,” Barnes said. “I hope people were able to take away a sense of communion after attending the performance.”

Another student, Jaelan Price, said her favorite part of the show was watching the dancers in authentic garments. “I think this is just important because it really pays tribute to how important the culture and heritage is and also how beautiful it is,” Price said. 

This performance and other activities that occurred on campus during Black History Month held great importance for the community, as they celebrated the features of African American culture. Because Elon is a school with a low-minority demographic, Black History Month serves as a time to dive in deeper and learn more about the culture. Fernandez agreed, saying the African diaspora is included in American history and should be acknowledged. 

“I advocate that it is imperative that the majority of this campus educates themselves and celebrates Black History Month because America is black history,” Fernandez expresses. “You cannot call yourself a patriotic American without respectfully celebrating Black culture.”

For Kayla Knight, any time “black history” is mentioned in school, it’s in the context of slavery, Jim Crow, or the civil rights era. Knight said while those aspects are still important, there is so much more to black history. 

“Black history is thriving and extensive in positive realms too,” Knight said. “I believe it is important to celebrate traditional dances, such as the ones in the concert, because dance is such a big part of black culture, and this shows the roots of it.”

Dancers perform “Communion.” (Photos by Joyce Llopis-Martell)

First-year Ellery Ewell said, “I also think [for] Elon, as a primarily white institution, it is even more important to celebrate Black History Month as a time for non-black students to learn and gain an appreciation for black history and black culture.”

And it was exactly that: a time to learn and appreciate. On the day of the show, the McCrary Theatre was full of people anticipating the performance. Some waited for up to a half hour outside the door. 

Director of the performance and professor Keshia Wall said she hopes everyone was transformed by the dancing and is now able to recognize the beauty that is found in oneself and others.

From the back of the stage, Fernandez said he enjoyed watching the way the audience connected with each other, remembering the way they stood up and danced with each other to the music halfway through the show. He said professor Wall empowered people that night. 

Not only was the audience empowered, but they were encouraged to express themselves, never being constrained to their seats. People from all parts of the theatre came down to dance with each other. Some even stayed after to connect and share their feelings about the show. 

“I think Black History Month is really a time to showcase some of the most beautiful aspects of black culture and history,” Price said, when asked what she hoped the audience took from the show. “So, if anything, I hope people were able to see how rhythmic, energetic, colorful, and exciting traditional dancing is.”