Explore Africanist dance movement from traditional to contemporary styles from the Western African region.  Miss Coco breaks down movements and its relationship to polyrhythm in a fun, engaging way.

Collette “Coco” Murray is a dance educator, cultural arts programmer, and mentor. Her performance background ranged in Caribbean Folk, traditional West African and other diasporic dance styles.  Her artistry includes performance, teaching, arts education, mentorship, research, and writing. This award- winning artist is recognized as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women honouree in 2020 and the 2019 recipient of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Community Arts Award for her significant contribution to working in and for transforming local communities through dance. Murray is a published writer published in dance media. Her arts advocacy includes serving on the National Council for Canadian Dance Assembly, and Board of Directors for Arts Etobicoke and Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO) to bring an equity and inclusion lens.  Murray pursues a PhD in Dance Studies at York University with focus on dance education pedagogies and mentorship that center the Canadian African diasporic dance. Along with Miss Coco Murray, her mobile, dance education business, Murray also is the Artistic Director of Coco Collective, an intergenerational, multidisciplinary team of artists offering culturally-responsive projects connecting participants to African and Caribbean arts.

*This workshop is free. Registration is required to ensure we meet physical distancing guidelines.