AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced
AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced
Can You FEEL?
AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced is a Contemporary Dance Company based in New York City.
AMINAIZM is the "baby" of BIA's many branches, because it was just created at the beginning of 2007 (B.I.A. has been around since 1994). Amina's desire was to create a way to express life experiences and feelings through dance, music, and monologue/ poetry. Having been known as an African Dancer, most of her life, AMINAIZM, was her cry to the public to accept her as simply a dancer. An artist - one who communicates through a medium other than verbal conversation. Thus, Contemporary Fusion dance was born through her choreography, more seamlessly blended with other dance forms than ever achieved before.
AMINAIZM can perform a piece that incorporates hip hop, African, modern, and ballet dance and you will barely notice where one ends and the other begins. Yet, it is the passion behind this group, the spirituality that makes them seem to be able to reach inside your soul and touch it. They are performers but they are very human, very real, and their life experiences are all intertwined into the pieces they perform, which makes each conversation with an audience, very personal. You must have the AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced experience...
There comes a time in every choreographer/ dancers life when they feel they need a new medium through which to express themselves. Perhaps the one they are currently working through is no longer fulfilling, or is stifling their creativity in some way. When there is a desire to grow, to learn, to teach beyond your usual capacity, but to become a catalyst for change, a tool for expression, and the roots of a new movement; in spite of boundaries and restraints that exist on the inner primarily, one continues to push forward while being true to themselves and the voice of society - this is AMINAIZM - to dance in the Spirit. It is a seamless blend of various dance techniques, the belief that we are all eternal teachers and students, and the birth of movement from music. These elements contribute, largely to AMINAIZM’s style of choreography.
The company’s repertoire includes dance, monologue, song, rap, poetry, and live musicians when applicable to the choreography. What makes them different from most other contemporary dance groups on the horizon is that they are able to blend all body types, all dance techniques, and a message into each piece. AMINAIZM’s goal is to move the audience emotionally, mentally, and physically to make changes within and around themselves. They are currently working on the first suite, “The Reflection Collection”, which features some of their favorite works in progress such as, “Remember Me, Africa”, about the struggle to maintain African roots while trying to embrace African American heritage; and “In Pursuit Of” a dance where the dancers take on the roles people play on their quest to make it in the world. This collection is a reflection of moments in life that caused them to look at themselves, deeper. It is a look at various life struggles faced by them as artists, it is also the voice of the dancers within the company that each add their own experiences and memories to this collection of works. Amina Heckstall, Director of Ballet International Africans and Nikki “Storm” Heckstall, Artistic Director of Storm Hip hop Dancers have unified to bring together folkloric traditions, theater arts, the beauty of dance, and it’s marriage with music through their vessel, “AMINAIZM”.
Amina Olushola Heckstall is well-known in the African dance and drum community, and is now making her debut in the field of Contemporary African dance. Her current work in progress, “Remember Me, Africa(?)” was first seen at The New Dance Group Theater in Manhattan, March 2007 and featured modern dance, contemporary dance pieces set to poetry, and the music of David Poore (“Intro To Africa“), Nina Simone (“Four Women“), and live musicians from Ballet International Africans. The performance was met with great enthusiasm. This piece was performed again on October 21st at Greenspace in Long Island City, NY for "Fertile Ground Choreographers Showcase" and again December 4th, 2007 as a part of Movement Research Center's, Open Performance Series at Dance Theater Workshop. On September 28th, 2008 "In Pursuit Of" (current work in progress) was performed at The Abrons Arts Center's Experimental Theatre for Fielday Coreographer Showcase.
Nikki “Storm” Heckstall has had in-depth experience as a performer and as a choreographer in African dance, Horton based Modern dance technique, and Hip hop. Storm has been seen in performance behind internationally known artists such as, Ashanti (R&B singer), Mr. Cheeks (Rap Artist), and currently new music sensation, Lil’ Mama (Young Rap Artist). Storm has been choreography and teaching assistant to celebrity choreographer Brice D. Vick (Ashanti, Ja-Rule, Remy Ma) and she also is the choreographer for “Storm Hip Hop Dancers” that dance behind up and coming artist Gold. Storm has been the principal/ soloist for not only Ballet International Africans but hip hop group, “Queenz Finest” which has been featured on BET’s 106 & Park Live, The Apollo, The American Ballroom Dance Studio/ Pierre Dulaine, and BRIC Studios. Now, as the Co- Choreographer for AMINAIZM, her contributions to this group are highly anticipated.
“AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced", is what dance has been waiting for; Great dancers, musicians, and writers unify to create a emotional, memorable, enlightening, and spiritual experience in movement, sound, and self-expression through prose.
AMINAIZM is the "baby" of BIA's many branches, because it was just created at the beginning of 2007 (B.I.A. has been around since 1994). Amina's desire was to create a way to express life experiences and feelings through dance, music, and monologue/ poetry. Having been known as an African Dancer, most of her life, AMINAIZM, was her cry to the public to accept her as simply a dancer. An artist - one who communicates through a medium other than verbal conversation. Thus, Contemporary Fusion dance was born through her choreography, more seamlessly blended with other dance forms than ever achieved before.
AMINAIZM can perform a piece that incorporates hip hop, African, modern, and ballet dance and you will barely notice where one ends and the other begins. Yet, it is the passion behind this group, the spirituality that makes them seem to be able to reach inside your soul and touch it. They are performers but they are very human, very real, and their life experiences are all intertwined into the pieces they perform, which makes each conversation with an audience, very personal. You must have the AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced experience...
There comes a time in every choreographer/ dancers life when they feel they need a new medium through which to express themselves. Perhaps the one they are currently working through is no longer fulfilling, or is stifling their creativity in some way. When there is a desire to grow, to learn, to teach beyond your usual capacity, but to become a catalyst for change, a tool for expression, and the roots of a new movement; in spite of boundaries and restraints that exist on the inner primarily, one continues to push forward while being true to themselves and the voice of society - this is AMINAIZM - to dance in the Spirit. It is a seamless blend of various dance techniques, the belief that we are all eternal teachers and students, and the birth of movement from music. These elements contribute, largely to AMINAIZM’s style of choreography.
The company’s repertoire includes dance, monologue, song, rap, poetry, and live musicians when applicable to the choreography. What makes them different from most other contemporary dance groups on the horizon is that they are able to blend all body types, all dance techniques, and a message into each piece. AMINAIZM’s goal is to move the audience emotionally, mentally, and physically to make changes within and around themselves. They are currently working on the first suite, “The Reflection Collection”, which features some of their favorite works in progress such as, “Remember Me, Africa”, about the struggle to maintain African roots while trying to embrace African American heritage; and “In Pursuit Of” a dance where the dancers take on the roles people play on their quest to make it in the world. This collection is a reflection of moments in life that caused them to look at themselves, deeper. It is a look at various life struggles faced by them as artists, it is also the voice of the dancers within the company that each add their own experiences and memories to this collection of works. Amina Heckstall, Director of Ballet International Africans and Nikki “Storm” Heckstall, Artistic Director of Storm Hip hop Dancers have unified to bring together folkloric traditions, theater arts, the beauty of dance, and it’s marriage with music through their vessel, “AMINAIZM”.
Amina Olushola Heckstall is well-known in the African dance and drum community, and is now making her debut in the field of Contemporary African dance. Her current work in progress, “Remember Me, Africa(?)” was first seen at The New Dance Group Theater in Manhattan, March 2007 and featured modern dance, contemporary dance pieces set to poetry, and the music of David Poore (“Intro To Africa“), Nina Simone (“Four Women“), and live musicians from Ballet International Africans. The performance was met with great enthusiasm. This piece was performed again on October 21st at Greenspace in Long Island City, NY for "Fertile Ground Choreographers Showcase" and again December 4th, 2007 as a part of Movement Research Center's, Open Performance Series at Dance Theater Workshop. On September 28th, 2008 "In Pursuit Of" (current work in progress) was performed at The Abrons Arts Center's Experimental Theatre for Fielday Coreographer Showcase.
Nikki “Storm” Heckstall has had in-depth experience as a performer and as a choreographer in African dance, Horton based Modern dance technique, and Hip hop. Storm has been seen in performance behind internationally known artists such as, Ashanti (R&B singer), Mr. Cheeks (Rap Artist), and currently new music sensation, Lil’ Mama (Young Rap Artist). Storm has been choreography and teaching assistant to celebrity choreographer Brice D. Vick (Ashanti, Ja-Rule, Remy Ma) and she also is the choreographer for “Storm Hip Hop Dancers” that dance behind up and coming artist Gold. Storm has been the principal/ soloist for not only Ballet International Africans but hip hop group, “Queenz Finest” which has been featured on BET’s 106 & Park Live, The Apollo, The American Ballroom Dance Studio/ Pierre Dulaine, and BRIC Studios. Now, as the Co- Choreographer for AMINAIZM, her contributions to this group are highly anticipated.
“AMINAIZM/ Emotions Danced", is what dance has been waiting for; Great dancers, musicians, and writers unify to create a emotional, memorable, enlightening, and spiritual experience in movement, sound, and self-expression through prose.
