Sankofa Dance Theater brings world of African arts to Anchorage

Misha Baskerville began African dancing in her teen years when she and her brother Johnnie Wright joined Sankofa Dance Theater, an ensemble that centers around traditional music, drumming and dance in Savannah, Georgia.

“For my brother and I, [Sankofa] kept the fire in us. It kept us off the streets and from getting into stuff that kids normally get into, focused and full of pride in what we do,” Baskerville said. “It was birthed in us at such a prime age and opened up a whole new world for us.”

It’s a world that Baskerville wants to show Alaska. After touring the U.S. with high school residency programs, Baskerville eventually settled in Anchorage. She and her brother ran a few local workshops and then started Sankofa Dance Theater Alaska here in March 2017.

The group started small, holding practices at the Underground Dance Company and performing at events like Juneteenth and at a few schools around Alaska. Now, nearly two years later, Sankofa has grown and is hosting its largest event yet: “Uhuru: A Reprisal of Freedom.”

“Uhuru” is a showcase featuring 16 dance numbers, spoken word poetry, drumming and singing. Children as young as 5 on up to adults are a part of the showcase. In addition to Sankofa, the performance features other local groups including Artistic Drift, Underground Dance Company and Black Arts North.

“Typically the showcases you see are all of that one studio, but we really try to create a specific community of dance,” said Kasha Smith-Poynter, managing director and a principal dancer for Sankofa. “We are all dancers at heart and we all have something to teach each other and learn from each other.”

“Uhuru” uses its wide array of mediums to narrate the journey of African Americans from the time of slavery to the current day.

“Since we had such an abrupt and turbulent start to our identity here, we want to fill in the gaps that the history books don’t,” Smith-Poynter said. “It’s going to be emotional, but it will be a good time. We are going to start with the struggle, but end with the uplift.”

Smith-Poynter was born and raised in Alaska and began dancing at age 8. She was the captain of her East High School step team and a dance instructor with the Boys & Girls Clubs Alaska. After taking a short break from dance to focus on her family, her passion was reignited when she joined the Sankofa.

“Dance is there through all facets of your life, through pregnancy, divorce, marriage, it’s always there and always a great outlet,” she said.

Dancer Te’Shawn Anderson-Johnson said she has gained confidence in the past year she spent with Sankofa.

“Overall, it is just teaching me how to grow up. I’m in college still learning about life and at a point, dancing just meshes with that,” she said. “Anything I learn in here, I can take into the real world."

Although dance is a big focus for Sankofa, the group also features drumming. Jesse Wright, the principle drummer for the ensemble, has been a part of Sankofa since its beginning, and a drummer even longer.

“I think drumming is one of those things that I was just born to do,” Wright said. “It’s just my life calling.”

In “Uhuru,” Wright’s drumming is featured in four dance pieces as well as in his own drum core group.

Spoken word poetry is also featured in the showcase, presented by Zilverbakk Omega, the “voice of Sankofa.” Omega introduces the groups before each number and performs small pieces to transition between performances.

“I have to be the bridge from the dancers and drummers to the audience,” Omega said. “The drum is the heartbeat, dance is the expression and the orator is the x-factor.”

It all comes together as one, both on and off the stage, Baskerville said.

“Sankofa creates a family,” she said. “It’s really come full circle for me and I’m just glad that I’m able to continue to dance with people that I love and that love to do it too.”

Uhuru: A Reprisal of Freedom

When: Doors open at 2:30, show starts at 3 p.m.

Where: Wendy Williamson Auditorium

Tickets: $10-$20 at brownpapertickets.com. All tickets are an additional $5 at the door.