EUGENE–Dance Africa, a University of Oregon Department of Dance repertory company, will join with Irving Elementary School student dancers to kick off the university-wide International Week celebration on Monday, April 23.

The UO dance company’s second annual performance is set for 8 p.m. on Africa Night in the Dougherty Dance Theatre on the third floor of Gerlinger Annex, 1484 University St. The dance theater is wheelchair accessible by elevator on the east side of the building.

Tickets, costing $5 for all seats, will be available 30 minutes prior to performance. Patrons are advised to arrive early as Dance Africa events are highly popular and theater seating is limited to 200.

Celebrating African culture, history, music and dance, Dance Africa’s repertory this year includes dances from Ghana, Guinea, South Africa and Togo, as well as "Zebola," a Congolese dance of healing. "Zebola" was set on the company in Fall 2000 by Mabiba Baegne and Fred Simpson, internationally renowned guest artists from the San Francisco Bay area.

Joining Dance Africa will be Irving Elementary School fifth and sixth graders performing "Fanga," a welcoming dance from Sierra Leone. This performance is the result of a three-month outreach workshop program conducted by Rita Honka, Dance Africa director, with Irving instructor Debi Noel, along with company members Julie Polhemus, Emily Ross and Agatha Schmaedich.

This special performance is a fund-raising event to support Dance Africa’s current grade school tour as well as future outreach programs being planned.

For further information, call the UO Department of Dance, (541) 346-3386.

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