Five professors, all internationally renowned dancers, and their dance companies will come together in rhythm, music, song, culture, philosophy and dance to perform "Bearers of Tradition" at SF State's McKenna Theatre this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The performance will be presented by the Coalition for the Advancement of Dance (CAD), a student organization that evolved from the organization Students United to Save Dance.
Both organizations were created by students to help save S.F. State's dance ethnology program.
Participating professors and CAD members hope to not only raise funds for the dance ethnology program with the performance, but to preserve and expand the dance department as well.
According to CAD, students taking courses in dance ethnology are taking courses in life.
The dance ethnology program at SF State is the only one of its kind in the nation, said SF State dance Professor Chitresh Das.
"It is important to help preserve these art forms in the university curriculum," he said. "We are building the ground for the future generation."
Students enrolled in the program learn about subjects from understanding dance in relation to cultural context, to the science of dance movement.
According to both students and faculty in the department, dance ethnology is important to learn because it helps with the all-around development of dancers.
"Kathak dance is highly mathematical," said Das, who teaches Kathak, a Middle-Eastern dance that combines Hindu and Muslim cultures.
According to Das, he has been dancing Kathak since age nine and is one of five "pioneers" of the dance that perform with his dance company, Chhandam.
"[Kathak] is a classical dance that I am preaching to you," Das said.
Alicia Raye Pierce and her ensemble will open Thursday's performance.
Pierce, a soloist singer and dancer, grew up steeped in the African and African-American traditions of New Orleans.
Also participating will be Rosa Montoya and Bailes Flamenco, a professional Spanish dance company based in San Francisco.
Born in Madrid, Montoya founded her company in 1974, after touring extensively around the world.
Omulu Capoeira, a group founded by Brazilian Master Preguica and Fua Dia Congo, created by Malonga Casquelourd, will continue the performance with Brazilian and African dances.
The dancers were brought together for the performance by Nontsizi Cayou, chair of the dance department.
"She is the backbone of the whole dance department," said CAD member and dancer, Celine Schein.
In 1966, when the dance program was offered as part of physical education, it was Cayou who pushed to have a program that would include dance studies from a broad multicultural base.
Finally, in 1984 the dance ethnology major was approved and, one year later, a dance department was created in the School of Creative Arts.
Tickets for "Bearers of Tradition" cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door for students, and $15 in advance and $18 at the door general. For tickets and more information call 338-2062 or 695-8845.