Ensemble Members - The Akwaaba Ensemble

The members of the Akwaaba Ensemble comprise a talented group of musicians and dancers comprised of:

	October 2025
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 Practice Performance Practice Performance Starts: 3:15 pm Ends: 10/01/2025 - 5:15 pm Description: I need to confirm location. More details... •	2 Practice Performance Practice Performance Starts: 3:15 pm Ends: 10/02/2025 - 5:15 pm Description: I need to confirm location. More details... •	3 High Energy West African Drumming High Energy West African Drumming Starts: 6:00 pm Ends: 10/03/2025 - 7:00 pm Location: 225 Stedman St unit 7, Lowell, MA 01851, USA Description: Come experience the electrifying rhythms of Theo Martey’s West-African drumming class. Get ready to be mesmerized by the pulsating beats and infectious energy that will have you dancing all night long. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with music, culture, and pure joy. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of West Africa! More details... •	4 Bellforge Arts Center - CultureFest Bellforge Arts Center - CultureFest Starts: 12:00 pm Ends: 10/04/2025 - 1:00 pm Location: Bellforge Arts Center, 45 Hospital Rd, Medfield, MA 02052, USA Description: Theo Martey and the Akwaaba Ensemble will perform series of high energy rhythms, dances and sons at the Bellforge Arts Center in Medfield Massachusetts for the culture Fest event. More details... •
5 Practice , We Deserve to Live Performance practice Practice , We Deserve to Live Performance practice Starts: 5:00 pm Ends: 10/05/2025 - 7:30 pm Location: 22 Hanover St, Manchester, NH 03101, USA Description: We Deserve to Live Too Live Show Description & Timeline Story Overview The piece follows a mother and her two daughters fleeing violence in their Congolese village. During a nighttime rebel militia attack, the family is torn apart. The mother desperately tries to protect her children, but in the chaos, they run in different directions. Three militia members, represented through dance, hunt the family throughout the performance. Along the way, the mother encounters an NGO worker who helps her search for her daughters. After moments of despair, near capture, and relentless pursuit, the family is finally reunited at the end. Characters ● Mother – central figure, guiding the emotional journey ● Three Daughters – children separated from their mother during the attack ● Four Soldiers – rebel militia, represented through dance and pursuit ● Refuge Point Representative – NGO worker who aids the mother and children Timeline of Events (with Music & Dance) 0:00 – 0:22 The family is together, playfully interacting. The children laugh and play games outside while their mother takes photos, capturing a joyful moment. 0:22 – 0:30 Soldiers enter from different directions on stage. They approach the mother, speaking to her with growing menace. The tension escalates when one soldier tries to grab a child. 0:31 – 0:38 The mother pulls her child away and begins running around the stage. The soldiers chase after them. 0:39 – 0:56 The family hides in the corner of the stage. Center stage, the soldiers perform a powerful, menacing dance number. 0:56 The soldiers finish their dance and charge at the family. In the chaos, the mother and daughters scatter—running in opposite directions. 1:11 The mother cautiously reappears center stage, fearful and scanning her surroundings for her children. 1:20 – 1:29 She continues searching, her fear deepening as she realizes the children are gone. 1:31 Through expressive movement, the mother embodies grief and longing, her despair underscored by haunting music. She performs a dance solo center stage. 1:38 The mother exits. 1:41 The daughters enter from opposite directions, weaving through the audience before stepping onto the stage. 2:12 – 3:07 The children’s journey unfolds. Their fear, vulnerability, and resilience are portrayed through movement. The older sister drags the younger one along, trying to protect her. 3:33 Scene shift: the mother arrives at a refugee camp, where she meets an NGO worker from Refuge Point. Desperate, she pleads for help. The worker promises to search for her children and exits into the audience to begin his quest. 3:56 The children reappear, running and weaving through the audience as militia chase them. 4:00 – 4:30 A high-intensity chase scene begins. The militia pursue the children in a dance sequence. One daughter is captured, while the others escape and encounter the Refuge Point worker. He shows them their mother’s photo and guides them to safety. 4:30 The worker shields the children from their pursuers and leads them back to their mother. 4:40 – 4:50 Climax & resolution. The children reunite with their mother in a tearful embrace. Relief turns to heartbreak as the mother realizes one daughter is still missing. She searches frantically but cannot find her. 4:50 – 4:58 (Finale) The family embraces once more, clinging to hope and survival. Together, they walk slowly offstage as the music swells, signaling the end of their harrowing journey. Timeline of Events (with Music, Dance & Lighting) 0:00 – 0:22 Scene: Family together, joyful. ● Lighting Cue: Warm amber wash across stage, natural daylight feel. Soft, bright focus on the family. 0:22 – 0:30 Scene: Soldiers enter, tension begins. ● Lighting Cue: Gradual shift to cooler, dimmer tones. A subtle red undertone creeps in as soldiers approach. 0:31 – 0:38 Scene: Soldiers chase the family. ● Lighting Cue: Sharp white spotlights follow the mother and children as they run. Flickering strobe-like flashes to mimic chaos. 0:39 – 0:56 Scene: Family hides; soldiers’ dance. ● Lighting Cue: Family in shadowed corner (dim sidelight). Soldiers in bright center-stage spotlight with harsh red and white accents. 0:56 Scene: Family scatters. ● Lighting Cue: Sudden blackout for a beat, then cold blue side-lights reveal the separation as each runs off in different directions. 1:11 Scene: Mother reappears, searching. ● Lighting Cue: Isolated soft spotlight center stage on the mother, surrounding stage dimmed in deep blue. 1:20 – 1:29 Scene: Mother realizes children are gone. ● Lighting Cue: Spotlight flickers and slowly fades to near-darkness around her, symbolizing despair. 1:31 Scene: Mother’s grief dance. ● Lighting Cue: Single stark white downlight on mother. Shadow effects amplify her movements. Background remains dark. 1:38 Scene: Mother exits. ● Lighting Cue: Light fades with her exit, leaving stage in near blackness. 1:41 Scene: Daughters enter from audience. ● Lighting Cue: Moving spotlights follow them weaving through the audience. Stage slowly fills with soft blue and pale white tones. 2:12 – 3:07 Scene: Children’s journey. ● Lighting Cue: Gentle cool wash with dim amber glows that come and go, reflecting both danger and resilience. 3:33 Scene: Refugee camp; mother meets NGO worker. ● Lighting Cue: Warm amber and soft white tones to contrast earlier scenes. Refugee camp feels like a “safe space.” 3:56 Scene: Children running, militia chasing. ● Lighting Cue: Rapid moving lights track children through the audience. Red chaser lights highlight the militia. 4:00 – 4:30 Scene: Chase and partial capture. ● Lighting Cue: Intense red-and-white strobe effect during chase. One spotlight isolates the captured daughter as others escape. 4:30 Scene: Refuge Point worker protects children. ● Lighting Cue: Harsh red light fades; warm light grows around worker and children. Protective glow follows them back to safety. 4:40 – 4:50 Scene: Reunion with mother (but one missing). ● Lighting Cue: Warm amber spotlight on mother embracing her children. A dim cold blue wash lingers on the empty space, symbolizing absence. 4:50 – 4:58 (Finale) Scene: Family’s final embrace. ● Lighting Cue: Full warm stage wash, golden tones. Backlight intensifies to silhouette the family as they walk offstage. Music swells to black out. More details... •	6 North Star Education Success Service LLC North Star Education Success Service LLC Starts: 11:30 am Ends: 10/06/2025 - 12:30 pm Location: 288 State Rte 101, Bedford, NH 03110, USA Description: Drumming and Music Workshop with The North Star Education Students More details... •	7	8 Practice Performance Practice Performance Starts: 3:15 pm Ends: 10/08/2025 - 5:15 pm Description: I need to confirm location. More details... •	9	10 Akwaaba -African Touch Drumming Class Akwaaba -African Touch Drumming Class Starts: 6:00 pm Ends: 10/10/2025 - 7:00 pm Location: 163 Lake Ave, Manchester, NH Description: African Touch Drumming Class led by Theo Martey at the Bare Knuckle Murphy's once a month Starting Friday, October from 6:00pm-7:00pm. For more Info and registration contact Theo Martey at [email protected] or call (603) 264-5582. For an hour class $15-20 each person. Drums are available if you do not own one! Don't miss this great experience, come try it and polish your hand drumming skills!!! More details... •	11
12	13	14 Performance MFA Boston Refugee point Performance MFA Boston Refugee point Starts: 3:00 pm Ends: 10/14/2025 - 7:45 pm Location: Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 Description: Refugee Point performance Boston MFA Address: 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 More details... Museum of Fine Arts - Finding RefugeTogether Museum of Fine Arts - Finding RefugeTogether Starts: 6:00 pm Ends: 10/14/2025 - 11:00 pm Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA Description: Theo Martey will collaborate with Deo Mwano for a performance at the Museum of Fine Arts! Finding Refuge Together, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, marking 20 Years of partnering with refugees to find lasting Solution. More details... • •	15	16	17	18
19	20	21	22	23	24	25
26	27	28	29	30	31