Tadhi Alawi
Dancer’s body of work speaks beyond words As co-founder of the Nantea Dance Company, Alawi ‘Tadhi’ Saidi has been instrumental in building a platform for contemporary dance in Dar es Salaam while the dancer and choreographer’s awardwinning own work is becoming globally recognised
A
lawi Saidi – ‘Tadhi’ to everyone
dance ever since. Michael
who knows him – has always had
Jackson will always be
a natural talent for dance. When
an inspiration, but in
he was just a young boy growing up in
developing a style that is
Dar es Salaam, his older brother brought
truly his own, Tadhi has also looked to other
home a video of a live performance by the
influences that have shaped him, from his
tells me. “You are putting across a feeling
legendary US singer and dancer Michael
Makonde origins to the singeli and hip-hop
and feelings have no boundaries. So many
Jackson and Tadhi was soon able to mimic
rhythms of modern-day Dar.
things happen on the streets of Tanzania
all the moves, even the famous antigravity lean and moonwalk.
“My roots lie in the Makonde tribe, based in southern Tanzania. It’s a tribe rich in
“You can say whatever you want,” Tadhi
and I want to present them in my dances.” Tadhi was a voracious learner. He
The dazzling dancing impressed his
dances. I believe that me being a dancer
attended every course going to add to his
friends and Tadhi hoped for similar results
is partly because of the spirits that I carry
understanding of movement as expres-
when, as a teenager in 2013, he attended Dar
within me as a heritage.”
sion – from modern jazz through Angolan
teaching programme Haba na Haba (in the
kizomba, Brazilian martial art-infused dance
early tears before it became an international
Dance journey
dance festival). Among the international
Key to the now 26-year-old Tadhi’s new
Germaine Acogny Technique – led by
artists invited to teach at the event was
direction as a dancer was being among
experts from the US, Norway, Germany,
renowned Zimbabwean choreographer
the first intake of students at the non-profit
Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda
Nora Chipaumire, who was impressed with
MuDa Africa dance school in Dar in 2014.
and many more. At the same time, he
Tadhi, but saw the potential for more.
Here he began a three-year course in
primed his body to be the most flexible,
contemporary dance – a genre that is open to
strongest conduit possible for his ideas. He
Jackson, but this is not you. Find something
many possibilities. Here was that freedom of
is a yogi, completing three years of study
that is you.’”
expression in dance Tadhi sought, something
at Africa Yoga Project, in Nairobi, as well as
new to Tanzania and set apart from traditional
devoting time to karate and strength train-
ceremony or having fun in nightclubs.
ing in the gym.
“She told me: ‘You dance like Michael
The advice struck deep and Tadhi has been on a quest for authenticity through
capoeira to the African dance-inspired
www.precisionairtz.com
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