#otantika

My two Texan ladies, Denise and Celestial, continue their immersion into Guadeloupe culture and discovering Gwo Ka was definitely a must. So I enlisted my childhood friend Yola who also was for many years the president of Otantika - an association that promoted the art form that Gwo Ka is in Paris. She welcomed us on the heights of Gosier and we learned the basic steps and rhythms of Gwo Ka alongside a drummer and dancer called Gregory (and with an amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean). We put on our maxi skirts and learned about Toumblak, Kalaja and the other 5 rhythms, did a bit of choreography (see video on Instagram) and I feel my guests really sensed the power of these steps and how history laden they are.

The whole experience fed into the visit we next did of the Chevalier de Saint George birthplace and helped us understand a bit more about how traditional music influenced his compositions. I think I’m getting better at dancing Gwo Ka and Denise and Celest also did a great job!