Cassandra Hines, a master teacher in West African dance, joined The University of Texas at Dallas to celebrate African dance and drumming traditions at the Student Services Building Addition on Feb. 22.
Hines’s recent visit to UT Dallas stands as one of her latest contributions to the university community, reflecting a decade-long friendship with Monica Saba, an associate professor of instruction at UT Dallas.
The Feb. 22 master class offered the UT Dallas community an accessible introduction to Triba, a Guinean celebration dance on festive occasions featuring live drummers. The event occurred in conjunction with iWeek, an annual week-long event and UT Dallas tradition that showcases intercultural-focused programs and events that highlight culture through food, music, and performance art.
Saba, a faculty member of the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, instructs Introduction to World Dance Forms (DANC 1305), a course that covers the historical aspects of dance in various cultures, identified and explored through lectures, discussions, films.
She imparts globally utilized dance techniques within the course and regularly includes knowledgeable guests, such as Hines, who specialize in diverse world dances.
“I teach as much about culture and identifying with it and understanding with it as I teach dance,” Saba said. “Cultural understanding is one of the most important things a person can have in their lives, and dance is an essential aspect of every culture.”
Throughout her career, Hines has worked with numerous ensembles and is the founder of the local African drum and dance group Bahdae Dance.
“What brings me back is the love for teaching and giving what my teachers have given me,” Hines said. “It’s all about telling people about the culture I celebrate and also helping them celebrate themselves.”
At UT Dallas, Hines conducted two West African dance workshops open to the public. Over the last five years, she has participated as a guest lecturer in Saba’s DANC 1305, sharing insights from her extensive dancing career and research in Guinea.
In her native Milwaukee, Hines was part of the Ko-Thi Dance Company, a local collective founded by Ferne Caulker. In 2007, Saba obtained an MFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, where Caulker was a faculty member instructing West African Dance.
Approximately a decade ago, when Ko-Thi Dance Company visited Texas for a performance, Saba facilitated a Master Class at UT Dallas, creating the opportunity for Hines and Saba to connect, given their shared connection through Caulker’s teachings.
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