Francesca Pedulla'

My relationship with dance began in a roundabout way. Even as a child I was unconsciously attracted to dancing,but it was the discovery of Africa that kindled my mild interest to full blown desire. Thanks to the open-minded education my parents gave me, I was dumbfounded at the notion that discrimination of any kind could exist, or this prevalent occidental terror of the “Black Man”. This was how my well-meant but confused wish to change the world led me to Africa.

Africa expresses itself and exists primarily through the art of dance. What pleasure to feel my body awaken and become capable of communication… And so I began to walk this pathway that I had not planned nor could ever have predicted I would follow. I began to research, to practice. I began to think that nothing made me happier than dancing, or watching others dance. I found that I was filled with the desire to transmit this passion to others. Here was a way that I could work peacefully to change the world.

My chosen path represents a profound challenge to my identity, because of my immersion in and adoption of a culture that is not mine, because of the urgency to decode that culture in order to remain conscious of my direction and position.

Fortune blessed me with a great mentor/teacher and competent guides. I have taught for awhile now and I believe that the gift I share with others is one of the greatest tools ever created for human evolution. An old pedagogue once told me, teaching is like holding a flame. With the flame of your candle you can light those of others who will light other candles and altogether create light. Perhaps a simple expression, simple enough to be essential. I remember it often; it reminds me of what I believe is the function of spreading knowledge.

In my constant research I found the Axis Syllabus, a discipline that shares the same objectives as mine, not only in the study of human motion potential, but the social evolution it engenders. I believe the AS is a fundamental tool for the reinstatement of the body’s innate dignity, the restitution of it’s voice. I believe dance belongs to the whole world. The As has been a powerful aide in my quest to decode and appropriate the dances of Africa. It has made it possible for me to determine the difference between the construction of esthetic forms and purely dynamic movement. It has made me aware. I believe that awareness is the thing that will set us free.

Unfortunately, many obstacles have prevented African Dance its full range of expression, very often including those who study it and reproduce it. Far from nourishing fertile ground for creation and enrichment, the vulgar representation of this art only impoverishes it. Not to speak of the dangerous postural habits, injuries and back pain and the brief career of the dancers.

I think that the cause of all this is the lack of attention and scarce awareness of what is seen and done. I believe that dance is universal, that we all have the right to access this world, the world of movement. I think that the emotions that are transposed into this medium are understandable to everyone. However, I also think that without a technical approach we will obtain nothing from our bodies… that nothing can be done with an instrument that is out of tune.
Mimicry is the time-honored tradition for learning the dances of Africa, especially in Africa itself. I would like to prepare the occidentals who who curate and study African Dance to learn in this fashion without the danger of injury. The AS will help me to find words and reasons to explain what is to most pure intuition, thus helping Africans and Occidental dancers to choose and develop aspects closer to their need, thus expanding the limits for exchange and synthesis. www.axissyllabus.com