:
: About Baba Chuck Davis : :
 DR.
CHARLES "CHUCK" DAVIS, (Founder and Artistic Director) of the African
American Dance Ensemble and the New York based DanceAfrica is a native North Carolinian.
He
attended Howard University and majored in Theater/Dance and continued his study
in African dance under the guidance of Babatunde Olatunji, Eleo Pomare, and the
Bernice Johnson Dance Company. His growing reputation as one of the foremost and
accomplished choreographers and teachers in the traditional techniques of African
dance compelled the American Dance Festival of Durham, NC, to recruit him for
the position of Artist-in-Residence and to head up its outreach program.
His
desire to reach the young people of Durham who shared his
enthusiasm and discipline for dance was the fountainhead from which sprung the
African American Dance Ensemble. He has nurtured and led the Ensemble on a course
to become one of the truly premier dance companies of any kind touring the nation
today.
Dr. Davis keeps a full schedule including appearances with the
Ensemble, guest artist directorships, choreographer assignments, and research
and travel excursions to Africa and international points. He also is the founder
and facilitator of the Cultural Arts Safari, which makes an annual pilgrimage
to the continent of Africa.
He
has been a panelist for several programs of the NEA, and the recipient of the
AARP Certificate of Excellence, the North Carolina Dance Alliance Award, North
Carolina Artist Award 1990, and the North Carolina Order of the
Long Leaf Pine. Since 1991 he has served as a Governor appointed member of the
Board for the North Carolina Arts Council where he chairs the Dance panel. In
1992, he was the recipient of the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts for his impressive
and unique contribution to African American culture; this is the highest honor
the state can bestow in the Arts.
Dr. Davis is a recipient of the NY Bessie
Award and the very prestigious Brooklyn Academy of Music Award for distinguished
service to the arts world and beyond. He also received special mention during
Duke Dance's annual recognition banquet.
In December of 1998, he received
an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Medgar Evers College of NY. In the year
2000, he received the Kathryn H. Wallace Award for Artists In Community Service
through the Triangle Community Foundation and has received the Dance for the Planet
award in 1998 and 2001.
In 2000, Dr. Davis was recognized by the Dance
Heritage Coalition as one of the first 100 Irreplaceable Dance Treasures in the
United States. In February 2002, Dr. Davis was presented The Advocacy Award in
recognition of dedication and commitment to Civil Rights advocacy, especially
on behalf of People with Developmental Disabilities, by the Durham Human Relations
Commission.
The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus awarded Dr. Davis with a
citation for his years of distinguished service, loyalty and commitment to the
arts as well as lauding him as a foremost, distinguished and accomplished choreographer
and teacher in the traditional techniques of African American Dance.
Dr.
Davis has been selected artist of the Year by DanceUSA. He has also received the
2002 National Governors Association Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts
for artistic production recognizing outstanding service to the arts, focusing
on contributions that improve the quality of life and bring distinction to the
state or a community. The award was presented July 21, 2002 in Boise, Idaho.
 The
City of Durham declared August 5, 2002 as Chuck Davis Day in recognition of his
accomplishments and contributions to the arts. NC Dance Alliance has chosen Dr.
Davis as the recipient of their 2002 award in recognition of his years of dedication
to the advancement of dance in North Carolina, the nation, and the world.
March
20, 2003, Dr. Davis was presented the Spirit of Hayti Trail Blazer Award in recognition
of his major contributions to the betterment of the Hayti community, close ties
to the community and excellence in his field. April 26, 2004, Dr. Davis was honored
with a prestigious Dance Magazine Award. This honor was bestowed upon him for
his major and lasting contributions to the art of dance.
Dr.
Davis was also honored when his biographical profile was chronicled in The North
Carolina Century, Tar Heels Who Made a Difference 1900-2000. The North Carolina
Century is a comprehensive look at the people whose life's work shaped the state
during the most dynamic period since colonial times, published by Levine Museum
of the New South. June 2, 2006, Dr Davis received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine
Arts from Williams College, Williams MA., Where he delivered the Commencement
address, he was also bestowed with the Balasaraswati Joy Ann Dewey Endowed Chair
for Distinguished Teaching by the American Dance Festival of Durham, NC, on June
17, 2006.
:
: Mama Rahkiah : :
Mama Rahkiah is a savvy veteran of African travel. Born in Upstate New York near Buffalo she moved with her family to Brooklyn at age nine. She went to college in New York and spent a career teaching Special Education in the New York school system, from which she retired. Her teaching centered on African traditions and culture.
She and her husband have made a total of 16 trips to various places in Africa. Some of the trips were with Dr. Chuck Davis. She is well known for her association with African dance. She is currently Senior Elder for Dance Africa in Brooklyn.
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