For over 15 years, Daniel Nery dos Santos (Brazil) of Brasil in Motion and Etienne Cakpo
(Benin) of Gansango Music & Dance have collaborated to lead Benin to Brazil public
workshops and performances. The profound ancestral link between Benin and Brazil is
deeply rooted in the Atlantic slave trade and despite centuries of oppression, this link
remains strong through shared folklore, music, dance, spirituality and traditions. Their
workshops and performances inspire rich cultural exchanges among students, musicians
and international guest artists. Their dynamic work together resounds in a deep expression
of joy and resilience.
Since 2008, Brasil In Motion has developed a body of work in the greater Seattle area
focused on the preservation of Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage and other cultural dance
traditions throughout Brazil. Their classes, workshops, performances and yearly cultural
immersion trips to Bahia, Brazil are rooted in Afro-Brazilian history, dance, music and
traditions. Brasil in Motion’s work is grounded in their commitment to building an
inclusive and welcoming community in addition to building cross-cultural bridges
through the arts. Brasil In Motion has received extensive community recognition
throughout the years, including Intentionalist Cross-Cultural Champion (2023), and Best
Dance Studio Bronze Seattle Times 2023. Partnerships include Alvin Ailey American
Dance Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Theater Group, Northwest Folklife
Festival, Bumbershoot, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Benaroya Hall/Seattle
Symphony, University of Washington, Emerson College and Cornish College of the Arts.
Gansango Music and Dance has been offering performances, workshops and events
in the greater Seattle area for over 24 years. Artistic Director Etienne Cakpo from
Benin, West Africa teaches traditional and contemporary African dance styles in
schools, libraries, and local arts organizations, available to a wide range of audiences.
Gansango collaborates with local and international artists to provide dynamic and
engaging performances, from Uzbekistan to Burkina Faso, from Japan to Zimbabwe.
Etienne and Gansango have won numerous awards and grants based on artistic
excellence, including being recognized as Educator of the Year 2020 by the Dance
Educators Association of Washington, and being selected as the Glenn Kawasaki
Fellow at the University of Washington Department of Dance in 2018.
