‘Dancing with a Purpose’.

Ikpindi Djeri MPH Student and Activist Bucks Participant

Breakfast: Raisin bread with Tahomey hot chocolate.

Home Country: Togo

Extracurriculars: Participating in Haitian and Togolese dance classes, playing the guitar, and salsa dancing.

Ikpindi Djeri is an MPH student who recently participated in the Activist Bucks micro-grant program to develop a Haitian dance class for Mattapan residents at the Mildred Avenue Community Center. 

What inspired you to organize Haitian dance classes for the Mattapan community?

I developed this project with a goal of bringing people together. There is a disconnect in the type of life we live nowadays—people don’t talk or interact with each other nearly as much as they should. We need more connection in our lives—things to touch and feel and show that we are still human and care about one another.

I used to take dance lessons at a studio in Cambridge called the Dance Complex. It was very welcoming and stress-relieving, so I thought it would be great to offer this experience to the Mattapan community, which has the highest population of Haitian residents in the city.

I also believe that knowing the history of your culture and where you come from is really important, and helps shape your outlook on life in a positive way. I wanted to help make that connection by offering these dance classes that are fun and culturally educational.

How were the classes structured?

We held two weekly classes in the spring—one for children as young as five years old, and one for adults of all ages. My dance class instructor, Jean-Sebastian Duvilaire, agreed to teach the classes. We also had a live drummer perform during each lesson, which made the classes more authentic. Drums are an important part of Haitian dances because they help guide the movements.

Many of the children were Haitian, but we had participants of all backgrounds and cultures, as well as people who belonged to the community center or just lived in the area. The classes focused on more than the technical dance moves—they were also educational. Every Haitian dance has meaning behind it, and Jean-Sebastian taught participants the historical significance of the movements in each dance. One dance that they learned is the Nago, which is a traditional Haitian warrior dance that tells the story of the Haitian Revolution and how people came together to fight the war. The moves of this dance are dramatic and meant to show the strength of the people.

As a student studying CAPDIE and program management, which skills did you utilize the most as you organized these classes?

I had to complete community assessments to ensure that my program would be well received in Mattapan. Not only did I write the project and work on the budget, but I had the opportunity to implement it and manage it. I coordinated meetings with the director of the center, the dance teacher, and the Activist Bucks team; supervised the work; and ensured that all players were satisfied. I’m submitting a full report of my activities soon.

What did you enjoy most about these classes, and do you think there is an opportunity to continue them in the future?

I am so humbled by the whole experience, especially by the children. Having people from different backgrounds attend made the kids realize that other people appreciate their culture, and helped them appreciate their culture, too. And they gave it their all. Every time they arrived, they were ready to dance and eager to learn the history and meaning behind the steps. And that’s exactly what I wanted it to be—dancing with a purpose. I am working with the center to see if we can incorporate the classes into some of their regular programming in the future.

—Jillian McKoy