- By Kelly Tehan
- Entertainment


Begun in Ghana and now based in Rochester, NY, the Wassa Afrika Dance Ensemble tours internationally and has grown to include, at times, up to 35 dancers who present traditional indigenous Ghanian music and dances. They have participated in Ghana's National Festival of Arts, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Confederation of African Football's Cup of Nations soccer tournament co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
Nana "Isaac" Kwasi Anim is a highly trained traditional African dancer, drummer, instructor, performer, choreographer and professional bamboo flute player. He was born in Accra, Ghana, West Africa to a royal family where drumming and dancing is common; he began dancing and drumming at the age of six. For many years he trained and traveled with several dance troupes until forming his own company, Wassa Afrika Dance Ensemble, in 1998. He has traveled throughout West African countries, studying the dance and the culture common in those areas.
In addition to performing, Anim has taught traditional dance at Ghanian educational institutions and community centers, and is a member of the Ghana Cultural Ballet and the Dance Factory based at the National Theatre of Ghana.
----
v4i44