Drums beating. Dancers soaring. Spirits lifted. The Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti (RDTH) is an internationally recognized dance troupe of orphans, former street children and child slaves in Haiti. The troupe uses drumming and dance to vibrantly tell their story and lift up hearts, as they have done all over the United States and Canada, dancing in venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music for DanceAfrica and for the Pope at World Youth Day in Canada.
Awesome percussion is featured in RDTH events.
The dancers are part of the St. Joseph Family, which was formed in 1985 from very humble beginnings to bring street children into a family setting. The family now occupies three homes in Haiti – two for former street children and one for children with disabilities. Transformed from being the rejected ones in Haiti to being among the very best of servant-leaders, members of the St. Joseph Family have reached out and encouraged countless other Haitian girls and boys to fulfill their potential.
In the early days, the boys were encouraged to act out plays and use their natural abilities in dance and music to foster a cohesive home environment. This was the beginning of the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti. The dance experience also allows the boys to express Haiti's history and culture in the form of dance and has been a very positive affirmation in their "resurrection" from life on the streets.
Walnes Cangas, lead dancer, choreographer, and Assistant Director of St. Joseph's Home for Boys, performing in 2010.
The dances reflect traditional Haitian and African movements and feature traditional drumming. Performances feature brightly colored costumes and audience participation. This unique theatrical experience takes audiences on a journey of excitement, hope and rhythm.
Click here for links to videos and other multimedia information on the RDTH.
Bill Nathan, lead drummer, Walnes Cangas, and Jacky Asse lead dancers, provide direction for RDTH. The three young men grew up at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys. In addition to their leadership roles with the dance theatre, Bill directs St. Joseph’s Home for Boys and Walnes is assistant director. Jacky directs Wings of Hope, the Family's home for children with physical and mental challenges.
Supporters include renowned dance professionals Dr. Chuck Davis, Cleo Parker Robinson and Elisio Pitta. Dr. Davis, choreographer and founder of DanceAfrica America and the African American Dance Ensemble, serves as Mentor for members of the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti.
Sponsoring a tour of the RDTH is a fulfilling experience that will bring Haitian culture to your community, help fund the St. Joseph Family, and thill audiences.
Click here to learn more about sponsoring a tour of the Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti.
RDTH TOUR 2013
The RDTH will be coming back to the US in Fall, 2013 - with stops in NC, SC, and VA. Please check back often and stay tuned for updates.
RDTH TOUR 2012 - Highlights
Click on the image above for more pics from the tour.
The RDTH played to adoring audiences at over 50 performances, including the venues listed below, schools, churches, and several packed venues in New Bern, NC. All-in-all, the tour raised nearly $100,000 to support the lives of children in Haiti and the rebuilding of Wings of Hope. Thank you for all of your support and good will.
Baltimore, MD
Sunday, September 30
5:00 PM - Grace United Methodist Church
5407 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210
Monday, Oct. 1
7:00 PM - St. Mary’s Outreach Center
3900 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211
Guests are invited to come early for a light pre-concert reception
Wednesday, Oct. 3
7:30 PM - First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church
210 West Madison Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201
Thursday, Oct. 4
7:00 PM - Central Presbyterian Church
7308 York Road, Towson, MD 21204
Friday, Oct. 5
7:00 PM - St. Francis of Assisi Church
3615 Harford Road Baltimore, MD 21218
WASHINGTON, DC
Saturday, Oct. 6
7:00PM - Trinity Presbyterian Church
651 Dranesville Road, Herndon, VA 20170
Sunday, Oct. 7 *
7:30PM - Saint Mark Presbyterian Church
10701 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Monday, Oct. 8 *
7:30PM - Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Tuesday, Oct. 9 *
7:30PM - Round House Black Box Theater
8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Thursday, Oct. 11
7:00PM - Luther Place Memorial Church
1226 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
RICHMOND, VA
Friday, Oct. 12
7:00 PM - J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Lipman Auditorium at Massey Library Technology Center
1651 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228
Saturday, Oct. 13
6:00 PM & 7:30 PM - First African Baptist Church
2700 Hanes Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222
Sunday, Oct. 14
9:00 AM & 11:15 AM - St. James’s Episcopal Church
1205 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23220
Sunday, Oct. 14
5:00 PM - Haiti Carnival @ St. Christopher’s School, Luck Leadership Center
711 St. Christopher’s Road, Richmond, VA 23226
Tuesday, Oct. 16
7:00 PM - Three Chopt Presbyterian Church
9315 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, VA 23229
Hearts with Haiti, 27 Horne Street, Raleigh, NC 27607
