Groovin’ Griot is a podcast about how we use dance to tell stories. The term “griot” comes from the West African tradition of oral and embodied storytelling. Griots are traveling poets, musicians, genealogists, and historians who preserve and tell stories via a variety of modalities.
On Groovin’ Griot, we are centering the African Diaspora, honoring the legacies of the griot by talking to the storytellers in our communities who help us understand the role of dance in remembering and reimagining the lessons embedded in these stories. We’ll talk roots, rhythm, rituals, recommendations, and much more.
Episodes released bi-weekly. Email us at groovingriot@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @groovingriot!
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Latest Episodes
Improvisation as Tradition and Technology
What does West African dance have to do with fractal codes, hormetic healing, and technological innovation? Dr. S Ama Wray unpacks these connections and more on this ...
Dancing the Diasporas
Dr. Lela Aisha Jones takes us on a journey through African Diasporas, sharing dance stories from across the US, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, and Senegal. She talks about archi...
Histories of African Dance Systems
OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Ofosuwa Abiola about her experiences founding Suwabi African Ballet, bringing together dance histories and cultural histories, and u...
Unbounding the Body through Dance
OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Deborah Thomas about her experiences dancing with Urban Bush Women, transitioning into a career as an anthropologist, and drawing f...
Dance as "Reparative Art"
OreOluwa and Azsaneé talk with Dr. Jasmine L. Blanks Jones about her work on “reparative arts” and how dance can help us unpack the complex histories and experiences o...
