Just Aïssi

Choreographer and percussionist Just Aïssi has been promoting African arts across Canada for 20 years. A true ambassador of his cultural heritage, he shares his values through dance and percussion.

Curriculum Links

How forms and styles of dance reflect people’s different social and political roles in various communities, times and places; how dance styles reflect the beliefs and traditions of diverse communities, how social, political and economic factors influenced the emergence and development of a genre of dance; tempo, rhythm, effort, force and quality of dance elements; communication and harmony within a group.*
*Sessions for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students are 30 minutes each. Maximum 5 sessions per day.
**For venues located more than 50 km from the centre of Ottawa, an additional fee of $100 + HST will be charged, in addition to the usual transportation fees..

---

Gumboots Workshop

Just Aïssi will introduce students of all ages to the South African dance of Gumboots. This rhythmic and dynamic dance requires the use of rubber boots. The workshop covers the historical significance and origin of Gumboots dance in the mines of South Africa and students will learn the basic, rapid and synchronized steps of this dance form. Gumboots will be provided. Material fees: $50 + HST per day. (30 pairs of boots)

Participants: Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: Half day: two 1 hour sessions $375 + HST Full day: three 1 hour sessions $535 + HST Sessions for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students are 30 minutes each. Maximum of 5 sessions per day. For venues located more than 50 km from the centre of Ottawa, an additional fee of $100 + HST will be charged, as well as the usual transportation fees.

---

South African dance and music

Just Aïssi’s African Dance Company takes students back in time, sharing the cultural heritage of South Africa. (It would take another sentence to explain what spectators can expect and what students will see and learn).

Participants: Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 250
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: One performance: 1 hour $895 + HST Two performances: same school in one day $ 1,495 + HST For venues located more than 50 km from the centre of Ottawa, an additional fee of $100 + HST will be charged, in addition to the usual transportation fees.

---

Gumboot!

See professional dancers performing the gumboot dance! By hitting the ground with their boots, they recreate South African rhythms and songs. Students will learn the history of this means of communication developed by miners before 1970s.

Participants: Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 250
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: One performance: 1 hour $895 + HST Two performances: same school in one day $ 1,495 + HST For venues located more than 50 km from the centre of Ottawa, an additional fee of $100 + HST will be charged, in addition to the usual transportation fees.