Elikya dance group offers children a chance to showcase their roots

OREM — The show put on by the children and young adults in Elikya may, at first glance, look like a stock dance recital.

There are adorable kids, colorful costumes and catchy music. There are proud parents in the front row and the occasional shy wave from the stage.

But Elikya is not your run-of-the-mill dance troupe. Elikya (which means hope in Swahili) is made up mostly of children of African-American heritage, children whose roots reach back to slavery and the African jungles.

It's a nonprofit organization run by volunteers who do everything from teaching to costuming the 30 youngsters ranging in age from 4 to 18.

It's a group of adopted children who are learning about their culture as they learn to perform in front of a crowd.

And it's evident as they skip and dance that they're enjoying the sense of camaraderie among the group almost more than the chance to show off a little.

"It's given my daughter a sense of belonging," said Barbara Smith, Channel 4 news anchor and the mother of Hannie, an adopted girl from Ethiopia. "It's been good for her."

The group is the brainchild of Jennifer Stott, who decided after moving to Utah Valley from Detroit in 2006 that too many adopted black children knew too little about their history.

The program includes rhythmic dance, poetry and passionate singing. Taylor Searle steps into a Michael Jackson moondance while another youngster dons a single silver glove to join him.

Three young ladies belt out an Eartha Kitt number. Little boys pound the drums for a native dance.

“Jennifer has a real gift for dance and knows a lot about African-American history,” said Sage Service, whose daughter also dances with the group. “This is a welcoming organization that broadens my daughter’s life.”

The nightly show includes a dance from "Aida"; a warrior dance with real spears held by small boys; a Charleston dance that some believe comes from native Africa; poems and full company stage numbers. There's a little Motown, some hip-hop and a sprinkling of political rhetoric.

“I have designed the show to have something for every age group in the audience,” Stott said. “The connecting element is upbeat music that encourages audience involvement.”

If you go:

What: "Africa: Music, Culture, Dance"

Where: SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State St., Orem

When: 7:30 p.m. through Jan. 14, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Cost/tickets: $10/$8 students, seniors (Call 225-ARTS)

Website: scera.org

Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with 35 years experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com. Email: haddoc@desnews.com