Founded in 1969, KTDC passionately preserves, teaches, documents, interprets, and performs dance and music rooted in the cultures of the African Diaspora and has continually diversified its programming to incorporate ongoing national, economic, and audience evolution without sacrificing the mission of inspiring our community to celebrate themselves and others through the present-day interpretation of ancient and contemporary African dance and music.
DrumTalk, Ko-Thi's signature educational programming, offers performances and workshops for groups of all ages and experience levels.From single-day programs to full-year school residencies, DrumTalk programming can be tailored to your organization's individual needs and goals. Contact us today for more information!
DrumTalk, Ko-Thi's signature educational programming, offers performances and workshops for groups of all ages and experience levels.From single-day programs to full-year school residencies, DrumTalk programming can be tailored to your organization's individual needs and goals. Contact us today for more information!
Services
Meet The Staff
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Ferne is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ko-Thi Dance Company, Wisconsin's oldest African American arts organization. Ko-Thi, founded in 1969, is dedicated to the preservation and expression of the performing arts from the African Continent, Caribbean and United States.
She taught at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee beginning in 1971, where she was a Full Professor in the Peck School of the Arts' Department of Dance until she retired as Professor Emerita in 2016.She is particularly interested in the relationship between arts training and exposure, increased self-esteem and social behavior.
She taught at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee beginning in 1971, where she was a Full Professor in the Peck School of the Arts' Department of Dance until she retired as Professor Emerita in 2016.She is particularly interested in the relationship between arts training and exposure, increased self-esteem and social behavior.
News and Updates
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Please join us in honoring these seven incredible women and their contributions to the Greater Milwaukee community! Ko-Thi was recently named one of 855 CARES Act Relief Funding recipients, chosen from a pool of over 3,100 applicants nationwide. As the founder of Ko-Thi Dance Company, I am grateful, humbled, and sincerely overwhelmed with the tenacity, curiosity, respectfulness, and zeal with which our team has grown.
Upcoming Events
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Don't miss out on our six week in-person Fall session for adults! Drop in and check out our high energy classes taught by members of the Adult Performance Ensemble! Don't miss out on our six week in-person Fall session for youth! Taught by members of our Adult Performance Ensemble, this class is a great introduction to African drumming!
Sankofa Series
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As we embark on our 51st year, Ko-Thi Dance Company continues to embody the Sankofa principle of acknowledging the past and building the present to prepare for the future. Our intrinsic value lies in the amazing generations of master teachers, performance artists, staff, and community members who have shaped this entity committed to the advancement of African Diasporic dance and music.
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