The (UCAE)
Universal Creative Arts Ensemble's -
Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble, Camden, New Jersey
was founded by Mr.
Robert Dickerson and
wife
Wanda Dickerson in 1984. It
is directed by both of them with the dedicated assistance of their
oldest son,
Jamal,
who is the Chief Choreographer and Artistic Director, and with
the help of his lovely wife,
Ronsha. This program
consists of the education and history of the
African Diaspora,
African American History, African Dance, African Drum, African
Masquerade, Creative Dance, Aerobic Dance, Modern Dance, Line Dance,
Praise Dance and the basic history and respect of many cultures in the
world.
The
Universal Creative Arts Ensemble
(UCAE) consist of
the Universal African Dance & Drum
E nsemble
and the
UCC Praise Dance Ministry,
which has grown to be a very accomplished universal dance company.
UCAE has female drill teams as well as classes in Drama, Modeling,
Fashion Design, Sewing and Hair Design. The members learn the
importance of Respect, Love, Expressions, Etiquette, Ethics, Poise,
the
Nguzo Saba, (7 principles of Kwanzaa by Dr. Maulana
Karenga - Creator of Kwanzaa),
and many other righteous principles.
Performing at many prestigious venues, such as:
United Nations-NY,
AFRICA,
CARIBBEAN, Political
Inaugurations, NAACP National Convention,
NJPAC-NJ,
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)-NY,
War Memorial (Trenton, NJ),
Sony Blockbuster Entertainment Ctr., Tweeter Ctr.-NJ,
New Jersey State Aquarium,
Kimmel Ctr.-PHILA.,
Forum-Harrisburg, PA, Taj Mahal Casino-NJ,
Trump Casino-NJ.Sands
Casino-NJ, Show Boat Casino-NJ,
Academy of Music-PHILA.,
International African Arts Festival-NY,
Mann Center-PHILA., Robin Hood
Dell-Phila., WDAS Unity Day-PHILA,,
Odunde-PHILA.,
West Oak Lane Jazz & Arts Festival-PHILA,
Penns Landing-PHILA.,
The famous UniverSoul Circus,
Six Flags GREAT ADVENTURE, Expos,
Performing Art Centers,
Museums, Convention Centers,
Festivals, Colleges,
Universities, Schools,
Fraternity & Sorority National Conventions,
Government & State Agencies,
United States Arm Force Facilities,
City Halls,
Fortune 500 or High Profile Corporate Events and
many community events all over this
country.
Seen by millions on
Local, National, International and Cable Television, such as:
Charles Perez
Show- 1995, National
News Networks,
Positive Impact (JOE PISCOPO) Show,
NBC-Today's Show - Matt
Lauer & Katie Couric with Joe Piscopo-2003,
SPIKE TV- 2005, C-SPAN
(International)-
Millions More Movement 2005,
CNN- (JOE
PISCOPO-2007),
TLC CABLE- 2009,
WPVI 6,
WCAU 10,
KYW 3, WTXF 29,
WPHL 17, WYBE 35,
CN8
and
many local TV shows around
the U.S.A. since 1984.
|
National & International AMBASSADORS
OF THE CULTURE
KEEPERS OF THE
CULTURE
Featuring: African
Dance, Traditional Songs, Stilt Walking / Dancing, Masquerading,
Martial Arts Acrobatics, Drama & Intensified African Drumming |
Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble BIO -
BELOW
UNIVERSAL AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM
ENSEMBLE, founded and
directed by
Robert
and wife
Wanda Dickerson
in 1984 and co-directed by their oldest son
Jamal and wife
Ronsha Dickerson, has grown
to be one of the largest professional African Dance & Drum Ensembles in
the United States of America. The Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble headquartered in Camden, New Jersey which includes
members from Camden, New Jersey,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and
Africa.
The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble has
also been blessed and sanctioned the best of its kind
as an African-American Dance & Drum Troupe in America by scholars,
historians and African Djelis (historians). They strive to be
sensational and electrifying with their amazing
Stilt Walkers, Dancers,
Drummers, Ground Masquerades and with an exciting acrobatic show.
The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble has performed at many
prominent and prestigious events in this country, including
performing for and honoring leaders of countries, celebrities,
politicians, religious, business and community leaders. The Universal
African Dance & Drum Ensemble's teachers and officials, have been taught
by many great teachers from many countries in Africa. They are known
for their West African presentations, of Guinea, Senegal,
Mali, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone,
and more. They have been blessed to have learned songs, dance
and drum from a famous South African troupe called
Thula Sizwe.
In 2007, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble also had the
privilege to learn and perform with a wonderful group from KENYA,
East Africa, called
The Friends
of Sironka African Dance Troupe.
| The Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble is also a very versatile group of professionals,
educators, nurses, veterans, police, business, community
personnel, college students, school students and children.
They are a very flexible troupe who are able to conform their
troupe from 69 to 2 performers. They
professionally perform song, dance and drum from many sections
and cultures of Africa, while teaching the culture of
West, East, South, Central
and
North Africa,
through the arts. Their artistic and exceptional
choreography gives them the ability to accommodate your
specific events.
Blessed and sanctioned to be one of the BEST and the most
exciting African Dance and Drum ensembles in the USA. In
addition the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble were
chosen and endorsed by world renowned historians, scholars and
artists in America and Africa to represent the USA at the
World Festival of Black Arts and Culture (FESMAN)
in Dakar, Senegal, Africa in December 2010, where over
80 nations presented their best. At this historical
event Universal performed in Saint-Louis,
Goree Island, and Dakar, Senegal,
AFRICA.
(1) December 15, 2010 (Saint-Louis,
Senegal Africa)
Click here for You-Tube Video
(2) December 17 and 18, 2010 (On Goree, Island and Senegalese
wedding in Dakar, Senegal Africa)
Click here for You-Tube Video
(3) Further HISTORICAL information please
Click
here:
|
 Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble has been blessed with five
outstanding Stilt walkers and greatly blessed with the famous
"Pasha" the Stilt walker / Dancer.
"Pasha" the Stilt walker has been a member since 1984.
All 69 active members of the Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble are Martial Artist (Karate)
practitioners
and many are local, national and world Karate champions
from the 4-time Hall of Fame Karate School, called the
Universal Pasha Karate School (UPK). The group is made up of
various inner-city African-American families of contrasting
religions and different ways of life. This proves through the
understanding of love and discipline, while
practicing, working and training together, that UNITY can
exist in the inner cities of America and other communities.
Everyone should honor, respect and appreciate the culture from
which African Americans (black people) of America originate.
The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble presents to you,
family values and the beauty of African Culture.
One of the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble's
goals, is to help African Americans or Black People understand
the importance of honoring their place of origin, AFRICA,
(The MOTHERLAND),
while at the same time helping the African Family appreciate
that there are African Americans helping to build between the
two, UNITY, through emphasizing the AFRICAN DIASPORA,
HISTORY, EDUCATION and the PERFORMING ARTS.
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble
is honored to represent the beauty of
African Culture in America. They love and
admire many African troupes all over Africa.
Les Ballet Africains
from West Africa (Guinea), has been their mentors,
role-models, teachers and the
group that they have
modeled themselves after. The Universal
African Dance & Drum Ensemble presents a powerful, sensational,
electrifying and educational performances for everyone and
especially for African-Americans (black people) in America to
easily appreciate their culture.
Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble's identity, signature and highlighted performances
with five generations of performers are how they
represent the beauty of family with children,
teenagers, young adults, adults and elders performing
traditional African songs, instruments, dance and drum.
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble has been considered to
be the trend setters for this kind of performances all
over America. They are very happy to witness people of many
races, religions, cultures and ways of life,
appreciating their performances of Love, Discipline,
Culture and Family. The kind words of
encouragement from thousands of people from all over the world,
has been very inspiring. This appreciation helps Universal to
stay strong, preserving and representing the beauty of African
culture and most of all FAMILY. |
 
CONTACT US- CLICK HERE |
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here for Basic Promotional Package
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