The rhythm is electrifying. Full of heavy Nigerian drum beats and a funk groove that has us tapping our feet unconsciously, Jamaican dancehall floods our social media feeds. As a schoolgirl, Maryann Vincent sat in her bedroom, headphones booming with signature Afrobeat music, imitating one YouTube video after another in awe.
An escape from the monotony of the classroom, Vincent and fellow graphic designer Ānjaly Ariyanayagam turned their passion into something more, forming the ‘non-crew,’ Afrontāl.
Online classes
“We learnt the moves through those videos, researching the music and dance on our own,” Vincent recounts, adding, “We came up with the name with the help of one of our creative directors at work,” Vincent laughs, adding that they added an Indian touch with the suffix ‘tāl,’ meaning ‘rhythm in lyrics.’
With everyone on the team having at least one ‘A’ in their name — Divyā Easwaran, Nivithā Kumar, and Alishā Ajit, apart from Vincent and Ariyanayagam— it’s easy to identify them online.
Fusing dancehall with Afrobeat, a system of music that stems from Ghanian and Nigerian roots, Afrontāl is only a little over a year old. And yet, the group has already made its mark.
“We’ve performed at the Indian Premier Locking Championship and quite a bit in Bengaluru and up North as well,” Vincent tells us. , the group says that their fascination with the art they perform goes much deeper. “For us, it’s not just about the dance and its music. It’s about learning the culture and how it’s evolved to what it is over time.”
Exploring avenues
Vincent says Chennai’s African population, nestled in pockets of the city, inspires the girls to keep dancing. “We’re lucky,” she admits, acknowledging that the lack of knowledge about their chosen form allows them to venture into new territory with performances and workshops. “We keep trying to think out of the box. Just a few months ago, we brought in a Jamaican dancehall artiste from Mumbai to teach us more techniques and moves,” Vincent says.
Although the group loves to perform, she says classes are where the learning happens. While there’s a significant population of youngsters who have been initiated, both dancehall and Afrobeat are still relatively rare in the region, prompting the young group to host workshops to “spark interest among the crowds.”
“It’s the first time we’re doing a workshop tour, hosting classes in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad,” she tells us. Priced at ₹1,000 for the two-day session, the girls hope to open the workshop to other cities, spreading the vibe through their dance. “We fell in love with Dancehall and Afrobeat because of their positive energies. We just want to share that with the world.”
In Da ‘Fro takes place today and tomorrow at Madras Dance Arts, Nelson Manickam Road, from 6pm to 8pm. Registrations open. 9840877780
