In the Spirit of Dance: Images & Poetry

By Chidi A. Okoye

A dance is a communication between the dancer and the universe or God. As we each embrace the dancer in us, we can better understand and celebrate Chidi Okoyes work in its fullness. His unmatched sensitivity to the subtle energies of the female body and the dancing body is apparent through all his work, and my hope is that we can all truly appreciate the gift that he is to this world

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490756400

Chidi A. Okoye

He is a renowned Nigerian Sculptor, painter and poet with 6yrs professional teaching, national solo exhibition, Nigerian museum Lagos and author of lamentation thoughts and images sponsored by Mobile Producing; found himself in Vancouver BC on invitation to start a fresh journey as an artist. Having overcome some rough edges of life with numerous sold out limited editions of works have left him with songs of silence

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Copyright 2015 Chidi A. Okoye.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5641-7 (sc)

            978-1-4907-5640-0 (e)

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Contents

In the Spirit of Dance

Celebration of Life

He is the Reason We are Dancing

Healing Dance

Rhythm of Our Land

Ritual Dance

Beyond Rhythm of Sorrow

Wind of Drums

Calabash Dance

Dream Singer

Circle of Dance

Drum and Dance

Mgbadike (Masquerade Dance)

Dance of Love 2

Maiden Dance

Free Dance

Jazz Sisters

Lone Dancer

Titled Dance

Graceful Dance

Shakara Dance

Tribute to the Newborn

Mother’s Dance

Joyful Dance 2

In the Heart of Rhythm

Survival Dance

Echoes of Legend Drums

Praise Dance

Wind of Dance

Jazz Feast

Celebration

Joyful Dance

Clarion Call

Sunset Dance

Drum Sisters

Limbs of Legacy

Dream Dancer

In Arms of Love

Joyful Spirits

Homage

Drum Feast

Heritage

Angelic Dance

Dance of Love

Moonlight Dance

Parti Balle: Blue Dress

Drums of Life

Sun Dance

Dance of Praise

Dance with Me

Ladies Night

Friendship Dance

Depth of Life

Dance Your Way Out

Ballroom Delights

Dance of Love, Tango

Eve of Festival

Mourners Dance

Royal Dance

Modern Dance

On the Toes of Dance

Blue Dance

List of Plates

In the Spirit of Dance

Celebration of Life

He is the Reason Why We are Dancing

Healing Dance

Rhythm of Our Land

Ritual Dance

Beyond Rhythm of Sorrow

Wind of Drums

Calabash Dance

Dream Singer

Drum and Dance

Mgbadike (Masquerade Dance)

Dance of Love 2

Maiden Dance

Free dance

Jazz Sisters

Lone Dancer

Titled Dance

Graceful Dance

Shakara Dance

Tribute to the Newborn

Mother’s Dance

Joyful Dance 2

In the Heart of Rhythm

Survival Dance

Echoes of Legend Drums

Praise Dance

Wind of Dance

Jazz Feast

Celebration 2

Joyful of Dance 1

Clarion Call

Sunset Dance

Drum Sisters 2

Limbs of Legacy

Dream Dancer

In Arms of Love

Joyful Spirits

Homage 2

Drum Feast

Heritage 2

Angelic Dance

Dance of Love 3

Moonlight Dance

Parti Balle: Blue Dress

Drums of Life

Sun Dance

Dance of Praise

Dance with Me

Ladies Night

Friendship Dance

Depth of Life

Dance Your Way Out

Ballroom Delights

Dance of Love Tango

Eve of Festival

Mourners Dance

Royal Dance

Modern Dance

On the Toes of Dance

Blue Dance

Dance to the Lord

Hosanna in the Highest

Rain Dance

Pop Dance

Kabiesi Dance 1

Feeling the Beat

Maiden Dance 2

Dance of the Titled

Dancing in the Wind

We Dance for Joy

Japanese Sun on Big App

Parti Balle – Red Dress

Ultimate Dance

Kabiesi Dance 2

In the Spirit of Dance

Images and Poetry

Chidi A. Okoye

Foreword

I believe that through dance, we express our reverence for life, for dance is life itself, quite simply. Dance is an expression of our spirituality, and an expression of our deepest emotions. Chidi Okoye’s work represents the richness of the body’s movements in such a way that one can actually feel the language being spoken and the subtle and yet profound vibration that is being released through the dance. He becomes the dancer, and his canvases, whether paintings or poetry, is the dance being danced.

Let’s consider this ancient wise saying: In the spirit world, we do not talk, we sing; we do not walk, we dance. As we dance our way through life, we summon powerful energies that have the ability to heal ourselves and our world. In Africa, the first healers and spiritual leaders were dancers.

Indigenous cultures understood a long time ago the healing power of the dance for the wellbeing of humankind and for the planet. We used the power of dance to connect with the rhythm of nature: to make the rain fall or the sun shine, to call for a change in seasons, etc.

A dance is a communication between the dancer and the universe or God. As we each embrace the dancer in us, we can better understand and celebrate Chidi Okoye’s work in its fullness. His unmatched sensitivity to the