About Ariane
Ariane is a an award-winning, British-Mauritian performer and educator- her practice centers around holistic wellbeing and transformation through rapid change and innovation via freedom of expression.
A true child of the diaspora, Ariane believes in building bridges between cultures and creates awareness and understanding by connecting the past and the present through powerful ritual movement, poetry and music.
As a dancer and choreographer she is known for her joyful, exuberant and sensual energy. As a singer her range and resonance have a habit of surprising people and getting them to pay attention! Her acting and improvisation style is charismatic, funny and stoic.
With over 20 years teaching experience she holds a Masters & Qualified Teacher of Life & Skills Status in Performance, A BA (Hons) in Acting From Rose Bruford College School of Performance, a specialist qualification in teaching drama to children and dance to adults, as well as a certification in yoga-psychology and ecstatic dance. Ariane has taught for The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Carnegie Mellon University, The Federation of Drama Schools, First Dance UK and the performers union Equity.
She has been in Olivier Award winning shows, worked with reknown international artists, released music and been featured on the BBC, Chanel 4 and in several international publications.
What is the Afro-Mauritian Dance Exchange?
Afro -Mauritian Dance Exchange is a series of embodied voice and dance workshops led by Ariane Barnes in the company of other amazing artists who enjoy exchanging and re-discovering the rich cultural heritage of Mauritus in paralell with their own music and movement practice.
It was born from the need to bring awareness to The Maroons of Mauritius and rediscover what freedom of expression means NOW by bringing great artists and wisdom keepers together to bring you a culturally rich and vibrant performance experience.
Is what you teach different from Traditional Sega ?
Yes BUT technically speaking... this form would be closer to what it was like a LONG time ago! Modern commercial Sega is a fairly easy (for some at least!) but flamboyant style and whilst it’s part of what Ariane does- it’s not the entirety of it, particularly since she enjoys the more raw, ancient explosive side of African dance just as much as the soft and subtle island style…this offers the best of both worlds with a touch of characterisation and a proper understanding of how voice and energy are used in this form. This form created by Ariane is called Afro-Mauritian dance technique TM.
What will I learn?
- You will learn beautiful fusion of fiery dance moves as well as the softer more folkloric side of the style. We will interweave this with yoga, performance and mindset coaching to give you a holistic and joyful experience.
- You will understand the relationship between song and dance in Mauritian culture and learn to use voice and characterisation from a place of embodied joy.
- You will learn both how and why we dance and help this inform your choices for choreography, voice and characterisation.
- You will enhance stamina and choreo and gain confidence in improvisation for solos.
What are the roots of dance in Mauritius- why are you saying "Afro" ?
Mauritius mainly draws its dance history from Africa and Madagascar. As explained above the Afro-Mauritian Dance Technique is unique to Ariane's practice, so we use the term 'AFRO' to pay homage to the African roots of the dance (since there is more than one African culture we can trace it back to) and 'Mauritian' to represent the subtlety of the fusion of both the style and the multi-ethnic identity it represents. We also bear in mind the fondness for contemporary dance in Mauritius and it's important place in the Mauritian artistic landsacpe.
Sega Typique, Shega, Moutya, Maloya, are all part of the Island dance family and registered as forms of intangible cultural heritage with UNESCO! But there is another side to it, the delicate and expressive East Asian influences of India and Indonesia are also interweaved into its beauty.
It results in a freedom that gives it a broad and beautiful palette: dynamic, sensual and delicate- depending on the emotions expressed in the song.
It also shares instrumental expression with Brasil, Capoeira, and ‘The Bobo’ Aka Berimbao and the modern influences of Bollywood & Bhodjpuri dance.
The drum we use is a Ravanne, also known as a frame drum. Djembes and atabaque are also popular depending on the type of sega. When put together the effect is stunning; that's the Mauritian charm; we are builders of peace and inter-cultural exchange.
Regular workshops on a monthly basis !
Sign up for all info
