BIOGRAPHY
Titus Fotso is a Dancer, Musician, Choreographer and Director, originally from Cameroon, Africa. He began his training and developed an expertise in traditional Cameroonian as well as other African dance styles through several prestigious Dance Companies from Senegal, Congo and Ivory Coast, including the National Ballet of Cameroon and the the Baobab de Paul Kengmo. Fotso resides with his wife and son in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Biography:
In his native Cameroon, Fotso began his formal training in traditional dances at the age of eight. Leading his high school Dance Team at 16 years old, he won the annual "FETE DE LA JEUNESSE'' National Dance Contest at the Cameroonian Cultural Center in Yaoundé-Cameroon, in two categories (Best Traditional and Best Contemporary Choreography). He was then invited and started studying Cameroonian classical dance styles and techniques with the National Ballet and the "Baobab" of Paul Kengmo while learning and practicing his songwriting skills as well as recording his first music demos with the help of two veterans and members of the National Orchestra, the late Amougou Mballa and Abou Bass, followed by a 5 years-Artist Development and Recording Contract deal with Soyoko Music. His early success inspired Titus to adventure into various other forms of movement, culminating in the development of his own brand of "Afro-inclusive" dance he calls KOSSA DANCE*.
Fotso is founder of the JTF World Dance and Research Project; he has taught regular classes, master classes, dance workshops and performed around the globe. In 2009, he completed a European Tour as the Choreographer for AFRIKA-AFRIKA 1 and 2 (coaching and directing over 200 Artists dancers, acrobats, musicians, Singers, actors, jugglers...etc.). Titus was the Dance coach and Choreographer for “TROPICANA SHOW“, a major 90’s dance driven Musical Variety Show on CRTV(Cameroonian Radio Television).
Fotso is a Recording Artist, Vocalist, Songwriter and Music Producer of his own “JAMBOULA BEAT!” and “TECHNO KOSSA” Music Style
Artistic Director of the AFRICADANCE INSTITUTE and CONFERENCE PROJECT, Titus has created and developed a standard curriculum for the "KOSSA" new form of dance and Technique. He hopes to integrate this curriculum into an accredited program of certification for students and teachers of dance around the world.
Titus Fotso is currently developing several Dance and Musical projects.
Awards and Achievements:
He has been Chancellor Distinguished/Lecture/Master teacher in Residence at major Arts and Dance Institutions, Dance Schools and Universities across the United States of America including:
University of Southern California, University of California Irvine, University of California in Los Angeles, the Watts Tower Arts Center, the Debbie Allen Dance Institute at Texas Christian University, and Booker T. Washington Performing Arts School in Dallas-Texas, Saint Joseph Ballet, Lula Washington Dance School, Santa Monica College, Rhythm Nation Dance School and the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (original Faculty member).
1999 Winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the World Music Category with his song “SPIRIT DANCER”.
2011 Finalist and Honorable mention at the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in the World Music Category with his song “SPIRIT DANCER”
Credits:
cast member and associate choreographer in Debbie Allen's theatrical productions of "Soul Possessed" (1999,2000/ 2001) for the Kennedy Center and the Alliance Theatre Company,
dance consultant in Debbie Allen's "Pepito's Story"(2003),
dance consultant and choreographer of the Congo Square scene of "Romeo and Juliet" for The Theatre at Boston Court (2003).
In U.S.A. he appeared in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad",
the HBO Special's "MIDDLE OF PASSAGE" directed by Debbie Allen,
lead dancer and associate choreographer for the musical Theatre "From the Heart of Love" directed by Richard Lawson.
He collaborated with DreamWorks Animation Studios on dance research for "MADAGASCAR ESCAPE TO AFRICA
References:
"Titus Fotso stands in the gap between the present and the past, preserving and perpetuating the rich tapestry of Africa's traditions."
Titus states that "KOSSA DANCE" has always been with him, a concept, which to him seemed as natural as movement itself. "My life and all the paths I have taken have leaded me to "KOSSA", says Fotso."I cannot separate myself from the idea of a language that bridges Africans together as a single people, and I have found that language to be the rhythms, songs and dances of the African People.
It is intrinsic to all African Music and Dance to depict both the historical and current events of the environment and its people. So while carefully respecting the fundamental movements of Traditional African Dance, Titus acts as a vehicle for the translation of tradition into movements that speak to the sounds and cultural experiences of the present day.
" If HUMANITY and the first modern Civilization were born and had evolved from Africa, then, rhythms and movements [music and Dance] originated and migrated from there as well; that is why people, in general, call the African Continent " THE MOTHERLAND", I believe...and, as certain as people change and evolve, so too will the songs and dances that are used to interpret and define us. At the same time we must remember that our past, our history, is the light by which we are able to, with clarity, navigate our present and, with confidence, head towards our future"
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