Roots Of Rhythm - Cultural deep dives for the fusion community
Dance workshop - Food - Music
Session #1: "The Origins of afrobeats" with Eric Dakpo & Anne den Otter

Roots Of Rhythm is a new concept created especially for the fusion community. Roots Of Rhythm takes you on a journey through the origins of dance and rhythm. Afro-latin dance styles and the culture they come from have shaped Anne (the initiator of this series of cultural deep dives) as a dancer. It is her wish and vision to share the wisdom and inspiration she herself obtained from afro-latin dance cultures. Being informed by the history of a people can create more understanding about why their way of moving to music has developed the way it has. Roots of Rhythm facilitates learning about these dance cultures, in order to build a cultural awareness and depth in the fusion community. 

Practical information:
Dance workshop with a dinner and social dance
Saturday 24-01-2026
Workshop: 13.00 - 17.30 by Rick & Anne
Dinner: 18.00 - 19.30 with a vegan Ghanese dish by Rick (tell us if you have any allergies in the registration form!)
Social: 20.00 - 23.00 with music by Anne & Rick
Location: Centrum EMMA: Cremerstraat 245/2473532 BJ Utrecht (10 min OV bike ride from the central station)

Fusion dancing and roles:
Fusion dancing is gender neutral. Anyone can be a leader or follower, and during this workshop the baseline is that everyone dances with everyone. We also actively invite people to learn the role you're not familiar with yet, so feel free to try the workshop in 'the other role' (as long as you've got the basics of leading/following there too). The classes will be danced solo as well as partnered.  

Pricing:
The full pass includes 4 hours of dance class, a dinner and an evening social dance. It also includes snacks we'll provide during the workshop and the social. There's also a pass for the dinner and the social without the workshop, and one for the social only. 

We want to make this event affordable for everyone who'd like to join. For every Fantastic Frankie we can also sell a Small Suzy. Send a message to anne.anbacht@gmail.com if you can't afford one of these passes, we'll see what we can arrange!  

- Fantastic Frankie: €50 (workshop, dinner, social)
- Average Joe: €45 (workshop, dinner, social)
- Small Suzy: €40 (workshop, dinner, social)
- Dinner and social: €30
- Social only: €10

About Eric:
Eric has been teaching authentic Afro dance workshops for over 4 years in the Netherlands. As versatile as he is, he has also given dance workshops with other bands / groups in the Netherlands and taught children in elementary schools in the Netherlands who are very passionate or love dancing. Some of the styles he teaches are Kpanlogo, Afro-Yoga, Azonto and Amapiano. Eric is Originally from Ghana, West Africa, where he contributed a lot to the entertainment industry as well. Eric is now based in the Netherlands, and is now locally known as 'Mr. Gezellig'.

About Anne:
Anne has been teaching afro-latin dance styles for over 10 years. She was already dancing before she could walk, and has always deeply enjoyed listening and moving to music. Anne's first love has always been (Authentic Dominican) Bachata. After dancing in a Bachata showteam Anne felt it was time to start dancing for herself again. She discovered the Fusion scene right before covid hit, and the rest is history. Anne often teaches at the monthly Fusion night in Utrecht, and sometimes DJ's here as well. Anne is one of the founders of 'Playground Utrecht Fusion', a fusion festival in Utrecht, which she created together with Nicky and Abel (www.playgroundfusion.nl).