Mr. Terry Bright Ofosu

TERRY BRIGHT KWEKU OFOSU

Terry Bright Kweku Ofosu received his Diploma in Dance (Theatre Arts) in 1993 and Master of Fine Arts graduate degree in 2009, all at the University of Ghana Legon.  He is currently an assistant lecturer at the Department of Dance Studies where he has been teaching since January 2011, and is also a final year PhD candidate at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana. He has published a couple of articles in some Ghanaian, African and Western journals and hopes to continue with the trend. Mr. Ofosu’s teaching areas include Popular Dance Technique, Dance Composition, Dance Aesthetics and Criticism, Orientation to Dance Theatre, Dance Cultures of the World, Theatre Management and Traditional dance. Ofosu’s research interests are in popular dance and the socio-political influences in Ghana, Dance, Film and 3D animation, as well as the Management of dance activities within Ghanaian communities (Theatre Management in Dance). Terry has choreographed several pieces in the University of Ghana including pieces such as the popular dances in Wogbedzeke (2017), some dances in Samantaase (2014), Azonto dance (Pro Vice Chancellor’s Inaugural lecture, 2012) Michael Jackson Peace Concert (2011), dances in Atobra (2011), Creeping Menace (a.k.a. Abordam 2008), dances in Asanteman (2009), dances in Etuo ato Bare (2006) and several others. Ofosu’s background as a Scholar and former National Dance Champion of Ghana (1989), has won him several invitations to adjudicate in dance, beauty and talent reality show contests on national television, these include Dance Fever, Boogie Down, Street Dance, Malta Guinness Street Dance, Talented Kids and Amazing Child Talent. Other contests he has adjudicated include several districts, regional and national school arts competitions across the capital and the nation at large. He has been the assistant choreographer in the Confederation of African Nations (CAN) 2008 Football tournament opening ceremony dance, African Hocky Federation (AfHF) 2009 tournament opening ceremony dance in Ghana. Ofosu has also done several choreographies for pageants such as Miss World Exquisite, Male Model Africa, Miss Legon, Miss Ghana, Ghana’s Most Beautiful and Miss Ghana/ Lebanon. Ofosu’s passion for the arts has resulted in his invitations to direct plays and choreograph dances for reputable organizations such as Barclays Bank, Tullow Oil Ghana, Guinness Ghana limited, Coca Cola, Accra Brewery, Oxfam and many others.

CONTACT E-MAILS: tbkofosu@yahoo.com /tbofosu@ug.edu.gh

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Popular dances in Ghana and the world at large
Dance and computer generated animation, three dimensional animation and film

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT
Azonto dance, its development from the traditional dances
Rap culture and its relation to West African traditional verbal art and its corresponding dances

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2011: Assistant lecturer at the Department of Dance Studies University of Ghana Legon
2010-2011: Part-time lecturer at Creative Land School of Film and Media Arts
2009-2010: Teaching assistant at the Department of Dance Studies University of Ghana Legon
2007-2008: Graduate assistant at the Department of Dance Studies University of Ghana Legon

CHOREOGRAPHIES
2012: Choreographer of Azonto dance with a group of student’s as part of the Department of Dance Studies performance at the E.T.S Drama Studio at the
University of Ghana in September.
2012: Choreographer of Azonto dance a Department of Dance Studies performance for Pro Vice Chancellor’s Inaugural lecture at the University of Ghana, Great Hall in February
2011: Repetiteur and choreographer of the Michael Jackson Peace Concert staged at the E.T.S. Drama Studio University of Ghana Legon in March.
2011: Choreographer of Atobra a Theatre Arts staff production directed by Appiah Agyei at the E.T.S. Drama Studio University of Ghana Legon in March.
2011: Choreographer of Rossum’s Universal Robots a Theatre Arts undergraduate final Year production directed Priscilla Nana Mensah by at the E.T.S. Drama Studio
University of Ghana Legon in February.
2010: Choreographer of The Ugly Duckling a musical theatre production directed by Ben Amakye-Boateng and Agyeman Wettey at the E.T.S. Drama Studio University of
Ghana Legon in November.
2010: Co-choreographer for Children of the Land a poem written by Professor Kofi Anyidoho and directed by Africanus Aveh at the National Theatre Accra.
2009: Event coordinator for the opening ceremony of the AfHF Hockey Cup of Nations held at the National Hockey Pitch.
2009: Choreographer of the opening dance for the launching of youth Coca Cola Tournament at the International Conference Centre.
2009: Choreographer of Asanteman an MFA final year Theatre Arts project directed by John Osei Tutu at the E.T.S. Drama Studio University of Ghana Legon in
October.
2008: Assistant choreographer for the opening ceremony of the CAN 2008 Football Tournaments held at the Accra sports stadium.
2008: Choreographer of Creeping Menace my MFA final year dance project at the E.T.S. Drama Studio university of Ghana Legon.
2008: Choreographer of the opening ceremony of the Miss Legon Beauty Pageant held at the national theatre organized by NET2 Television.
2008: Choreographer of the opening dance for Gang Stars (T.V. 3 Programme)
2007 One of the Choreographers and coordinator for Music and Dance of our Time organized by the Music and Dance Departments, University of Ghana Legon at . the E.T.S Drama Studio.
2007: Co-choreographer a dance piece together with Mr. Oh! Nii Kwei Sowah and Mr. David Esilfi Quaye both Lecturers of the Department of Dance Studies for Guinness Ghana Ltd titled Unity.
2006: Choreographer for Etuo ato Bare Theatre Arts Staff Production directed by Godwin Kotey at the E.T.S. Drama Studio
2006: Choreographer of the opening dance for Miss Exquisite World held in Ghana at the national theatre.
2006: Choreographer of the opening dance for Male Model Africa held in Ghana at the Conference Centre.
2006: Choreographer of Adam and Eve directed by Professor William Anku and Professor Martin Owusu.
2004: Choreographed a dance piece for the Shiayeno Clusterr of Schools for presentation during the 2004 Mukose Metropolis J.S.S. inter schools dance contest in Accra.
2001-2007: Choreographer and director of music videos for various artistes including Slim Buster, Sony Achiba, Nkasee, Kwao Kese, Josh Laryea, Reggie Zippy, Boli, King
Koti, Osuani Afrifa, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah featuring Samini, Adolph Tagoe etc.

COLLOQUIUM AND SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

• 2013: Terry Bright Ofosu, Azonto Dance in Ghana: Exploring new boundries of popular Dance forms A paper presented at the 11th Annual Faculty of Arts Colloquium.
• 2012: Terry Bright Ofosu, The Spiritual Worldview of the Yeve Cult and Kple Dances and it’s Implications for the Contemporary Ghanaian Stage. A paper presented at the 10th Annual Faculty of Arts Colloquium.
• 2012: Terry Bright Ofosu, Azonto Dance, a Progression from the Traditional and the Locally Created Popular Dances, a paper presented during the intra-departmental seminar on the 16th of March.

• 2011: Terry Bright Ofosu, Rap Culture and its Parallels: The La Kpa, Griot and Akan Praise Singing in Perspective, a paper presented during the intra-departmental seminar on the 22nd of April.
• 2011: Terry Bright Ofosu, Choreographed National Ceremonial Dances: Transcending Ethnicity, Chieftaincy and Politics. a paper presented at the 9th Annual Faculty of Arts Colloquium in April
• 2010: Assisted Professor Halifu Osumare (a Fulbright scholar from the U.S.A). in conducting her researches, and translating and transcribing six hiplife songs for her new book The Hiplife in Ghana: West African Indigenization of Hip-Hop
• 2010: Terry Bright Ofosu, Dance and Politics, Gender, Festivals and Popular dance. a thirty minutes talk delivered to visiting students from Irvine California in October.

• 2008: Terry Bright Ofosu Synthesis of Popular dance and Choreography in Ghana, a paper presented during the 6th Annual Colloquium on the 21st of May.
• 2008: Terry Bright Ofosu, Creeping Menace, a paper presented as part of my final year graduate project the 15th of October.

WORKSHOPS AND PERFORMANCES

• 2012: Coordinator of a performance by a 12-member Indian cultural (dance) troupe lead by Maitreeyi Pahari hosted by the Department of Dance Studies, S.P.A. University of Ghana, Legon and sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, at the Efua Sutherland Drama Studio on the 11th July.
• 2012: Conducted a Kpanlogo performance workshop with some tourist students from Santiago U.S.A. on the 26th of March.
• 2011: Conducted drumming and dancing lessons with a group of twenty two tourists at the Department of Dance Studies in April.
• 2010: Conducted a performance workshop at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Saturday December 18th for some tourist guided by Sunseekers Tours.
• 2010: Conducted drumming and dancing lessons with a group of thirty tourists at the Department of Dance Studies on the 10th of November.
• 2010: Coordinated the dance performance for the 16th Annual Conference of the International Society for the African Philosophy and Studies at the great hall.
• 2009: Performed in Desert Dreams written by Yaw Asare and directed by Africanus Aveh at the E.T.S. Drama Studio and National Theatre.
• 2009: Part of the team that organized a workshop with students from Carlifornia U.S.A. at the University of Ghana in August.
• 2008 Performed in Creeping Menace ’Abodam’ my final year graduate project as part of the University of Ghana’s 60th anniversary celebrations at the E.T.S. Drama studio.
• 2008: Performed in Anase in the Land of Idiots written and directed by Yaw Asare and Africanus Aveh at the E.T.S. Drama Studio and National Theatre.
• 2008: Workshop with International students on The Training of the Drummer Amongst the Anglos supervised by professor Kofi Anyidoho at the English Department2006-2007: Played lead role in the Dance Drama The Prodigal Son by Prof. Ofotsu Adinku at the E.T.S. Drama Studio.
• 2005: Organized a workshop with all the schools in the Mukose metropolis in the greater Accra (North) district.
• 2000: Organized a workshop on Gome dance with the student’s of the Department of Dance Studies at S.P.A., Dance hall, Legon in April.

SUPERVISORY

• 2011: Supervised the Department of Dance Studies and Graduate Student’s production in April titled Pang Wuni and Shoe Anecdotes.
• 2011 Supervised the Department of Dance Studies Level 400 Student’s final year production titled Bare Bones 5/75 at the E.T.S. drama studio in May.
• 2010: Co-opted member of the planning committee of A Night of Music and Tributes in Memory of Professor Willie Anku.
• 2010: Assisted to supervise the Department of Dance Studies’ production titled The Future of Dance at the E.T.S. drama studio in March.
• 2010: Supervised the Choreography of the opening candle procession of the late Professor Willie Anku’s night vigil at the School of Performing Arts
• 2010: Supervised the Department of Dance Studies Level 400 Student’s final year production titled Dawurodwa at the E.T.S. drama studio in May.
• 2009: Assisted to supervise the Department of Dance Studies Level 400 Student’s final year production titled Tripod at the E.T.S. drama studio in May.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• 2012: Adjudicator for dance, drama and cultural competitions at St. Albans International School, on occasion of the St. Alban’s Day celebration on the 13th of July.
• 2012: Adjudicator for dance and drama competition at the 9th Tema Metro Second Cycle Institutions Festival of Arts on the 12th and 13th of June.
• 2011/2012: Adjudicator for Boogie Down (T.V. 3 dance contest program) from November to January
• 2011: Adjudicator for Miss Excel Plus for the regional finals and national finals at the National Theatre in Accra on the 9th of December.
• 2011: Adjudicator for the dance drama contest of the Adentan Municipal Basic Schools Festival on the 27th May
• 2010: Adjudicator for Miss Excel Plus for the regional finals and national finals in Kumasi
• 2010: Adjudicator for Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa for the regional finals and national finals at the national theatre.
• 2009: Adjudicator for Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa for regional finals and national finals at the national theatre.
• 2009: Adjudicator for Association of Students of Performing Arts(ASPA) ‘Talento Expo’ 2009 on the 28th August
• 2009: Adjudicator for Boogie Down (T.V. 3 dance contest programme)
• 2008: Directed Jackie Anang’s show and the opening dance with the Jumba Rhumba Dance group at the National Theatre.
• 2009: Adjudicator for Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa in April, May, September. in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi respectively.
• 2007: Adjudicator for the dance drama contest of the Accra Metro 10th Basic Schools Cultural Festival, on the11th of July.
• 2007: Adjudicator for Dance Fever (T.V. 3 Programme)
• 2007: Adjudicator for Tema Metropolitan Basic Schools Festival 17th May.
• 2007: Scripted and Co-directed a drama presentation together with Mr. Oh! Nii Kwei Sowah (Head of Department of Dance Studies) for Barclays Bank Ltd. titled Barclays Abapa.
• 2006-2007: Directed several Videos for various Musicians like Amakye Dede, Slim Busterr, Rev. Josh Laryea, Ophelia Nyantekyi for television.
• 2006: Directed the video coverage of a Concert Party production for the National Commission on Culture at the Accra Arts Centre.
• 2003: Co directed and edited my feature film “House on Fire” together with Mr. Gordwin Kotey a lecturer at Theatre Arts Department.