The Azonto event helped educate about HIV prevention through dance drama.

 

For more than three decades, the AIDS pandemic has swept the world. Different groups have been dealing with this tragedy in a variety ways. Gladstone has one of the premier HIV research teams, but others have focused their efforts on outreach, treatment, and prevention.

Patricia Defechereux, PhD, a senior research associate working with Robert Grant, MD, MPH, an expert in HIV prevention at Gladstone, has combined her passions for HIV research and dance to enlist performance arts to educate and raise awareness around HIV/AIDS prevention. On her own time, she volunteered to help the Sankofa Center fundraise for their efforts in HIV prevention and education using dance drama by organizing an evening of dance, performance arts, and HIV public health entitled, “Azonto.”

“Dance is valuable form of communication and education,” said Dr. Defechereux. “I am delighted to emulate a community that merges the arts with science and public health.”

The Sankofa Center is an arts-based, non-profit organization that educates, tests for, and prevents HIV/AIDS in Africa. It is supported by the sale of an artisanal style line made by a women’s cooperative in Ghana. Since 2004, The Sankofa Center has toured hundreds of villages in Ghana to educate 50,000 community members and 35,000 students about HIV through dance-stories while providing free HIV testing.

Throughout history, African dances have communicated stories and educated people. “Azonto,” held on the evening of October 16 at the Dance Mission Theater in San Francisco, merged the worlds of public health and performance art. It brought together scientists, dancers, musicians, and the community to talk about HIV prevention, stigma, and science.

The event involved a series of performances that were each accompanied by a short summary that highlighted the importance of the piece as it related to HIV. It also held a silent auction where attendees could bid on art donated by artists from Ghana and the Bay Area.

The evening also included short talks on public health and research related to HIV. PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a hot topic, and given Dr. Defechereux’s professional experience with HIV prevention, she was an asset to bringing together speakers and dancers to discuss health and research related to HIV.

“It was a wonderful evening that showcased how science and the arts can come together to educate people in a variety of ways,” said Dr. Defechereux. “People were so enthusiastic about what they learned from the event, and they were moved by the humanity of the evening.”