Alorwoyie, Gideon

Dancer, Master drummer, choreographer, and professor of music Gideon Alorwoyie Alorwoyie was born in the Volta Region of Ghana. In 1964, Alorwoyie was offered a position at the Institute of Art and Culture in Ghana at Hogbetsotso after being discovered by Phillip Gbeho, then head of the Institute of Art. From 1967-84, Alorwoyie taught in the Department of African Studies at the University of Ghana as chief master drummer of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble. He toured France, the United Kingdom, West Germany, Switzerland, the former USSR, Yugoslavia, the Caribbean, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Krakow, Poland and the United States as a member of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble. Alorwoyie is the founder and the Artistic Director of the Afrikania Cultural Troupe of Ghana, West Africa, member of the Ethnomusicology Association, and member of the Council of Elders, Dance Africa Chicago. Relocating to the United States, Alorwoyie has held positions at the State University of New York, College at Brockport, the American Conservatory of Music, and the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. In 1996, Alorwoyie joined the music faculty at the University of Northern Texas, where he still teaches. In addition to his teaching positions, Alorwoyie has collaborated with notable scholar and composers such as David Locke, John Chernoff, and Steve Reich. Alorwoyie is also Midawo (high priest) of the Yeve Cult. Gideon Alorwoyie lectured and performed at the University of Connecticut on 10/28/1986 (2015-0002/RR100).