Many say
"This is the most spectacular performance of
its kind they have ever seen in
America"
Sensational, Electrifying,
Exciting, Amazing,
Powerful and
EDUCATIONAL
Truly a representation of
"The Beauty of African Culture"
and most of all
"FAMILY"
National & International
AMBASSADORS OF THE CULTURE
Featuring: African Dance & Song,
Stilt Walking / Dancing, Masquerading, Martial Arts Acrobatics, Drama &
Intensified African Drumming
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Blessed and
Sanctioned to be one of the BEST
Professional
African Dance & Drum Ensembles in the U.S.A.
(MINISTRY OF CULTURE & FAMILY)
The (UCAE) Universal Creative Arts Ensemble's -
Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble,
Camden, New Jersey was founded by Mr.
Robert
& Mrs.
Wanda Dickerson in 1984. It is directed by
both of them with the dedicated
assistance of their oldest son,
Jamal,
who is the Chief Choreographer and Artistic Director, and with the help of his lovely wife,
Ronsha. This program consists of African Dance, African Drum, African
Masquerade, Creative, Aerobic, Modern, Line Dance and Praise Dance.
The
Universal Creative Arts Ensemble
(UCAE)
consist of the Universal African Dance &
Drum E nsemble
and the
UCC
Praise Dance Ministry. UCAE has female drill
teams as well as classes in Drama, Modeling, Fashion Design, Sewing and Hair Design. The
members learn the importance of Respect, Love, Expressions, Etiquette, Ethics,
Poise, the
Nguzo Saba, (7 principles of Kwanzaa by
Dr. Maulana Karenga - Creator of Kwanzaa),
and many other righteous
principles.
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble BIO
- BELOW
UNIVERSAL AFRICAN
DANCE & DRUM ENSEMBLE,
founded and directed by
Robert
&
Wanda
Dickerson in 1984 and co-directed by
Jamal &
Ronsha Dickerson, has grown to be one of the largest professional
African Dance & Drum Ensembles in the United States of America. The Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble headquartered in Camden, New Jersey which includes members from
Camden,
New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and
Africa.
The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble has also been blessed
and sanctioned the best of its kind as an
African-American Dance & Drum Troupe in America by scholars, historians and
African Djelis (historians). They strive to be sensational
and electrifying with their amazing
Stilt Walkers, Dancers, Drummers, Ground
Masquerades and with an exciting acrobatic show. The Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble has performed at many prominent and prestigious events in this country,
including performing for and honoring leaders of countries, celebrities, politicians,
religious, business and community leaders. The Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble's teachers and officials, have been taught by many great teachers
from many countries in Africa. They are known for their West
African presentations, of Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Ivory Coast,
Nigeria, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and more. They have been blessed to have learned songs,
dance and drum from a famous South African troupe called
Thula Sizwe.
In 2007, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble also had the privilege to learn
and perform with a wonderful group from KENYA, East Africa, called
The Friends of Sironka African Dance Troupe.
The
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble is a very versatile and flexible
troupe who are able to conform their troupe from 44 - 2
performers. They professionally perform song, dance and drum from many sections
and cultures of
Africa, while teaching the culture of
West, East, South, Central
and North Africa, through
the arts. Their
artistic and exceptional choreography gives them the ability to
accommodate your specific events.
Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble has been blessed with three outstanding
Stilt walkers and greatly blessed with the famous
"Pasha" the Stilt walker / Dancer.
"Pasha" the Stilt walker has been a member since 1984.
All members of the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble are
Martial
Artist (Karate) practitioners, from the 4-time Hall of Fame Karate School, called the Universal
Pasha Karate School (UPK). The group is made up of various inner-city African-American
families of contrasting religions and different ways of life. This proves through the
understanding of love and discipline, while practicing, working and training
together, that UNITY can exist in the inner cities of America and other
communities. Everyone should honor, respect and appreciate the culture from which African
Americans (black people) of America originate. The Universal
African Dance & Drum Ensemble presents to you, family values
and the beauty of African Culture.
One of the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble's goals, is to help African Americans or Black People understand the
importance of honoring their place of origin, AFRICA,
(The MOTHERLAND), while at the same
time helping the African Family appreciate that there are African Americans
helping to build between the two, UNITY, through emphasizing HISTORY,
EDUCATION & the PERFORMING ARTS.
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble is very honored to represent the beauty
of
African Culture
in America. They love and admire many African troupes all over Africa.
Les Ballet
Africains
from West Africa (Guinea), has been their mentors, role-models and the
group that they have modeled themselves
after. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble presents a powerful, sensational, electrifying
and educational performances
for everyone and especially for African-Americans (black people) in America to
easily appreciate their culture. They are very happy to witness
people of many races, religions, cultures and ways of life,
appreciating their performances of Love, Discipline, Culture
and Family. The kind words of encouragement from
thousands of people from all over the world, has been very inspiring, which
helps them to keep going strong performing and representing the beauty of
African culture and most of all FAMILY.
Performing at many prestigious venues, such as:
United Nations-NY, Political Inaugurations, NAACP National Convention, NJPAC,
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), War Memorial (Trenton, NJ), Sony Blockbuster Entertainment Ctr., Tweeter
Ctr., NJ State Aquarium, Kimmel Ctr., Forum, Taj Mahal Casino, Trump Casino,
Sands Casino, Show Boat Casino, Academy of Music, Fraternity & Sorority National
Conventions,
International African Arts Festival-NY, Mann Center, Robin Hood Dell, Phila.,-WDAS Unity Day, Odunde, Phila., Penns Landing, The famous UniverSoul
Circus, Six Flags GREAT ADVENTURE, Expos, Performing Art
Centers, Museums, Convention Centers, Festivals, Colleges, Universities,
Schools, Government & State Agencies, United States Arm Force Facilities, City Halls, Fortune 500 or High
Profile Corporate Events and many community events
all over this country.
Seen by millions on Local,
National, International and Cable Television, such as:
Charles Perez Show- 1995, National
News Networks, Positive Impact (JOE PISCOPO) Show, NBC-Today's Show - Matt &
Kattie with Joe Piscopo-2003, SPIKE TV- 2005, C-SPAN
(International)- Millions More Movement 2005,
CNN- (GLENN BECK SHOW/JOE
PISCOPO-2007), and many local shows since
1984.
 
FOR PERFORMANCE BOOKINGS:
"One of the greatest presentations in the United States
of America"
Specializing in Educational, Black History, Multi-Cultural, Community,
Weddings, Wedding Receptions, Religious Events or any special occasion.
****************************************************************************************************************************
WE MUST RESPECT, HONOR,
CELEBRATE AND
EDUCATE EVERYONE OF OUR RICH AFRICAN
HERITAGE, CULTURE AND HISTORY.
Not just in the month of February, but 365 days a year for
the rest of our lives.
Robert H.
Dickerson
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************
CONTACT: Mr. Robert Dickerson (856)
365-4817 or
(856) 365-1226
*******For
upcoming
performances & events
CLICK HERE
 
A Sizzling new
African
Drum & Music CD 
CLICK
HERE TO ORDER DIMEDI FAABE African Drum & Music CD 
"African Drum Beats and Music is the true root of all music
(1st NOTE)"
" The Pulse of the Drum - Is the Spirit of the HEART"
CD (DIMEDI FAABE) & PERFORMANCE REVIEWS
Music that penetrates the soul
- "Their performance was so thorough, we are going to play the CD
all day at the Imani Celebration fest in California."
DR. MAULANA KARENGA- Professor,
Author, Historian / Creator & Founder of KWANZAA
-
"This group is wonderful, you must see them, it is hard
to explain how good they really are." Legendary
DR. BABA CHUCK
DAVIS- Over 40 years of African Dance & Artistic Director for
30
years of DANCE AFRICA / BAM
-
"I've traveled the world touring and performing and
never found a group uplifting family and African Culture in America until
meeting this FAMILY."
MOUSSA DIABATE- Djeli,Griot,
Historian & African Dance & Drum Teacher / Les Ballet Africain-
Guinea, WEST AFRICA
(Universal
African Dance & Drum Ensemble) when I seen them,
(Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble) (October
20, 2007) they are number one"
M' BEMBA BANGOURA- Djeli,Griot,
Historian & African Dance & Drum Teacher / The Ballet of Conakry
& Ballet Djoliba -
Guinea, WEST AFRICA
****************************************************************
UNIVERSAL AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM ENSEMBLE'S
African & African-American TEACHERS
They were greatly blessed by learning extensive
traditional and authentic dance, drum,
song, language and instruments from two of the greatest
African Dance & Drum teachers, historians (djelis), and scholars from the BEST
African Dance & Drum Troupes in the world from West Africa (Guinea),
Moussa Diabate
and
Tenenfig Dioubate.
The Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble have personally received drums, instruments, costumes and teachings
from members of Les Ballet Africains
while they toured America and while some of Universal African Dance & Drum
Ensemble members were in Conakry, Guinea, Africa.
While in Guinea, West Africa in 2005, for almost one month everyday for 14 hours
a day, members of Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble, Jamal and Nasir
Dickerson were blessed with learning from the best teachers from
Les Ballet
Africain,
Les Percussions De Guinee,
The
Amazones Woman Drummers
and other
Guinea Dance & Drum Ballets.
They
learned more of the Djembe Family of Drums, Balaphon, and Kora from:
MITO CAMARA, MAMADY MANSARE, PAPA HIDARA,
SEKOU DIABATE, JUDEE, and OUSMAN. Other great teachers
from Les Ballet of Guinea, Africa, were also responsible for teaching them
the
Guinea style of drumming such as KOLIPE, JULEA, MAMADOUBA "MOHAMED" CAMARA, M' BEMBA BANGOURA, and others. Universal African Dance &
Drum Ensemble also received dynamic teachings and classes from MALAY born
and raised in
Mali, West Africa.
While in America and Africa, members of Les Ballet
Africain have treated them as family and boast about how they enjoyed
playing Universal's
(CD (Dimedi
Faabe) in Africa.
The Universal African
Dance & Drum Ensemble was blessed with many African-American teachers, such
as Alfred (Bro. Saladin)
Williams, Andre (Spunky) Forrest, Lawrence (Big Mike) Clark,
Kofi Gyemerah, and Paul Lucus.
Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble always admired the friendship and received profound information and inspiration from Kofi
Asante, Jerome (Bro. Rome) Williams, Daryl (Kwasi) Burgee, and of course one of the greatest elders out of
Philadelphia, Pennnsylvania, representing the beauty of African Culture through dance,
drum and the performing arts, Baba Robert Crowder
(THE FAMILY OF KULU MELE)
and many others.
INOU WALI,
THANK
YOU / INOU WALI,
THANK YOU / INOU WALI
THANK YOU
CONTACT US- CLICK HERE
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