Francis Nii Yartey
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Francis Nii Yartey (1946–2015) was a Ghanaian choreographer, dancer, and professor. He was the second director of the Ghana National Ensemble, succeeding Professor Albert Mawere Opoku.[1][2]
Yartey earned a certificate and diploma at the University of Ghana in 1968 and 1971 respectively. At the university, he came under many Ghanaian practitioner-researchers including J.H. Nketia, Efua Sutherland and Albert Opoku Mawere.[3] He then studied for a Master of Arts degree at the University of Illinois and was awarded the degree in 1975.[2]
A year after earning his master's degree, he took over as the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Ghana Dance Ensemble. He remained so until 1993 when the ensemble moved to the National Theatre.[4] The group was renamed the National Dance Company. He continued his role with the group until 2006 when he retired.[5]
Yartey became an associate professor at the University of Ghana in 2006. He left for Swarthmore University, Pennsylvania, US, where he taught for a year.[6] Back in Ghana, he taught at Ashesi University College as an adjunct professor.[5] He returned to the School of Performing Arts (SPA) at the University of Ghana, becoming the head of the Department of Dance Studies.[2]
Honours
In 2000, Yartey was awarded the Grand Medal (Civil Division) for his contribution to the development of dance in his beloved country Ghana.[7]