CB: We've been running a series of articles on whites participating in African dance and drum culture. The last part is going to be in the same issue with your interview. Do you have an opinion of the growing numbers of whites in the culture?

BN: They love our culture and we should be proud. Some times it's hard to situate African culture in some places. But everything else they do has some element of African dance or drum in it, jazz, modern, hip hop. So, they might as well learn it because it will help them with the other things they do.

CB: Do you worry that they will change the culture in a way that Africans will loose control over the product, particularly as you see more white dance companies forming?

BN: No. It can't happen. They are not going to change us and we're not going change them. I think its just business when they form their own companies. They are trying to respect the culture by wearing the clothes and doing the hair and the make up. They see it and like it so bad they want to copy it. I don't think they can co-op. And even if they tried, it wouldn't work. Sometimes we as black people just have to let things be. Just be who you are and don't spend time fighting each other. We need to support each other. If we support each other, whatever we can do will grow. For us [black people] it should be about culture, but right now, its not culture any more, even for us its just business. The community is broken down. There is fighting every where. There will be two groups in one town and they won't support each other. I'll go to a city expecting to see the people I know and when I get there I say, "Where is so and so?" And someone will tell me "Oh, we don't do anything with them." That is crazy. We're all trying to have fun. If any one has a workshop it should be full. There should never be a workshop that only has five or six people. But many people learn their five or six steps and that little bit they know is enough for them. But you know they are African [speaking of African Americans] just like me, a little further away, but still, so I can't criticize what they do. We all have jobs, all have relationship, all have family, but we do this on the side to have fun, to add to life. We have to learn to forgive each other for times when we got hurt. Sometimes, I travel around and it is just not fun any more because of all the fighting and because the classes are getting smaller and smaller.

CB: Could that also be because there are so many conferences now?

BN: Yes! Every month someone is having a conference!

CB: Sometimes two a month. And you have to wonder how are these conferences being supported because dancers only have so much money to spend just on dance.

BN: That is true. Even the oldest and biggest conferences are suffering with low attendance. When I'm on the West Coast the people tell me they just can't travel this year. It is too expensive and they don't have the money. When we have so many conferences we are missing the power of the community getting together. You used to be so excited because at a conference you would see everybody, But now its not like that anymore.

CB: and they are getting so expensive to put on.

BN: Too expensive. And everyone is getting different money. It shouldn't be like that. Every artists should be paid the same and every one should know what the cost is.

CB: We have been thinking about that a lot. It might be good if the conference organizers, the artists and directors of companies got together for a meeting to discuss issues in the community and hash out some agreements. Just a business meeting - no dance classes attached. Do you think the artists would come out for that?

BN: Some would. The ones who really understand about the business needs would. I would come but you would have some artists who are not going to come. If you don't pay them to come, they are not going to come.