Leading Fairtrade Company brings Ghanaian dance sensation to Covent Garden for Fairtrade Fortnight

 

Azonto - a rhythmic, engaging Ghanaian dance - moved from underground hit to overnight global sensation when premiership footballer Asamoah Gyan performed the dance during his goal celebrations. Now Divine Chocolate, the leading Fairtrade company co-owned by Ghanaian cocoa farmers, is delighted to bring the dance to Covent Garden at its Pop Up shop during Fairtrade Fortnight. Members of the public are invited to book a place and learn some moves for free - it's fun and easy and anyone can do it!

 

DIVINE HOSTS.... Azonto Masterclass, 71 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9JW

3rd March 2013: 1pm, 2pm and 3pm.  Admission Free

The dance incorporates rhythmic body movement, one-two timed steps, and depictions of everyday tasks like ironing, driving, and swimming. Ghanaian artists have arranged their beats to suit the dance's moves and its appeal is spreading globally - One Direction, Snoop Dogg, and even Prince William have tried their hands - and feet - at Azonto. For a preview of Azonto demonstrated by schoolchildren of the Kuapa Kokoo farmers in Ghana click here: http://www.papapaalive.org/broadcast/taster

 

Azonto expert Kwaku Agyemang is hosting three free Azonto sessions on 3rd March. Kwaku juggles life as an exercise therapist for people with mental illness and learning disabilities, and as a fitness coach for a football team.  He says: "I think it is wonderful that Divine Chocolate is celebrating its Ghanaian roots and bringing this dance sensation to more people in the UK. I loved the Azonto dance so much when I first came across it - it is creative, expressive and fun. I decided to incorporate some of the Azonto dance moves into a fun fitness class. The classes have gone into schools, expo events and even hen parties."

 

Divine will be revealing details of a number of other events at the Pop Up under the "Divine hosts..." theme and more information - plus reservation details - will be available soon at www.divinechocolate.com/Fortnight2013.

 

Ends

For more information please contact Charlotte Borger, or James Laird

charlotte@divinechocolate.com 020 7378 6550

james.laird@epicuruscomms.co.uk

To contact Kwaku about Azonto azontofitness@gmail.com 07930270217

Editors notes:

 

• Divine Chocolate Ltd is the only Fairtrade chocolate company that is also co-owned by cocoa farmers. Kuapa Kokoo, a co-operative of 65,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana, benefit not only  from the Fairtrade premium on the sale of their beans, but also receive a 45% share of Divine's distributable profits giving the farmers more economic stability, as well as the increased influence in the cocoa industry company-ownership brings. For full details visit www.divinechocolate.com. You can also visit Kuapa Kokoo's website at www.kuapakokoo.com

 

• About Seven Dials: Seven Dials, Covent Garden's only Village, brings you seven streets of independent boutiques, heritage brands and indulgent beauty and grooming salons all carefully selected for shoppers of discerning taste. Stores to love in the area include Poste Mistress, Coco De Mer, Orion London, Diesel, Fred Perry, adidas Originals, Murdock London, Unconditional +, Kiehl's, Orla Kiely, Neal's Yard Remedies and Magma. The Seven Dials village is also home to food and drink from around the globe. From traditional English pubs and bustling cafés, such as Canela and Monmouth Coffee Company to exotic restaurants, 5-star brassieres and restaurants including The Ivy, Hawksmoor Seven Dials and Kopapa, Seven Dials has something to cater for all. Alongside its stylish residents, Seven Dials also boasts a rich heritage; from Dickensian times through to the offices of Monty Python's Flying Circus - be sure to take a look at their famous blue plaque when you're next in the area. Seven Dials - for brands of Distinction. Sevendials.co.uk.

 

• All Divine products carry the Fairtrade Mark. This is an independent guarantee certified by the Fairtrade Foundation that the ingredients are sourced under internationally agreed fair trade terms and conditions. These include a guaranteed, secure minimum price, an extra social premium payment for the farmers to invest in their own community programmes, long term trading contracts, decent health and safety conditions - all aimed at empowering farmers to make their own improvements to living standards and prospects for the future

 

• The UK chocolate market alone is worth approximately £3.98 billion a year (Mintel, 2012): if Fairtrade products can capture even a small proportion of that market, producers in developing countries gain real benefits.

 

• Keep up to date with Divine online:
  • Everything you need to know about Divine: www.divinechocolate.com
  • For the online shop: www.divinechocolate.com/shop
  • Follow Divine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/divinechocolate
  • Follow Divine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/divinechocolate
  • Follow the Divine blog: http://divinedelights.wordpress.com

 

• Divine Chocolate has won a number of prestigious awards.  These include Good Housekeeping's Favourite Fairtrade Product 2008; Best Food Brand in the SHE magazine Ethical Awards 2007; and Best Buy in Ethical Consumer magazine 2009.  Divine Chocolate Ltd was awarded Best Social Enterprise 2007 at the Enterprising Solutions awards run by the Office of the Third Sector and The Observer Best Ethical Business 2008.  Divine has been voted a Cool Brand 2012-13.
• Divine has won critical acclaim which includes:

Mary Berry says "A chocolate for all chocolate enthusiasts.  Cooking, melting or just enjoying Divine Chocolate is just that"Charles Campion, Food Critic for the The Independent says: "...for a really good balance between price and performance look out for Divine's Fairtrade 70% dark chocolate - very fruity, with a good texture and a long finish".Sara Jayne-Stanes, chocolate expert and founder member of the Academy of Chocolate says of Divine's 70% bar, "a mouthful of intense, very smooth, delectable chocolate ... Divine is in a league of its own".  Two-Michelin starred chef Tom Aikens says: "Divine's 85% cocoa bar is great for cooking with or just to nibble on with a cup of coffee!  Chocolate with such a high cocoa level has less sugar and is much better for you than normal chocolate".