Former Wala member A K U Lurencia Akua Kuorkpe, 'AKU' is a vital and energetic dancer from Ghana, West Africa. She possesses a unique mix of raw power coupled with a quiet gentleness - exuberating enthusiasm and an astonishing versatility which incorporates traditional and contemporary Ghanaian dance, ballet, free-style hip hop and breakdance. Aku grew up with dancing as an integral part of her life, and in 1998 was discovered by Ghana's National Theatre while performing with her original group, 'Videck Enkohnu'. She was invited to perform with the National Theatre's renowned group 'Dance Factory', and soon became a permanent member of this group famous for blending the new with the traditional. Aku has twice toured Germany with Dance Factory, performing at many high-profile events, and in 2002-2003 they embarked on an extensive overland tour of West Africa, performing to audiences in Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and finally at the popular Dakar Festival in Senegal. In addition to her work with Dance Factory, for the last three years Aku has kept herself grounded in tradition by also regularly performing with local cultural group 'Wassa' from her home town of Nungua. She has also been a member of the National Theatre's traditional group ' The Ghana Dance Ensemble' based in Accra. Aku has been chosen by WALA to accompany them on their third tour of Australia in 2004. They sought an exceptional dancer who mirrors their passion for their heritage, their professional musicianship, and their energy and commitment to providing audiences with an unforgettable experience. This Wala have found in Aku, capturing her essence and describing her simply - "TOTALLY AWESOME!"