“Yara is a Yoruba word that means to be “nimble” or “flexible”. Actually it’s spontaneous improvised, and it’s reacting according to that particular situation. Yara is composed basically of West African dance movement. Warrior movement. A lot of movements that influenced me over the years. And to me it was only natural, just to flow into this type of movement, since it was part of my culture and lifestyle.” – Milford Graves