Dance Class with Sekou Soumah
Presented in Cooperation with
Afrikan Djeli Cultural Institute
Sekou Soumah will be in Atlanta for the Mamady Keita workshop workshop November 2nd and 3rd and will teach two classes while he’s in town.
Saturday, November 3rd
1:30-3:00pm
Clarkston Community Center
A dance class will be offered between the morning and afternoon drumming workshops with Mamady Keita. Dancers are invited to attend, whether or not they are participating in any of the drum classes. Drummers are encouraged to participate in the dance class for a fuller experience of West African music. Sekou will also join in a portion of Mamady’s afternoon djembe solo technique class – giving a demonstration of the relationship between the djembe solo and the dancer!
If you plan to take only the Saturday dance class (either by itself or along with Mamady’s drum classes), you may register through the Mamady Keita registration site. $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Friday, November 2, 7:30 – 9pm
AIM Studios
383-B Marietta St, Atlanta
An additional dance class will be offered Friday evening. Dancers wanting to take either the Friday class or both the Friday and Saturday classes, please visit Afrikan Djeli Cultural Institute for registration.
$12 per class in advance, $15 at the door, or both Friday and Saturday classes for $20.
About Sekou
Sekou Soumah is a talented dancer and drummer from Portland Oregon. Sekou began dancing professionally with the Northwest African American Ballet in 1998. He has apprenticed with several of Guinea’s best dancers, including Youssouf Koumbassa, Moustapha Bangoura, and Alseny Soumah, all of whom have been members of Les Ballets Africains. He has since appeared in African dance videos, including Tinkanyi with Moustapha Bangoura.
In addition to dance, Sekou has also been a longtime student of the djembe and dunun. In 2005 he joined a small group of elite percussionists by becoming an accredited teacher for the Tam Tam Mandingue School of Djembe, founded by Mamady Keita. In 2008 he earned his TTM Professor’s Diploma, which is the highest level one can obtain in the organization.
Studying with these master artists, Sekou has developed a high level of skill as well as a deep respect for the music and cultural heritage of the people of Guinea, which he is happy to pass on to all who are interested to learn.
Amy Jackson 404.784.2462