Duniya Drum & Dance

West African rhythm & dance for everyone



11th Annual
Fakoly Drum & Dance Project



University of Minnesota
Workshop - June 15th - 17th
Performance Saturday June 16th, 8:00pm



An authentic, culturally immersive experience into the world of traditional West African drum and dance. The workshop offers hand drumming and dance classes for the community at any level and any age beginner through advanced. Instruction is provided by professional master drummers and dancers from Guinea and Haiti who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge of traditional percussion and movement.



“This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.”






Class Registration





Guest Artists:
Dancers - Baba Bangoura, Naby Bangoura, Sana Bangoura, Mouminatou Camara, Youssouf Koumbassa, Djenane St. Juste
Drummers: Fode Bangoura, Fara Bangoura, Bolokada Conde, Mandjou Mara
Balafon - Ousmane Camara



Dance Classes

Friday June 15th

6pm - Naby
7:30pm - Mouminatou

Saturday June 16th

11am - Sana (beginner level)
12pm - Mouminatou
1:30pm - Djenane
3pm - Youssouf
8pm - Fakoly Performance "Denbaya"

Sunday June 17th

11am - Sana (beginner level)
12pm - Baba
1:30 - Naby
3pm - Youssouf



Drum Classes

Friday June 15th

6pm - Mandjou
7:30pm - Fode

Saturday June 16th

12pm - Bolokada
1:30pm - Fode
3pm - Mandjou
8pm - Fakoly performance "Denbaya"

Sunday June 17th

12pm - Bolokada
1:30pm - Fode
3pm - Fara



Workshop Location: Barbara Barker Center for Dance -U of MN
500 21st Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Pre-Reg discounts ended May 30th

Drop-In rate $18/class

Beginner dance $10

Drum rental $5/class

Workshop Attendee Show Ticket $15



Class Registration:


Dorm Reservations are now closed. There are many affordable hotels in the area that offer free shuttle to the conference.

U of MN Dorm Lodging

Dorms are located across the street from the workshop. Sheets, blankets, towels and wash cloth are provided. UMN is a smoke free campus



Teaching Artists



Fode Bangoura



Master Drummer, Guinea
Host of Fakoly



Director and Lead Drummer of Duniya Fode hails from Guinea, West Africa and has been recognized internationally for his work as the lead drummer with the acclaimed ensembles “Les Merveilles de Guinée” and the national ballet of Guinea, “Les Ballets Africains”. A protege of the late, Mohamed Kemoko Sano, Fodé is now one of the most respected and sought after drummers of his generation and is currently based in the Twin Cities. Highlights of his career include opening for Damian Marley at The Apollo Theater, featured spot on MTV for Black History Month and recording with Trey Anastasio of Phish.



Baba Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea



From Guinea West Africa Baba is amongst the best dance teachers and choreographers in his country. Baba was in charge of the dance group Sourakhata which has received acknowledgements and rewards for ambitious and excellent shows. He performed with the widely known show „AFRICA AFRICA“ which has been staged both in London and Germany . The last few years, Baba has taught african dance in Iceland and is loved by his students and co-workers. He has also held workshops in Sweden, Poland and Finnland. This is Baba's U.S. Debute!



Sana Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea



Alhassane "Sana" Bangoura comes from a family of traditional drummers and dancers from Guinea, West Africa. Inspired by his brothers, Sana began his drum and dance training in 1999 as a member of the company Wassasso based in the capital city of Guinea, Conakry. It was in this company, under the direction of current Ballet Africains dancer, Sorel Conte, that Sana, through hard work, discipline and determination, rose almost immediately to the position of Principal Dancer, and in 2001 took on the role of Assistant Director. After moving to Minnesota in 2015, Sana now does school residencies and performances with Duniya Drum and Dance, as well as teaches community classes for adults. His students, ranging in age from six to sixty say he is a gentle, patient teacher adept at catering his lessons to the abilities of his students.



Naby Bangoura



Master Dancer, Guinea




Naby Bangoura is a native of Guinea, West Africa. He has danced since birth and performed with a number of groups, including internationally acclaimed “Les Merveilles de Guinea”. Since moving to California, Naby has rapidly become one of the most sought after teachers on the west coast. His authentic presence and dynamic teaching style convey the spirit of his culture with skill, inspiration, and joy!




Mouminatou Camara



Master Dancer, Guinea



Founded Seewe African Dance Company in 2005. For a decade, she was the principal dancer for the world-renowned dance company, Les Ballet Africans. She also performed with Les Ballet Djonllba and the Army Ballet. Mouminatou has performed and taught workshops extensively in the USA, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Martinique and the West African countries of Senegal, Mali and the Ivory Coast. Affectionately called “Moumi”, she brings firsthand knowledge of the history of each dance and imparts that knowledge with great clarity and passion to her students​.



Youssouf Koumbassa



Master Dancer, Guinea



In thirteen years with the Ballet National, Youssouf Koumbassa traveled extensively throughout West Africa, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since moving to the United States twenty two years ago Youssouf has established himself as the pre-eminent teacher of dance from Guinea, and now travels widely throughout the world as a much sought after master teacher at dance conferences, workshops, camps and schools. When at home in New York his classes are attended by a large and loyal following who are appreciative of his mercurial energy and grace.



Djenane Saint Juste



Master Dancer, Haiti



Djenane Saint Juste is the founder and artistic director of AFOUTAYI, a Haitian, Dance Music and Arts company based in Minnesota. Djenane has trained in ballet, hip hop, modern, jazz and ballroom at the Institute de Danse JAKA, Institut de Danse Vivianne Gauthier, Artcho Dance Company in Haiti and Dancing Classroom by Pierre Dulaine in New York. She is currently pursuing a license in ESL and a Master in Education at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.



Bolokada Conde



Master Drummer, Guinea




Moussa "Bolokada" Conde is a master drummer from Kissidougou, Guinea expert of Malinke rhythms, and one of the world's foremost djembefolas. He joined the Les Percussions de Guinee to replace the legendary Noumoudy Keita as their lead drummer. He has traveled and performed in major venues all over the world since 1996 and was featured in the IMAX movie PULSE: a Stomp Odyssey. Since 2004, he has been performing and teaching in the United States. He has conducted percussion workshops in many cities in the US and Europe. He has released two musical CD's, Morowaya and Sankaran. He stars in the DVD M'bemba Fakoli: A Musical Journey Through Guinea and has released the djembe instructional DVD M'bara.




Mandjou Mara



Master Drummer, Guinea



Mandjou Mara began his professional drumming career when drum and dance group Oiseau Blanc, recruited him when he was just five years old as a djembe player. It was with this group that he honed his djembe skills and learned other aspects of Guinean music, dance, song, and staging. The djembe soloist of Oiseau Blanc recongnized Mandjou’s talent and introduced him to the prestigious Les Percussions de Guinee who took him on as one of their players. Momordiba Camara of the world renownd Les Ballets Africains was the next to recruit Mandjou as a djembe soloist and assistant director for his group Tayeli of Kaporo in 2000. Mandjou created his performance ensemble Limanya de la Guinee in 2007.




Ousmane Camara



Balafonist



This will be Ousmane's second year performing at the Fakoly Drum & Dance Project



Fara Bangoura



Drummer



Fara has been drumming and performing since he was 5 years old under the tutelage of his father Fode Bangoura. Proficient on both djembe and doun doun Fara also plays drum set for his school's Jazz band for the past 5 years. When he's not drumming you can find him on the football field!


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