Seny Daffe was born in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa, where dancing and drumming are inseparable from their culture. He is a versatile musician and a very talented dancer, singer and comedian. Seny has a wealth of performing experience in traditional and contemporary dance and drum. Since coming to the United States in 2006, he has traveled the east coast from Florida to Vermont working with several companies and well-known artists. As a member of Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theater of Burlington, VT, he is a regular drummer and teacher for dance classes, and assists in musical direction and choreography. He also independently leads multiple dance and drum classes, and is in popular demand to lead workshops throughout the northeast and beyond. He is a multi-talented and dynamic teacher and performer who is gaining a reputation for his approachable and exciting dance and drum classes, his electrifying doundoun playing, and for his rich and powerful voice.
Elhadji Mamadou Ba, also known as “Pape" Ba, is a master drummer and dancer from Senegal, West Africa. He performed with and was one of the leaders of Les Ballets Africaine de Sangomare, a premier African dance troupe in West Africa. Pape Ba is also a skilled and respected teacher who has taught dance to people traveling to Senegal in order to learn the traditional music and dance culture of West Africa. Since coming to the United States in 2006, Pape has taught and performed with Jeh Kulu in Burlington, Vt., in Brattleboro, Vt., Northampton, Ma. and currently teaches at Marlboro College. He is a dynamic and spirited teacher who enjoys sharing his rich culture with students.
Tara Murphy, originally from Washington, D.C., grew up studying ballet and theater. She earned her B.A. in theater and religious studies at Yale University. At this time she also began studying African dance and drumming, and exploring her African heritage. While at Yale, Tara was awarded a fellowship to study traditional dance and drumming at the University of Legon in Ghana, West Africa. For the past 20 years, she has studied closely under many African and Afro-Caribbean artists in Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston. Tara recognizes the practice of African dance and drumming as a tremendous force for healing, meditation, empowerment and community. It is her greatest honor to share the inspiration of these ancient traditions.
Tacko Cissokho began studying dance as a child in Senegal, West Africa. She has danced with the most prominent dance companies and singers throughout Senegal and led the Ballet Nationale du Senegal; touring internationally for over twenty-five years. What Tacko offers is rare and special since she is one of the few from the older generation who is carrying on with teaching the traditional dance styles. She has taught dance workshops across the United States and taught in Brattleboro in 2011 and 2014. We are thrilled to welcome her back. She brings her passion, expertise and patience to teaching students at all levels.
Raoul Ombang was born in Cameroon in central Africa. He started to drum and dance when he was 11 with a dance group from his village, Bafia. He created a school for percussion and dance where he taught traditional and modern percussion and dances from Cameroon. By 2002 gained notoriety as a percussionist and choreographer. In 2004 he toured Chad, Nigeria, the Gabon and Togo. In 2011 he joined the Singo Dance Troupe as choreographer and percussionist. In 2013 he arrived in America with the Singo Troupe and currently resides in Brattleboro Vermont where he continues to teach dance and drum and to promote the culture of Cameroon.
Khady Malal Badji attended the National School of the Arts in Senegal and studied dance for five years. She did intensive workshops in African and jazz dance, choreography, contact improvisation, modern, hip hop, Capoerira, theater and voice before being initiated in traditional dance of the Ivory Coast. She now teaches dance to adults and children and choreographs for the Bakalama Dance Company. In 2000 Khady starred in several shows including: the Dakar International Biennial 2000, the Festival of Black Origins, Gorée, the Plexcus International Show at the House of Slaves and the International Festival DK24 / Jololi. In 2001 she played Sérères at the dance festival, "Kaay Fecc" Prime Edition, and performed at the World Youth Culture Forum. In 2002 she participated in the International Festival of Arts and Culture (FESNAC), Ziguinchor and Dakar International Biennale Dak'art 2002. In 2003, she danced at the International Festival (Kaay Fecc) and Pose the First Stone at the African Museum of Black Civilizations. In 2004 she had the pleasure of performing at the Ebony Festival at Island of Gorée, World Dance Day Centre Culturel Blaise Senghor, Senegal, Folklore Festival and the Meeting of the Peace Solidarity where she offered her dancing skills. Internationally, she has danced at the Folk Dance Festival (Italy, Korea), 2005 Dance Festival in Majorca (Spain, Belgium, Holland etc ...), the International Conference (OVI) USA 2009, master classes in Chicago, Milwaukee and Portugal, Spain, Sweden (2010), Arab-African Festival of Tizi Ouzou, 2012, Kuwait.
SEKOU SYLLA is a master dancer & musician from Guinea, West Africa. He was a principle dancer, acrobat and musician with Les Ballet Africains, the National Dance Company of the Republic of Guinea, West Africa, until relocating to Massachusetts in 1996. For over 20 years he performed and taught first with Ballet Djoliba then with Les Ballets Africains. He has taught and performed all over the world including Africa, Australia, Europe, Spain, Korea, Finland, France, England, Mexico, Russia, China, Canada and North and South America. Since relocating to the USA Sekou has taught African dance and music in Bahia, Brazil at the Universidade Federal da Bahia and at Male Du Bale. In 2009 he did a performing and teaching tour in Caguas, Guayama and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He teaches African drumming at Mt Holyoke College and is a Five College musician. He has taught dance at Greenfield Comm. College, Mt. Holyoke & Smith College and the University of Massachusetts; Skidmore College in Saratogoa Springs, NY; Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama; Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA and has acted in theatre at California Technical Institute in California. He has taught several times at the Bates College Dance Festival in Lewiston, Maine; has taught and performed for six years at Drika Overton's Percussive Dance Festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and is a teaching artist with the Sankofa Dance Project at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. He has also performed and taught at various venues in the United States, Brazil and Puerto Rico.
He teaches African drumming at Mt Holyoke College and is a Five College musician. He has taught dance at Greenfield Comm. College, Mt. Holyoke & Smith College and the University of Massachusetts; Skidmore College in Saratogoa Springs, NY; Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama; Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA and has acted in theatre at California Technical Institute in California. He has taught several times at the Bates College Dance Festival in Lewiston, Maine; has taught and performed for six years at Drika Overton's Percussive Dance Festival in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and is a teaching artist with the Sankofa Dance Project at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. He has also performed and taught at various venues in the United States, Brazil and Puerto Rico.
Abdou Sarr
Abdou has been dancing since his youth. He first learned Sabar and Serer dances from his mother in Dakar, Senegal. He teaches and performs dance around the world, from organizing Sabar dance street parties in his home neighborhood of Guinaw Rails Pikine, to 29 of the United States, Canada, and back to Africa. He teaches all age groups in diverse settings, from the warm sand floors of Sobubade, Senegal, to schools, universities, city park workshops, conferences and private parties. Abdou came to the US with his band Gokh-bi System and currently performs with Tony Vacca and Massamba Diop’s World Rhythms, Bamidele Dancers and Drummers among other collaborations. Abdou specializes in Sabar dance and incorporates other traditional and modern forms such as Ras, Mbalakh, Goumbe, Salsa and Hip-Hop into his dance style. He serves as a cultural ambassador to his home country working as a tour guide and teacher as part of the Senegal-America project, introducing and involving Americans in Senegalese arts and life. Abdou is also a skilled tailor and costume designer, specializing in Senegalese styles. His gentle dance style starts slow and builds with strength to teach people the graceful skills of Senegalese dance, that they too may soar like a bird in flight.
Abdou has been dancing since his youth. He first learned Sabar and Serer dances from his mother in Dakar, Senegal. He teaches and performs dance around the world, from organizing Sabar dance street parties in his home neighborhood of Guinaw Rails Pikine, to 29 of the United States, Canada, and back to Africa. He teaches all age groups in diverse settings, from the warm sand floors of Sobubade, Senegal, to schools, universities, city park workshops, conferences and private parties. Abdou came to the US with his band Gokh-bi System and currently performs with Tony Vacca and Massamba Diop’s World Rhythms, Bamidele Dancers and Drummers among other collaborations. Abdou specializes in Sabar dance and incorporates other traditional and modern forms such as Ras, Mbalakh, Goumbe, Salsa and Hip-Hop into his dance style. He serves as a cultural ambassador to his home country working as a tour guide and teacher as part of the Senegal-America project, introducing and involving Americans in Senegalese arts and life. Abdou is also a skilled tailor and costume designer, specializing in Senegalese styles. His gentle dance style starts slow and builds with strength to teach people the graceful skills of Senegalese dance, that they too may soar like a bird in flight.
Georgette Adjie
Georgette Adjie was born in Cameroon, Africa. When she was 9 years old, she was hit by a motor bike on her way to school. The accident broke her leg very badly. The western doctors at the hospital wanted to amputate her leg from her hip but her parents didn’t want to do it. Believing that there was another way, they took her to a traditional healer. After 13 months she was able to walk again. Because her parents spent a lot of their money to help her they could not send her back to school and instead needed her to work to help support the family. She sold vegetables at the local market. During that time she became very interested in dancing despite her injured leg. Her passion gave her strength and she began dancing traditional dances with the elders in her village and learning about many of the customs of her people. In 1994 Georgette moved with her husband to Brattleboro, VT where they lived for 12 years during which time she taught and performed dance. In 2006 the family moved back to Cameroon. Georgette started a dance troupe there called Singo Dance Troupe to teach youth, many of them street kids, new skills and show them how they can use their talent in drumming and dance professionally. In 2010 she joined the National Ballet of Cameroon, and had the honor of touring 21 major cities in Japan, the World Expo in China, and the African Art Festival in Senegal. Being in the Ballet she learned many more traditional rhythms and dances from around the country and got to experience the joy of performing her traditions for people around the world. Georgette has now moved back to Vermont and is continuing the momentum of her work through teaching, performances, and educational tours. 
Chelsea Agee has studied dance in Burlington, Vt., Amherst, Ma., Guinea and Ghana. Her teaching focuses on dances from Guinea she learned from her training there and being a member of Jeh Kulu Dance & Drum Theater under the direction of Sidiki Sylla. Since moving from Vermont she has taught for nearly ten years in southern NH. She creates a safe, non-competitive atmosphere where beginners and more advanced dancers can move at their own pace. She practices teaching with the utmost respect for the form and her teachers. 
Jai Fuller
Jai began studying African dance in 1999. She studied under world-renowned teachers in Senegalese, Congolese, Malian and most predominantly, Guinean dance. She has taught in western Ma. and southern Vt. including at Greenfield Community College and Marlboro College. Jai has taught our Brattleboro dance class from fall to spring for the last three years and is known for her spirited, skilled and supportive teaching style. Jai teaches various traditional dances with live drumming by her husband, Parmatma Khalsa, her brother, Harijap Fuller, and friends. |
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A little about our past guest teachers...
Caro Diallo
Caro is director, choreographer and lead dancer of the Senegalese dance troupe, Black Soofa. hailing from the lush Casamance region of Senegal on the west coast of Africa, where he has been dancing since childhood. After intensive training with various dance masters in Dakar, Diallo joined the ballet troupe Foret Sacree, performing throughout West Africa. Diallo has the gift of inspiring his students and captivating them with his energy and with the finesse and elegance of his dancing. In a warm-up students rave about, he provides an entire vocabulary of African movements. An accomplished teacher, he systematically builds up phrase after phrase of the dance, day after day, until students find themselves actually performing the entire choreography. www.carodiallo.com
Caro is director, choreographer and lead dancer of the Senegalese dance troupe, Black Soofa. hailing from the lush Casamance region of Senegal on the west coast of Africa, where he has been dancing since childhood. After intensive training with various dance masters in Dakar, Diallo joined the ballet troupe Foret Sacree, performing throughout West Africa. Diallo has the gift of inspiring his students and captivating them with his energy and with the finesse and elegance of his dancing. In a warm-up students rave about, he provides an entire vocabulary of African movements. An accomplished teacher, he systematically builds up phrase after phrase of the dance, day after day, until students find themselves actually performing the entire choreography. www.carodiallo.com
Abdoulaye Sylla
Abdoulaye began dancing professionally at an early age in Conakry, where he danced competitively with several dance troupes and developed a reputation for having a dynamic style. In the 1980s, he became a dancer and Director of Technique for the folkloric dance troupe Les Merveilles. In 1989, he became a principal dancer for the internationally renowned dance troupe Les Ballets Africains and toured widely in Africa, Europe, and the United States. After moving to the United States in 1994, Abdoulaye held numerous artistic residencies and taught master classes throughout the U.S. and abroad. In Hartford, Connecticut, Abdoulaye was a longstanding faculty member in the Theater and Dance Department at Trinity College and a master teacher for the Artist Collective. He also created FOTOBA, a traditional dance troupe, which performed and held workshops in the U.S. Throughout his tenure in Connecticut, he taught community classes where he always brought a warm and generous spirit to his teaching and could always be counted on to provide moral support to fellow artists. Currently, Abdoulaye lives in Seattle Washington where he continues to teach and perform with local musicians.
Abdoulaye began dancing professionally at an early age in Conakry, where he danced competitively with several dance troupes and developed a reputation for having a dynamic style. In the 1980s, he became a dancer and Director of Technique for the folkloric dance troupe Les Merveilles. In 1989, he became a principal dancer for the internationally renowned dance troupe Les Ballets Africains and toured widely in Africa, Europe, and the United States. After moving to the United States in 1994, Abdoulaye held numerous artistic residencies and taught master classes throughout the U.S. and abroad. In Hartford, Connecticut, Abdoulaye was a longstanding faculty member in the Theater and Dance Department at Trinity College and a master teacher for the Artist Collective. He also created FOTOBA, a traditional dance troupe, which performed and held workshops in the U.S. Throughout his tenure in Connecticut, he taught community classes where he always brought a warm and generous spirit to his teaching and could always be counted on to provide moral support to fellow artists. Currently, Abdoulaye lives in Seattle Washington where he continues to teach and perform with local musicians.
ALPHA KABINET “KABISKO” KABA
Kabisko has been a guest teacher a number of times and will be again on July 16th, 2014.
Kabisko is originally from Guinea, Conakry, West Africa and has more than 28 years professional dance experience. Kabisko came to the U.S. in 1998 with his world renowned dance company, Les Merveille de Guinea, debuting in New York and touring throughout the U.S.A. for many years. In 2000, Kabisko began a five-year residency with the prestigious Lincoln Center in New York, where he taught students of all ages about Guinean art and culture. During this time Kabisko also performed in numerous schools and community centers, thrilling audiences with his boundless energy and skillful dancing, acting, drumming and singing. In 2005, Kabisko was a resident performing artist at Walt Disney World where he performed daily for patrons. In 2007 Kabisko relocated to Western MA where he has been a resident teaching artist at the University of Massachusetts, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College. Presently, Kabisko has been teaching at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (PVPA) Charter School in Western MA for the past seven years. In January 2014 Kabisko led a group of 11 students to Guinea for a dancing and drumming tour of his native country. Kabisko offers weekly drum and dance lessons in Northampton MA and choreographs dance and drum performance pieces for companies throughout the US.A. As an artist, Kabisko is well known for his passion and demonstrated commitment to excellence in his choreography and storytelling.
Kibibi Ajanku is an accomplished dancer, griot, choreographer and percussionist. She is in love with art. Her passion embodies the traditions of African movement, music and folklore. She brings a soft, flowing nuance to the pulsating tribal movement and rhythms of Africa through her dance and is lauded for her approach to traditional Senegalese movement. She celebrates the beauty of women and the Diaspora of African music through song and percussion as the originator of the Ebe Yiye Shekere Ensemble and the Sankofa Women’s Drum EnAjanku is the Founding Mother of the celebrated Sankofa Dance Theater. The Company has been in active in joyous existence for over two decades and is a Baltimore-based institution established to promote authentic African art forms. Sankofa Dance Theater creates and presents world-class, authentic African art in the form of dance, music, and folkways for national and international audiences. The work of the Company is rooted in the definition of the word “Sankofa” which means to learn from the past in an effort to build for the future.
Sankofa Dance Theater creates and presents world-class, authentic African art in the form of dance, music, and folkways for national and international audiences. The work of the Company is rooted in healing and bringing intercultural understanding to the global village while staying true to the definition of the word “Sankofa” which means to learn from the past in an effort to build for the future. Sankofa Dance Theater reaches back into the rich legacy of African culture and history to move forward into greater awareness and sensitivity to the world community. Sankofa Dance Theater believes that the arts serve as a catalyst for a healthy world community and actively provides comprehensive programming to increase the quality of life. The Company presents, produces, and promotes annual concerts, master classes, workshops, residencies, youth arts programs, community engagement activities, as well as African study and cultural tours.
Sankofa Dance Theater creates and presents world-class, authentic African art in the form of dance, music, and folkways for national and international audiences. The work of the Company is rooted in healing and bringing intercultural understanding to the global village while staying true to the definition of the word “Sankofa” which means to learn from the past in an effort to build for the future. Sankofa Dance Theater reaches back into the rich legacy of African culture and history to move forward into greater awareness and sensitivity to the world community. Sankofa Dance Theater believes that the arts serve as a catalyst for a healthy world community and actively provides comprehensive programming to increase the quality of life. The Company presents, produces, and promotes annual concerts, master classes, workshops, residencies, youth arts programs, community engagement activities, as well as African study and cultural tours.
Mya Dixon Ajanku
Guest teacher August 3rd 2011
Like many others I wear many hats: student, teacher, performer, instructor and my favorite’s mother and nerd. I am a native of Baltimore Maryland and a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Dance program also holding a K-12 teaching certification. My love of dance began at age 2 when I took my first dance class and was nurtured and fine-tuned by world renowned Sankofa Dance Theater. In 1992 I began classes at the Sankofa Center for Cultural Enrichment under the under the instruction of master teachers Kibibi Ajanku and Kauna Mujamal. During my 18 years with the Sankofa Center for Cultural Enrichment I progressed from community class member to Dance Captain for the professional company Sankofa Dance Theater. I have studied with the stars of the African dance world: Assane Konte, Baba Chuck Davis, Marie Basse , Yousef Koumbassa , Babacar M’Baye, Babacar N’Daiye, Jeffrey Page as well as the National Ballets in Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire. My study of African dance has allowed me to perform in Canada, Holland, France, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, and of course the United States. It has always been my goal to learn traditional African dance as well as performing contemporary styles and I have been blessed to perform with and open for such artist as Roberta Flack, Gnarls Barley, M.I.A and Spank Rock. I believe that life is about sharing and hope that I am always in space to share my knowledge with others.
Guest teacher August 3rd 2011
Like many others I wear many hats: student, teacher, performer, instructor and my favorite’s mother and nerd. I am a native of Baltimore Maryland and a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Dance program also holding a K-12 teaching certification. My love of dance began at age 2 when I took my first dance class and was nurtured and fine-tuned by world renowned Sankofa Dance Theater. In 1992 I began classes at the Sankofa Center for Cultural Enrichment under the under the instruction of master teachers Kibibi Ajanku and Kauna Mujamal. During my 18 years with the Sankofa Center for Cultural Enrichment I progressed from community class member to Dance Captain for the professional company Sankofa Dance Theater. I have studied with the stars of the African dance world: Assane Konte, Baba Chuck Davis, Marie Basse , Yousef Koumbassa , Babacar M’Baye, Babacar N’Daiye, Jeffrey Page as well as the National Ballets in Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire. My study of African dance has allowed me to perform in Canada, Holland, France, Senegal, The Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, and of course the United States. It has always been my goal to learn traditional African dance as well as performing contemporary styles and I have been blessed to perform with and open for such artist as Roberta Flack, Gnarls Barley, M.I.A and Spank Rock. I believe that life is about sharing and hope that I am always in space to share my knowledge with others.
Kalpana Devi
Kalpana is an educator, mentor, dancer, vocalist, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, writer, entrepreneur and mother of 6. She has 20 years of experience teaching not only dance and music, but also history and culture of dance, music and cross-cultural relationships. She has studied African dance with masters of dance in America and West Africa for over 20 years. .She has presented at colleges and universities, including Amherst College, Bard College, Guilford College and UMASS on dance, music and developing cross cultural community through the arts. She has taught African dance all over New England, the U.S, and West Africa including Williston Northampton, The Moving Company, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School, The Putney School and Smith College Campus School. She developed, produced and directed an award winning roots of Africa dance and drum company that toured and performed in the U.S. and West Africa. She has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards including finalist in the National Endowment for the Arts Education Fellowship. She is lead singer, keyboardist and percussionist in the band, ReBelle and continues to tour worldwide.
Kalpana is an educator, mentor, dancer, vocalist, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer, writer, entrepreneur and mother of 6. She has 20 years of experience teaching not only dance and music, but also history and culture of dance, music and cross-cultural relationships. She has studied African dance with masters of dance in America and West Africa for over 20 years. .She has presented at colleges and universities, including Amherst College, Bard College, Guilford College and UMASS on dance, music and developing cross cultural community through the arts. She has taught African dance all over New England, the U.S, and West Africa including Williston Northampton, The Moving Company, Pioneer Valley Performing Arts High School, The Putney School and Smith College Campus School. She developed, produced and directed an award winning roots of Africa dance and drum company that toured and performed in the U.S. and West Africa. She has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards including finalist in the National Endowment for the Arts Education Fellowship. She is lead singer, keyboardist and percussionist in the band, ReBelle and continues to tour worldwide.
