>> COME TO MALI

PROVIDENCE: MUST REGISTER HERE 

WHERE: The Haus of Glitter Performance Lab: 97 Admiral St. Prov

WHEN: Thursdays 5:30 - 7pm (5/6, 5/13, 5/20)

BOSTON - MUST REGISTER HERE

WHERE: Christian Herter Park (Past Parking Lot 3)

WHEN: Saturdays 4:15 - 6pm (5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22)

EXPLORE, SUPPORT, PRESERVE, & CELEBRATE Traditional West-African Dance from the Mande culture in Mali, West Africa. Class will be led by Master Teacher, Seydou Coulibaly and accompanied by live Djembe and Djun Djun players. This class is friendly to all levels of experiences and ages!

• What can we learn about decolonization from the human body

• How can we listen to & celebrate BIPOC elders in our community

• How can we preserve essential traditions that have been marginalized by systemic racism?

COVID-19 precautions for the health & safety of our community:

• We expect participants to practice physical distancing of 6 ft since masks may not be possible for everyone during physical activity.

• Please bring reusable water bottle & a towel. 

• Please use personal hand sanitizer or hand sanitizer available on-site.

• Please use the restroom before arrival as public restrooms are not available in the park.

SEYDOU COULIBALY (Bamako, Mali - Providence, RI) is one of West Africa's leading dancers, teachers, and choreographers. He was named Mali’s #1 dancer in the final Biennale Arts Competition with his company Troupe Commune Quatre, before the coup d’état in 1990. He then founded and was artistic director of Mali’s nationally respected and award-winning Troupe Komée Diosée, which toured throughout Mali. Seydou now also works extensively in the US, where he teaches Mande dance, music and culture at Wheaton College, Brown University, the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA and frequently visits schools throughout New England. Seydou also runs The Yeredon Center for the Malian Arts, a cross-cultural school and artist residency in Bamako, which aims to bring a greater knowledge of Malian culture to the global community while preserving the work of Mali’s most talented artists. His film credits include Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, Mali Djembekan, Street Party in Lafiabougou, and numerous educational films on Malian music, dance and culture. Seydou’s djun-djun playing can also be heard on Mohamed Kalifa Kamara’s Africa Kanben.

MOUSSA TRAORE was born and raised in Mali, West Africa. He has been playing the djembe for over forty years- in 1984, after completing a twelve-year apprenticeship, he was deemed a "master" by his teacher, Sega Cisse. Moussa has achieved great recognition throughout Mali as an accomplished musician in theater, traditional ceremonies, as well as the Malian pop scene. Among musicians in Bamako, Moussa is considered to be one of the top djembe players in the country. Since moving to the U.S., Moussa has continued to distinguish himself as a highly respected teacher and performer. He has given drum workshops in cities throughout the U.S. and China. Currently, he is teaching at schools, offering weekly community classes, leading drum ensembles for West African dance classes, and performing for special events and workshops.​

ASSITAN ‘SITA’ COULIBALY (she/her/hers) is a Malian-American dancer, choreographer, and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Assitan began training in West African dance with New Works/World Traditions at Brown University with whom she has performed and travelled worldwide. Much of her choreographic work is greatly inspired by her Malian heritage and is highlighted by her fusion of Coupe Decalé, Afrobeats, traditional West African, and Hip Hop dance and music styles. These bodies of work are meant to reflect the fun and energetic community lifestyle that is reminiscent of her childhood growing up between the United States and Mali. She has taught West African Dance at Wheaton College, the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA, and is currently fulfilling the role of the Artist in Residence at TAPA- Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. Assitan holds her B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Peace and Social Justice and French Studies from Wheaton College-MA (2017) and 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certification (B4C 2020). Assitan is one of five founding members of The Haus of Glitter Dance Company, a member of New Works/ World Traditions Dance Company, a principal dancer with Troupe Yeredon in Mali, and was just awarded RISCA’s Folk Arts Fellowship. Outside of her African Dance practice, Assitan enjoys practicing Yoga, Meditation, Latin (Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia), Dancehall, Step, and Contemporary dance styles. In addition to her art, she is the acting Director of Legacy Arts & Education at Centre Yérédon in Bamako, Mali and a Teaching Artist and Performer with Pushed Learning and Media, a Boston based non-profit that specializes in diversity, privilege, and racial justice education.