West African - Ivory Coast Dance [Dance for Joy]

West African Performance Dance Workshops present an opportunity to learn steps, choreography, staging, beginnings and endings to Ivory Coast dances in a limited time frame. This leads to a performance experience that is a thrilling chance to apply what you have learned in a few weeks, presenting your skills and joy in a culmination of dance steps with drum accompaniment. With long-term study, expertise brings ability to tackle the more complex dances and rhythms. The Ivory Coast dances offered are Kookoo, Bademalon, N’Goron, Temate, Katana, Bolohi and more, displaying the rich diversity of rhythms and steps that is the hallmark of Ivory Coast dance and drum traditions.

Instructor Bio(s): Vado has danced since the age of four, learning the dance and drum traditions of his Mahouka people. At an early age, he was initiated into becoming the keeper of the sacred mask dance on stilts, Gue-Pelou. This distinction brought him to the Ballet National de Cote d'Ivoire, where he became a principal dancer for more than 15 years. Vado learned over 60 ethnic dance and drumming traditions from the Ivory Coast and other West African countries. His repertoire elevated his career to eventually choreographing and touring extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. In 1989 he established L'Ensemble Kokiegna d'Abidjan, which has resided in New York City as the Kotchegna Dance Company since 1994. In Vado’s native language Mahou, ’kotchegna’ means messenger. His troupe’s goal is to inspire joy and understanding through the power of dance and drum, promoting the exchange of culture worldwide. He continues to strengthen his experience as a choreographer, artistic director, teacher and performer. He also takes part in many educational programs for children in New York City schools and beyond. For more information, go to www.kotchegna.com.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, United States