• Increase students’ understanding of African cultural traditions
• Explore ways of stimulating students’ non-verbal means of communication
• Give students an introduction to the history, language, and techniques of African dance and drumming
• Expose students to traditional African musical instruments
For more information or to request a performance, please contact us at bookings@kankouran.org
Artistic Director, Assane Konte, has met the great challenge of adapting traditional African dancing and drumming in a Western performance context; communicating the rich and complex history and culture of West Africa with the technical prowess, energy, and grace that entertains and moves audiences everywhere. The overwhelming majority of the dances/rhythms performed are from Senegal, Guinea, Gambia, and Mali, with works set to the most prevalent percussion orchestras used in those regions: Djembe, Kutiro, and Sabar.
Assane Konte’s choreography and costume designs have enhanced not only KanKouran’s stage presence but also that of countless local and national dance companies as well. Through his careful and meticulous choreography, Mr. Konte has taken U.S.-based African dance to another level. Simultaneously, he has challenged his company’s dancers and drummers to achieve impressive levels of virtuosity and technical ability. Although Mr. Konte choreographs primarily for his own company, his ingenious creativity and spirit are always in demand at home and abroad. Consequently, he conducts annual programs in Poland, Hawaii, Japan, and St. Croix. Mr. Konte has held faculty positions in the dance departments of several prestigious universities in the Washington, D.C. area including Georgetown, George Washington, American, and George Mason Universities. He presently serves on the faculty at Howard University.
