Workshop Schedule

11:00am - 12:00pm Drumming

12:00pm - 1:30pm Dancing

11:00am - 1:30pm Attend the Full Workshop if you would like to do both Drumming & Dancing

About the Teachers

Wilfried Souly is a choreographer, dancer, drummer, and Taekwondo expert, originally from Burkina Faso in West Africa. He was trained in African traditional and contemporary dances from a young age in the acclaimed company, The Bourgeon du Burkina. In September 2000, he co-founded Compagnie Tâ with two other choreographers and has co-choreographed many dance pieces presented around the world, including one work that was selected as a finalist at the fifth Choreographic Encounters of Africa and Indian Ocean in Madagascar. 

Souly’s work in progress, Unsung—a choreographic response to the oppression and marginalization of Black bodies due to systemic racism in the U.S.A. and neo-colonialism in African countries—was presented at the Dialogue de Corps Festival in Ouagadougou in December 2023. Souly is an adjunct professor of African and diaspora dances at the UCLA World Arts and Cultures/Dance, a department from which he also graduated with an M.F.A. in choreographic inquiry.

Aboubacar Kouyate is a master djembe drummer and griot who performs and teaches throughout the United States. He also plays doun doun, tama, and kora; and speaks English, French, SouSou, Malinke, and Fula.

Kouyate was born in Conakry, Guinea and began his djembe training there with master Yadi Camara. Kouyate went on to serve as a musical director and master drummer of The Farita Company and The Sabar Company in Conakry; and later became a master lead drummer with les Ballets Merveilles de Guinea, the premier national dance and drum company founded by Kamoko Sano. He has traveled and performed extensively with Merveilles throughout Africa and Europe.

Pricing

Pre-registration : $25 drumming/ $35 dancing/ $50 package for both

At the door: $35 drumming/ $45 dancing / $60 package for both.

For the drumming workshop (DUN DUN AND DJEMBE), if you don’t have your own drum, you can rent one for an extra $5. Please indicate if you will be renting a drum by adding that to your cart upon checkout as there is a limited amount.

If you are in a position to make a larger contribution, and are interested in supporting the festival with a larger financial contribution, please visit our sponsorship page OR you can make a tax-deductible donation.

Additional Workshop Information

• The drums can be quite loud. If you are sensitive to loud sound, you may want to bring earplugs.

• It is a cultural custom to thank the drummers by giving an offering. This is not necessary but if you would like to, you can bring $3-5 to give to the drummers at the end of the dance class. 

Opportunity to participate in the West African Dance Piece for the Ojai World Dance Festival! 

There will be 4 rehearsals on Sundays leading up to the festival performance night on May 3rd. (April 6, 13th, 20th, and 27th from 4-5pm)

All rehearsals must be attended in order to participate.

More details will be available at the workshop!