I love dancing.
It might actually be the only form of exercise I undertake with a smile on my face, gladness in my heart and lightness on my feet. Dance is…simply exhilarating.
When people say, “I don’t know how to dance,” I know they have permitted themselves to be bound by society’s definition of what an acceptable ‘dance-movement’ is.
Well, it keeps changing, so do you want to keep chasing the latest dance-fad from ‘patra’* to ‘yahooze’* to ‘azonto’* to ‘etighi’* to –what’s the dance the duo P-Square invented… ‘alingo’*!- to ‘skelewu*’; or just move for the enjoyment of it?
Wondering why I am waxing poetic about dance? Apart from the fact that I love dancing as previously stated? It is all because of Moussa!
Moussa Diabate from Guinea, Africa is a celebrated dancer, an adroit drummer, and a dexterous choreographer who makes melodious music and has had the opportunity to perform across many stages and continents including Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
He danced with the National Ballet of Guinea and was the artistic Director for the National Ballet Silimbo of Senegal for many years.
Moussa’s professional training started in 1977 with the Troupe Federal de Conakry II – National Ballet, directed by Karamoko Sekouba Camara; continued in 1984 with the “Ballet Silimbo” – National Theatre of Dakar, Senegal directed by Lansana Dioubate Fatou N`Diaye; from 1987- 1990 Moussa trained with the “Ballet Djoliba” – National Ballet, directed by Frankis Magloire Camara in Guinea and in 1990 with the Troupe Federal de, Conakry III- National Ballet, directed by Sekouba Westero, also in Guinea.
Moussa Diabate has also performed on Broadway, at the Yale Repertory Theatre and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Since 1987 he has choreographed, performed, lectured and taught extensively in the United States., Japan, France and countries in West Africa. Most recently, he has taught at the Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Art from 1999 till present.
The founder and artistic director of the Djely Kunda West African Dance Company, Moussa has had vast choreographic experience and continues to do so at the Washington, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Courtesy of his immense talent, Moussa has made many international appearances that have taken the versatile dancer from the World Festival of Black Art and Culture in Dakar Senegal, West Africa in 2010, to the 2007 Toronto International Association of Black in Dance, to Tokyo, Japan for a Session Theatre in “A Dream” directed by Kaoru Imeda amongst many others.
There is a constant demand for his brand of theatre-music, drumming and dancing in one lithe package.
So, the next time you are tempted to feel inadequate because you are not a terrific orator like President Barack Obama or a financial guru like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala or a medical genius like Ben Carson MD, remember Moussa Diabate.
Pour some passion and purpose into that talent and let it bring you before Kings.
Copy that?
*‘patra’* ;‘yahooze’* ;‘azonto’* ;‘etighi’* ‘alingo’*‘skelewu*’ : styles of dance in some West African Countries.
l would like to join