Ismael “Bonfils” Kouyate featured in a weekend of festivities that include Shango Afrobeat Orchestra; workshops; and performance
Kittery, Maine - The Dance Hall in Kittery will be launching it’s 2015 season with among other events, a weekend of exhilarating drum, dance and song with international Guinean star Ismael “Bonfils” Kouyate. On Friday, January 16, 2015 at 8:00pm Ismael, featured in the hit Broadway production “Fela!”, will join the Seacoasts popular Shango Afrobeat Orchestra celebrating the music of Nigeria’s Fela Kuti,
On Saturday, January 17, Kouyate will teach a series of workshops during the day including song, dance, and dundun dance (dance and drum). At 7pm he will be the featured performer in an evening of Guinean Dance and Drum with special guests including Namory Keita, a fellow Guinean who teaches weekly classes at The Dance Hall.
The Dance Hall has become known as a hub on the Seacoast for its Global Rhythms series as well as
its weekly West African drum and dance classes and performances with dance teacher Liz Fowler and Guinean drum master Namory Keita. “The community of West African dancers and drummers from all over New England and beyond has grown continually since we opened in 2011” says Drika Overton, executive director of The Dance Hall. Overton, who founded the annual Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival in 1995, has presented and supported West African dance and drum in venues throughout the Seacoast. “It is so culturally rich and an important foundation of American jazz music and dance. I’m always excited to be able to share the cultural exchange and joy of these amazing artists with our community.”
Ismael Kouyate was born in Guinea, West Africa to a long line of 'Griots', the oral historians that preserve the history and culture of Africa through songs, stories, music and dance. He began dancing professionally at the age of 12, when he was recruited by Les Percussions de Guinee' to perform in their international tour, which included Europe and Asia. Upon his return in 2004, he was requested to join Ballets Africains *(The National Dance Company of Guinea, see below) for their 50th Anniversary Tour of the US, Jubilee! He amazed audiences throughout the US on the tour and was contracted by the team of the Broadway hit Fela! to serve as a Master Choreographer for the production.
His talent and skills landed him a principle role in the play, if you've ever seen it, Fela says, “Hey Ismaela” and he begins a full litany of movement, dance and spirit that sends audiences to their feet nightly. He has been with Fela! Since 2008, from its humble off-Broadway roots, to its international tours which included a series of performances in 2011 in Nigeria, at the actual “Shrine”. The production was such a hit, that due to the overwhelming response of the Nigerian community, they were asked to stay an additional two weeks, performing to sold-out audiences nightly. Also in 2011, Ismael was sought out to do a special on CNN about Africa in America. His class of over 100 people ecstatically learned and modeled his movements, while speaking of their excitement to study from this legend of Guinea, many of whom had heard of him in their travels abroad.
In 2013, he wrapped up the final tour of Fela! He also was in the studio with Beyonce, adding his amazing vocals to her hit, “Grown Woman”, the single featured on her Pepsi commercial.
For more information and to register for classes and purchase tickets visit the website: www.thedancehallkittery.org or brownpapertickets.com.
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