AFRICA
FARE WEST AFRICAN BALLET On
Tour in the United States |
AFRICA
FARE
is a dynamic performing arts ensemble that is a direct descendant
of "Les Ballets Africains" (The African Ballet of the
Republic of Guinea in West Africa), a West African cultural heritage
group commanding tremendous respect and admiration throughout the
world.
AFRICA
FARE
completed its last nationwide tour in the USA in early 2000, including
mainstage performances at the Kennedy Center, other large performing
arts centers located in major US cities and at universities. The
performers are artists from Mali, Senegal and Guinea. Included are
a kora player, a ballafon player, 4 djembe drummers, a stilt dancer,
6 male dancers and 4 female dancers. The troupe is under the direction
of world-class choreographer, Aboubacar "Oscar" Camara.
Based in Sarasota, Florida, they are performing and facilitating
workshops in the community.
AFRICA
FARE, through the classical format of ballet,
serves a significant public need to discover West African culture
and heritage. This will improve the cultural alliances between the
developing regions of West Africa and the international community;
building bridges that unite people, organizations, and institutions.
In performance the ballet features costumes, music, ritual dances,
and songs in various Mandinka dialects, preserving the traditional
art form. |
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Choreographed works by Africa Fare portray the different aspects
of historical life and events of theMandinka and Sou-Sous
culture through dance, drumming, songs, acrobatics, and instrumenal
solos. These stories, passed down through the generations
by the great oral historians ( known as jelis and griots),
date back almost a thousand years and span the great Mali
Empire led by the Mandinka Tribe. |
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