a night of solos with
Moustapha Gueye, Senegal
Prince Dethmer Nzaba, Congo
Michel Kouakou, Ivory Coast
Pape Ibrahima N'diaye, Senegal
Maria Helena Pinto, Mozambique
choreographic coordination: Jean Tamba, Senegal
in collaboration with Culturesfrance
A night dedicated to the most known artists the African contemporary dance within the project Dialogue, coordinated by Giorgio Rossi.
The dancers-choregraphers taking part in this project have been selected among the participants to the VII edition of the biennial Danse l'Afrique Danse (Tunis, 1st -8th May 2008) promoted by Culturesfrance.
At the Stazione Leopolda they will present their new solos.
Moustapha Gueye
Senegalese dancer and choreographer, he studied at the Ecole des Sables in Toubab Dialaw (Senegal) and continues his training in many schools and other educational institutions. He is one of the greatest dancers on the stages of Dakar. He interpreted Le coq est mort of Suzanne Linke.
Jean Tamba
Graduated at the Ecole Nationale des Arts in Dakar, he created the Company 5ème Dimension. He was the artistic director of the Festival Kaay Fecc (Wolof language "come and dance") in Dakar. In 2001 he created the association Kaay Fecc that works for the development and professionalization of the art of dance in Senegal. The cultural eclecticism is at the base of the artistic production of Tamba. With Andrea Lorenzetti, a dancer of the Ballet of Marseille, Jean discovers the principles of neo-classical composition and of the technical academic rigor. For 15 years he deals with the artistic direction of the company Ballets Africains, led by Maestro Kounta. He interpreted Le coq est mort of Suzanne Linke, he danced in the company Sotiba Boys and in different Senegalese creations. It approaches to modern-jazz with the American Marvi, to afro-jazz with Chuck Davis and Ousmane Cissé. Jean Tamba is also a musician and has recorded a cd as percussionist.
Prince Dethmer Nzaba
Born in Brazzaville (Congo) in 1983, he discovers the passion for dance thanks to his father and his group Percussion Prince Dedina. He joined the opening of the International Fair of Lyon in '96. In the while he continued his training with Boris Nganga in the company Ngoma za Kongo and he created his first choreography in 2002. Until 2005 he participates in the training of CCF Brazzaville held by Paco Decina, Orcy Nzaba, Boris Nganga, Rufine and Salia Sanou. In 2006 he participated in the Festival of Mabina Danse Crizogone Diagouya and in 2007 he continued his training activities at the Festival Makinu Bantu directed by Salia Sanou at the Centre Culturel Français. In 2007 he was the interpreter of the spectacle Matanga ma ya ngombé by Orchy Nzaba and of this period is also his solo Parcours, selected for the Festival Mantsina sur scène of Dieudonné Niangouna in December '07. Nzaba is selected in the category 'Solo' for the showcase Danse Danse l'Afrique in Tunis and participates in the meetings of Brazzaville Makinu Bantu in April 2008.
Michel Kouakou
Born in Ivory Coast, he founded the Daara Dance Company in 2003. He studied the contemporary American dance and he is profoundly influenced by one of the most renowned choreographers of USA, Reggie Wilson, who he currently works with. In his choreographic creations he mixes both the African and American elements with a constant tension between them. His work plays with the identity and disorientation, creating effects of great suggestion.
Pape N'Diaye
Dancer, teacher and choreographer from Senegal. He toured in Africa and throughout the world. Since 1989 he danced with several international companies, including the National Ballet of Senegal, The Aliguère du Senegal, Cinquième Dimension Compagnie Jant-Bi, Ballet Sinomew, Forêt Sacrée, Manhattan Dance School. His rich training includes all styles of traditional African dance and different styles of contemporary dance. He was a sabar dance teacher (traditional Senegalese dance) for many famous dancers. In the United States he is known for his dance classes of djembe, kutiro and sabar. N'Diaye is also the vocalist of Doomou Africa, a new band of contemporary African music. N'Diaye is the founder of Ndaje Festival of African Music and Dance that takes place each year in Boston and is the executive producer of the festival New York New Year's African Dance Festival in New York.
Maria-Helena Pinto
She lives and works in Maputo (Mozambique). She did part of her dance training in Cuba and she developed her career in the Compagnie Nationale du Mozambique, one of the last large group of this kind in Africa. Later she approaches to contemporary dance. She holds a Master of the dance department of the University of Paris 8. Pinto is carrying out a research centre to encourage the evolution and development of dance in her country.
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