In Person | Donation Based $5 - $35

Vado draws on the rich and diverse dance traditions of the Ivory Coast as he guides you through the exciting, vigorous, and complex steps and rhythms derived from over 60 different ethnic traditions. This West African- Ivory Coast class features the styles of Kookoo, Bademalon, N’Goron, Temate, Katana, Bolohi and more, displaying the rich diversity of rhythms and steps that is the hallmark of Ivory Coast dance and drum traditions.

This class begins with a warm up, getting the body loose and fluid then flows into learning steps from a particular dance style and connecting the choreography to the rhythmic beat of the drums. Across the floor movements are incorporated for continued practice and exploration of several other dance rhythms as students continue through this West African Dance experience. The beautiful energy and joy of each class is reflected through the spontaneous solos performed at the end of class.

As a part of the Dance for Joy Series, this West African Performance Workshop gives students an opportunity to learn choreography and staging over the course of a few weeks, ultimately performing (participation optional) at Fet Iajwa Student Showcase, happening December 4th at the Billie Holiday Theatre.

Vado Diomande has danced since the age of four, learning the dance and drum traditions of his Mahouka people. At an early age, he was initiated into becoming the keeper of the sacred mask dance on stilts, Gue-Pelou. This distinction brought him to the Ballet National de Cote d’Ivoire, where he became a principal dancer for more than 15 years. Vado learned over 60 ethnic dance and drumming traditions from the Ivory Coast and other West African countries. His repertoire elevated his career to eventually choreographing and touring extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. In 1989 he established L’Ensemble Kokiegna d’Abidjan, which has resided in New York City as the Kotchegna Dance Company since 1994. In Vado’s native language Mahou, ’kotchegna’ means messenger. His troupe’s goal is to inspire joy and understanding through the power of dance and drum, promoting the exchange of culture worldwide. He continues to strengthen his experience as a choreographer, artistic director, teacher and performer. He also takes part in many educational programs for children in New York City schools and beyond. For more information, go to www.kotchegna.com.