Teachers and Performers

Abdoulaye Diakite Bio
Some back ground on our teacher. Without Abdouli, we'd never be doing what we're doing!

Massengo
Massengo Constant has performed for over fifteen years as a soloist drummer with both the Ballet National de Jeunesse and the Congolese National Dance Company. He has toured worldwide and is presently lead drummer of Fua Dia Congo and choreographer of Kizingu Dance Company and Ballet Maba. Massengo currently teaches drum classes throughout the Bay Area. His CD Massengo pulses with authentic world beats, combining transcendent drums, kalimba, bells, xylophone, and vocals.

Bolokada Conde
Bolokada Conde played djembe before he could walk. Born in Kissidougou, Guinée, he was called to Conakry by Les Percussions de Guinée as a Premiere Soloist. Bolokada is renowned in his region and in Conakry as a master folklorist, and was honored by a gift of land by the Mayor of Kissidougou. For years he toured the US and internationally with Les Percussions de Guinée and gained a worldwide reputation as one of the most exciting and dynamic djembe players alive. He has released two CDs, and is featured on the IMAX movie "Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey". Bolokada is currently the Musical Director and Premiere Soloist for Les Percussions Malinke.

Abdoul Doumbia
Abdoul Doumbia was born and raised in Mali, immersed in the ancient musical and cultural traditions of this West African nation. He was called to the drum at the age of 5 and completed a 16-year apprenticeship under Master Drummer Moriba Keita. Abdoul worked with a number of professional dance/drum companies in Mali, including serving as lead drummer for the renowned traditional drumming and dance troupe, Babemba, for 9 years. He was also chosen as the representative of his region for 8 consecutive years for the National Drum Festival of Mali. Abdoul was brought to the United States in 1991 by Brown University. He moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1998 where he lives with his wife Katrina and 2 sons. Abdoul teaches and performs regularly across the United States, and also organizes cultural tours to Mali on a regular basis.

Drum and Dance Centers

The 418 Project
This is our home base in Santa Cruz. The schedule is always changing, but there are always at least 5 West African dance classes happening per week.

Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
One of the best centers for West Africa, Congolese and Brazilian Drum and Dance. Originally the "Alice Arts Center," it has recently been renamed to reflect the respect and love that the drum and dance community has for one of our greatest teachers Malonga Casquelourd.

BrasArte/ World Dance Center
Owned and operated by Conceiçäo Damasceno, World Dance Center is both a Brazilian cultural center and a dance studio. Bay Area residents can take advantage of the many Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian dance classes taught every week by Damasceno and other native teaches from Brazil. Dance classes are both a physically invigorating and a culturally rich experience, incorporating indigenous, African and Portuguese influences.

World Dance Center also offers many classes from diverse cultures, for both adults and children. Classes run on an ongoing basis, so new comers can jump in any time. Check our class schedule for details on classes that are for children or for adults geared for all levels, beginners or intermediate/advanced students. é

Drum and Dance Scenes

WADaBo - West African Dance in Boston
These guys in Boston are doing it right. They've got a great West African Drum and Dance scene going on. Check them out if you're in the area.

Djembe Brazil
We love these Brazilian fanatics! It's great to see the influence this music is having everywhere.

West African Drum and Dance - Vermont
This is the site of a good freind of ours that study under our same teacher, Abdouli Diakite. Some good resources here on Abdouli and the Vermont scene.

Other Recomended Sites

Eric Charry - Djembe Article
Eric Charry has put together some of the best anthropological documentation on the history and music of West Africa. Here is a short excerpt from his writings. Check out his book Mande Music.

Rootsy Records
Rootsy Records was founded in 1999 by Jeremy Chevrier and Abdoulaye Diakite with the intention of recording and archiving traditional djembe music for the future.

Middle Path Media
MPM represents artists, musicians who are recognized as masters of their art at home and abroad. They personally travel the globe to places like Guinea and Mali in West Africa, and Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean to work with and document people in their homeland. This helps them convey as authentically as possible the cultures and circumstances in which these artists live and create. They work collaboratively with many of the artists, and together they create media that is accurate and informative as well as pleasing to the senses.

Mali Assistance Project
Helping the villagers of Foutaka Zambougou, Mali fight famine, drought and disease and build a sustainable infrastructure for the future.

Our Friends

Spirit Drumz
Founded by Afia Walking Tree, Spirit Drumz utilizes drumz of the African Diaspora as essential tools for healing and liberation. Spirit Drumz fosters empowerment and activism through creative, expressive, performance arts and earth-based spirituality.