Sixth Annual Abene African Dance Festival

at The Church
Brattleboro, Vermont
August 19th - 23rd, 2009

The Interactive Arts Collective, in collaboration with the Arts Council of Windham County, is proud to announce the Sixth Annual Abene African Dance Festival.

Caro Diallo, choreographer and lead dancer of the West African dance troupe, Black Soofa, will teach African dance classes for all levels from August 19-23 at The Church in Brattleboro, VT.

Traditional drumming classes will also be offered for all levels Saturday and Sunday August 22 and 23. Learn Djembe and Doun Doun techniques and rhythms from  Guinea and Senegal.

(The Church is air-conditioned!)

Caro Diallo, grew up dancing in Senegal, West Africa. He has performed and taught throughout West Africa, the United States, and Europe, including Switzerland, where he resides part of the year. Throughout the festival week, the famed master will be teaching a total of eight African Dance classes for beginners and advanced dancers alike! Those who would like to simply watch him teach the classes are welcome to do so without charge, though donations are welcome to assist in financing the festival. It is a rare opportunity to witness Diallo's skill, style and grace; he has the gift of inspiring his students and captivating them with the energy, finesse, and elegance of his dancing. Dancers and spectators from all over the northeast region have enthusiastically attended the festival every year since it's birth in 2004.

Ibrahima Thiokho Diagne is a master drummer from Dakar, Senegal, originating from the Bambara ethnic group in Mali.  He has toured the world as a lead percussionist with various artistic ensembles including Mapenda Seck, Baaba Maal, Le Ballet National Du Senegal, and most recentlyl with Grammy award winning world music artist, Angelique Kidjo. Currently residing in Burlington VT, Thiokho offers Djembe, Kutiro, and Sabar drum classes for all levels, and works with other local Senegalese artists teaching dance and drum in the Burlington and Montpelier areas. Ibrahima will teach the drum classes at the festival, and will accompany Caro's dance classes.

"Abene," the title of the festival, means "place where good will be encountered" and is the name of the village in southern Senegal, West Africa, where Diallo hosts an annual dance camp. Diallo loves the Brattleboro area and enjoys returning every year to reunite with the community here. It is part of a cultural exchange due to the fact that many area dancers and drummers have attended his camp in Senegal over the years. This is how the festival originated.

A highlight of the week will be the much-awaited Performance by Caro Diallo and a host of other professional drummers and dancers on Saturday evening at The Church, on the corner of Main and Grove Streets, in Brattleboro.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival will also feature delicious Malian cuisine freshly prepared by the area's own Dieneba Macalou, popularly known at the Brattleboro Farmer's Market.

There will be a Marketplace with craft vendors, African and ethnic goods on site throughout the festival.

Please join us in celebrating the culture and history of West Africa! For more information on Caro Diallo please see www.carodiallo.com and
www.geryunant.com/DanceCamp.htm

Schedule
at The Church in Brattleboro

Wednesday & Thursday 
(August 19 & 20)
Dance Class: 6pm-8pm. 

Friday
(August 21)
Dance Classes:  10:30am- 12:30pm, 6pm-8pm
Dinner: 8pm         

Saturday 
(August 22)
Dance Classes: 10:30am-12:30pm, 4pm-6pm 
Drum Class: 1:30-3:00pm. 
Dinner: 7pm  

Special Saturday Evening Performance!
8:30pm at The Stone Church

Sunday
(August 23)
Dance Classes:  10:30am- 12:30pm,4pm-6pm
Drum Class: 1:30- 3pm      
Dinner: 6pm    

Fees: 
All 8 dance classes: $115 
Six-pack of dance classes: $90
Four-pack of dance classes: $60
Single dance class: $16 
Single drum class: $16
Saturday performance: $10 

Dinner: $12

Additional Classes!
Caro will be in the area to teach classes before the festival
Wed. July 22nd @ The Church ~ 7pm
Mon. July 27th @ Putney Community Center ~ 7pm
Wed. July 29th @ The Church ~ 7pm
Fri. July 31st @ Putney Community Center ~ 7pm

Directions:
The Church
Located on the corner of Main St. and Grove St. 
in downtown Brattleboro, Vermont.
(Next to the Post Office)

The Putney Community Center
10 Christian Square Rd., driving North from Brattleboro, turn right off Rte 5 in the center of Putney (before the General Store)

For More Information, please contact:
Naomi
802-258-6475
naomilin@sover.net

Jan (in August)
802-251-0509
jthompson@landmark.edu