In 1994 Aliou Diouf founded Ballet Sangamar in Eugene, Oregon, to increase awareness and appreciation of West African culture.
In 1998 Aliou Diouf took Ballet Sangamar to Africa to experience the customs and traditions of Senegal.
Aliou Diouf is a master drummer and choreographer from Senegal. He has performed internationally for over 25 years. He is a former member of the United African Ballet and Les Ballet d'Afrique Noire. In the United States, he has conducted dance and drum workshops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, and New Orleans.
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Aliou Diouf began his drumming career as a young boy when his community determined that his life would be dedicated to the art of African cultural performance. He traveled throughout the Senegambian area and Mali studying and performing with many troupes and directors. Aliou Diouf achieved an award of merit through the Senegambian Cultural Exchange program that sponsored his arrival to the United States. He has traveled with Mor Thiam, Monsieur Gueye, and Djabel Gueye in Spain, France, Germany, the Caribbean, and Walt Disneyworld. He has also founded four African dance troupes in the United States and performed at large venues such as the Ethnic Dance Festival in San Francisco and the Eugene Celebration in Oregon.
In 1994 he founded Ballet Sangamar, a non-profit drum and dance troupe in Eugene, Oregon. Ballet Sangamar presents cultural music, songs and dances of West Africa. The troupe currently has 15 dancers and six drummers creating an overwhelming stage presence that has impressed audiences throughout the Northwest. Under Aliou Diouf's charismatic lead, these dedicated dynamic performers in colorful costumes perform traditional and arranged rhythms and dances from Gambia, Senegal, Mali, and Guinea.
The drummers play hand-carved wooden Djembe and Djun Djun drums as well as Sabar and Bougarabou drums while everyone sings songs from the Wolof, Bambara, Djola, Mandinko, and other ethnic groups of West Africa. The dancers perform choreography with complex musical transitions and involve the audience whenever possible. The troupe performs theatrical dance pieces that depict daily life as well as traditional folktales of the people of West Africa. Everyone wears colorful costumes both designed by Aliou Diouf and directly imported from Senegal.
Ballet Sangamar regularly conducts assemblies for the public schools of Lane County, Oregon. These assemblies increase awareness and respect for the rhythms and dances of West Africa and an appreciation of cultural diversity. The troupe has performed for a wide range of venues from festivals such as The Oregon Country Fair and the Festival of Color to dance shows such as The Hult Center for the Performing Arts Swine Dive. The troupe also teaches African cultural workshops for children through the public schools and adults at Universities and colleges throughout the United States including New Orleans, Chicago, Maine, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. He has also taught workshops to children in the public schools in New York, California, and Oregon.
If you're interested in having Aliou Diouf teach a workshop, you can email him at:
alioudrum@yahoo.com
Aliou Diouf is in Bend, Oregon.
He has a website at: http://www.alioudiouf.blogspot.com
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Wolof People Danceby centaurex7,846 views
Awesome video! Makes me wish that more African Americans were more interested in the rich cultural heritage of our mother country. Thank you so much for sharing!
Lokoboy84 2 years ago
This is a beautiful video. Thank you for sharing. One thing I miss is the ataya. That tea they make is so good. Merci, Wontanara!
Djembefola7 2 years ago
its possible
jxw137 2 years ago
is dat akons mom? mor thiam+ aliaune thiam
mamaakon 4 years ago
Thank you!
keilahsheashea 4 years ago
Very nice. Super cool. Love the music and dancing!
ixirzip 4 years ago
This looks like a incredible experience. Good job Roen
nixonds 4 years ago
A very high quality video! What else do you have from Senegal? Put it out there
carac755 4 years ago