Diamano Coura West African Dance Company's Home Season

This weekend Diamano Coura's West African Dance Company presented two pieces with guest choreographers: Nimley Napla and Ousseynou Kouyate. The first work, Kouyate's Insight, looked at a young man journey away from home to the far reaches of the vast continental Africa he is resident of, and his realization of its immense beauty --its people and resources.

The dancing and costuming was beautiful as to expected from one of the Bay Area's premiere companies. A new aspect of this year's season was the inclusion of Diamano Coura's community dancers, nonprofessional dancers in the professional company. They performed in longer work by Napla--The Leopard Ballet. A native of Liberia like Naomi Diouf, folklorist Artistic of Diamano Coura. Emmy Award winner, Diamano Coura Founder and Director Zak Diouf could be heard singing off stage and during Insight he came on stage and danced with choreographer Kouyate, both men Senegalese.

Live drumming was another component of the show, and for the second half, there was a balafon solo. The live music, dynamic dancers and colorful costumes not to mention the age range on stage in the professional company, children who looked younger than 12 in substantive roles was to say the least impressive.

The company is a part of a matching campaign. Visit www.diamanocoura.org