PMT Dance Studio Faculty Profiles

Ismael Kouyate

West African Dance

Note: Saturnin Ba will be subbing for Ismael Kouyate during his run with FELA! until further notice.

     Born in Conakry, Guinea in 1981, into a family of griots and musicians, Ismael Kouyate began dancing and singing at the age of six.  He spent much of his childhood in the Malinke village of Farranah, in upper Guinea, and toured the country as the lead singer of a prominent youth ensemble.  At age fifteen, Ismael moved to the capitol city of Conakry to pursue his career as a performing artist, and was accepted into the Ballet Communale de Matam, one of the most acclaimed private companies in the city, where he worked for nine years as principal dancer, choreographer, and singer.  In 2000, Ismael was recruited by the National ensemble Les Percussions de Guinea, where he spent three years as the group’s lead dancer and griot. He taught dance and song to international groups visiting Guinea, and traveled to Senegal and France teaching and performing.  In 2003, he was chosen to participate in a trans-continental contemporary dance forum, through which choreographers from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Guinea were exposed to modern dance, and together created pieces fusing dance styles. Ismael later took his talents to the national company, Les Ballets Africains, with whom he toured, performing throughout Guinea and the United States. Ismael Kouyate now lives and teaches in New York City.

Teaching Schedule:

Section 3.1.2 - Beginner West African Dance - Friday 7:00 - 8:30pm

Class Description:

Ismael Kouyaté teaches Djembe dance from Guinea, West Africa.  Traditional Guinean dance originated in village settings, but has evolved in the capital city of Conakry into a vibrant contemporary dance form.  This dance is accompanied by powerful, live djembé and dundun drumming, played to connect directly with the dancers’ movement.  The movement of Guinean dance is aerobic, rhythmic, and high-energy.  Ismael Kouyate’s style incorporates incredible grace and subtlety with power and stamina.

 The classes begin with a warm up, including isolations and stretching.  Choreography follows the warm up, and is introduced first without music, and then with drumming. The movements are then taken down the floor, and new rhythms introduced.

 Friday (beginner)

This class is for students who are new to Guinean dance or would like to brush up on their basic technique. All ages welcome.