PMT Dance Studio Faculty Profiles

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Ousmane Sall

Kutiro and Sabar

 

     Ousmane Sall, the Director of YAKAR, Roots, Rhythms African Drum and Dance Company, is a master dancer/choreographer and also a drummer from Senegal, West Africa. Although he excels in all of the Senegalese styles of drum and dance, he specializes in the Kutiro rhythms. He grew up in Senegal, to a traditional drumming and dance family and was formally trained at the National Dance Academy. He performed for many years in Senegal with the second national dance group of Senegal, National Ballet Senemew, and also Silimbo D’Adeane.
     Continuing his career in New York, Ousmane, has performed extensively in this area at such venues as: The United Nations, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space, The Florence Gould Hall, The Jewish Heritage Museum, Town Hall, Lincoln Center’s Summer Stage and Damrosh Park. He has performed with many dance groups in this area, including Sing Sing Rhythms, and later formed his own group, Yakar Roots Rhythms, African Drum and Dance Ensemble.

    “Yakar” has dazzled audiences at such venues as the past five years at ZEYBRAH’s annual Moment In Time Festival at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black, History and Culture. He has performed and taught workshops at various schools, festivals and clubs in the NYC area and also throughout the United States. He appears in the Bruce Willis film, Tears of the Sun and is a drummer in the CD, From the Belly of Abraham.  He has taught for many years at Djoniba Drum and Dance Center, and currently teaches at the Harlem YMCA.
 

Teaching Schedule:

TBA

 

Class Description:

    As a teacher Ousmane brings a warmth and presence into the classroom that encourages each student to feel at ease, inspiring  the freedom to open themselves  up to the rhythm, brings out the best in their learning abilities. He shows unending patience for his students whatever their age.  His energetic dancing constantly defies the bounds of gravity.  His sensual and mystical dance style brings atonce to the audience or students-- charm, strength, masculinity, and vibrant energy.