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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

ALSENY YANSANE Drum & Dance Workshops

Event listing from our email:

ALSENY YANSANE offers 2 special Drum & Dance Workshops in Bend, July 20th & 22

Attention drummers and dancers, ALSENY YANSANE, Master teacher and 14 year member of the world renowned, BALLETS AFRICAINS of Guinea is coming to Bend, Oregon to offer special West African Drum & Dance workshops guaranteed to rock your world! www.wontanara.blogspot.com

Friday, July 20th

6:00-7:30 PM-Drum
7:30-9:00 PM-Dance

Tulen Center
20 NW Greenwood Ave
(541) 771-9869

Sunday, July 22nd

11:00-12:30 PM-Drum
12:30-2:00 PM-Dance

Gotta Dance
917 NE 8th Street
(541) 322-0807

These workshops are perfect for beginning and experienced drummers alike and dance students looking to improve their technique or just get a good work out. All workshops will be accompanied by sizzling, hot live drumming! All workshops are $15 or 2 for $28

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY: Since age seven, Alseny Yansane has been immersed in the musical and dance tradition of his native country, Guinea, West Africa. Alseny trained and performed in many competitions as a dancer, drummer, and acrobat in the dawning of the Republic's newly won independence from France. Historically, this was a time when art and cultural appreciation and cultivation were at an all-time high and the training that artists received was rigorous and systematic. Artists had to compete on a national level annually as a way of moving up to higher levels of artistic status. These competitions were held in the heart of Alseny's neighborhood and attracted groups from all over Guinea who represented specific art and culture from
various regions and ethnic groups.

This has given Alseny a wealth of knowledge about the history and cultural diversity behind Guinean performance arts, a solid artistic foundation, and a strong drive for excellence.

Alseny has worked with some of Guinea's most reputable performance groups, including Kemoko Sano's Ballet Merveilles and Jean Macuely's Ballet Sanke. In 1993, Alseny was recruited to join the most prestigious of all the national groups, the world-renowned Ballets Africains. Chosen to tour with them several times, Alseny has dazzled audiences all over the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Morocco.

Alseny's dance style is powerful, yet graceful. His movements have amazing precision and extension. He has brought crowds of spectators to their feet with his fancy acrobatics and lifting techniques. As a drummer, Alseny has incredible stamina and projection of sound. As a cultural ambassador, he has a wide understanding of the rhythms from each geographical region of Guinea and has brought new songs and musical arrangements to the Pacific Northwest.

Alseny is also a wonderful teacher who is energetic, inspiring, and fun. He knows how to make West African dance and drumming accessible to a variety of levels by breaking things down and being patient and encouraging. His joy and passion for his work fires up students of all ages and backgrounds.

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