In collaboration with Windship Boyd of AfricaNashville, join Nashville Ballet for a FREE Community Dance Class with the YELI Ensemble.  

Meet four exceptional artists representing the immense cultural wealth of Guinea Conakry, one of West Africa’s most prolific capitals of dance and drums: Sory Diabate, Agathe Moubembe, Mohamed Cisse and Ibrahima Dioubate.

The talented interdisciplinary artists of the YELI Ensemble will perform and teach, sharing the profound influence and beauty of African culture & heritage through music and dance. Sory Diabate, & Ibrahima Dioubate are from the Yeli caste (also called Djeli or Griot). Mohamed Cisse and Agathe Moubembe were raised in a Yeli tradition by their parents. A “Yeli” is a ‘living archive’ of the African people’s traditions. They all grew up learning their traditional music and dance from their parents and elders and are recognized as storytellers and keepers of knowledge that has been passed down through countless generations. They are all prolific in West African percussion: Djembe, Dun-Dun, Kinkini, Samban, Bolon, Krin, and N’goni. Mohamed Cisse is also a dance specialist.

Registration required. Click the link below to register.