Youssouf Koumbassa
In his 13 years with the Ballet National under the tutelage of Sekouba Camara, the Artistic director of Ballet National Djoliba, and with Kemoko Sano, the acclaimed Artistic Director of Les Ballets Africains, Youssouf traveled extensively throughout West Africa, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since moving to the United States 22 years ago, Youssouf has established himself as the pre-eminent teacher of dance from Guinea. He now travels throughout the world as a much sought after master teacher at dance conferences, workshops, camps and schools connecting with students who are appreciative of his mercurial energy and grace.
In the 1990s, Youssouf formed Les Ballets Bagata, comprised of 60 dancers and drummers performing spectacular mélanges of traditional culture and dance theater. Children of Bagata, a company he formed later, consisted of 15 young dancers and musicians. Youssouf's mission has been and continues to be sharing the rich and varied cultures of Guinea with audiences around the world. In his attempts to bring the energy, excitement and history of African dance to a wide audience, Youssouf is meticulous in acknowledging the source of this material and insists on a high level of understanding and respect for the form among his students. He travels to Guinea regularly, taking students on dance trips, then returns to the United States with the latest developments in contemporary dance. Learn more at www.westafricandance.com.
Perhaps the world's most sought-after teacher of Guinea-style African dance, Youssouf was born in Conakry, Guinea. He was a principle dancer with Ballets Djoliba, one of Guinea's most important national dance companies, for 13 years, training and touring extensively throughout the world. With his prodigious skill and thrilling talent, as well as the precious pedagogy and choreography of his teachers before him, Youssouf relocated to the United States to share his passion and his legacy with dancers and audiences everywhere.
Perhaps the world's most sought-after teacher of Guinea-style African dance, Youssouf was born in Conakry, Guinea. He was a principle dancer with Ballets Djoliba, one of Guinea's most important national dance companies, for 13 years, training and touring extensively throughout the world. With his prodigious skill and thrilling talent, as well as the precious pedagogy and choreography of his teachers before him, Youssouf relocated to the United States to share his passion and his legacy with dancers and audiences everywhere.