NEW WORKS/WORLD TRADITIONS

Michelle Bach-Coulibaly is an educator, choreographer and dancer who teaches on the faculty of Brown University, where she is Artistic Director of New Works/World Traditions, a World Music and Dance Ensemble. Her work in West Africa includes the creation of Yeredon, a school for traditional art in Mali, West Africa. Yeredon is a research facility where students engage in the study of Mande dance, music and culture.

Seydou Coulibaly is one of Mali's leading dancers, teachers, and choreographers. He began dancing professionally at the age of twelve, with the Artistic Troupe of the District of Bamako, the capital city of Mali, and from 1980 through 1990, was the troupe's highest ranking actor and dancer. Coulibaly has won numerous awards at national Malian dance competitions. In 1988 he was awarded the title of Best Actor and Best Dancer in the piece-The Poor. In 1990 he was again awarded the title of Best Dancer, this time for his role in the ballet The Challenge. In 1992, along with the dance company Komme Djosse of which he is both founder and artistic director, he won a medal from the Malian Minister of the Arts. Read More...