Les Ballets Africains performing in Bonn, West Germany, 18 October 1962

Les Ballets Africains is the national dance company of Guinea[1] and is based in Conakry. It is one of the first African national dance companies.[2] It has toured extensively around the world.[2] Although the French name might suggest the idea of European ballet to English speakers, the focus of the company is actually on promoting traditional African dance and culture.[3]

History

The roots of Les Ballets Africains go back to Guinean poetry student, dancer, choreographer, and musician Fodéba Keïta.[4][5] In France, in 1948, he founded a poetry group for Africans, which gradually evolved into the drumming, dancing, and storytelling African Theater Ballet of Fodeba Keita.[4]

The company toured Europe from 1951 to 1955 and the United States in 1953.[4] It became Les Ballets Africains in 1952 in Paris.[5][6] Some initial strong opposition came from various tribes, who were offended that others were dancing their dances and singing their songs, but that objection was eventually overcome.[6]

In the 1950s, among the notable musicians recruited were djembe drummers "Papa" Ladji Camara of Mali[4] and Guinean Famoudou Konaté.[7]

In 1958, after Guinea obtained its independence from France, then President of Guinea Ahmed Sékou Touré made the ballet the national ensemble.[8] Regional and nationals orchestras from Syliphone supported Les Ballets Africains on tours.[9]

In 1959, the company performed in the United States, with a run of 48 performances on Broadway, following a successful European tour.[10] They appeared at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1964. [11]

In 1967, while touring in Quebec, Canada, the troupe's director had to go to court in Montreal to answer the charge of inciting minors to give an indecent performance, since both men and women performers, regardless of age, were dancing topless, as was traditional. The judge dismissed the charge.[12][13]

When President Sékou Touré died in 1984, government support came to an end, and the troupe encountered financial difficulties for several years, but has subsequently resumed touring.[14]

In 1991, Italo Zambo, the company's artistic director, noted that the Los Angeles day performances differed from the night ones and performances in Africa and Europe in one respect: traditionally, Guinean men and women dance bare-chested.[6]

Notable past members

  • Famoudou Konaté
  • Kemoko Sano
  • Moustapha Bangoura
  • Mouminatou Camara
  • Aly Diabate
  • Abou Sylla (N'Camara Abou Sylla)
  • Arafan Toure
  • Rolande Raphaël
  • Wigbert Raphaël

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kaderlan, Alice (12 April 2004). "It's hard not to be swept away by Les Ballets Africains". Seattle PI. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  2. 1 2 Onwudiwe, Ebere; Ibelema, Minabere (2003). Afro-optimism: Perspectives on Africa's Advances. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 54. ISBN 9780275975869. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Les Ballets Africains: African Culture for the Modern World". Les Ballet Africains. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Juang, Richard M. (2008). Africa and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History. ABC-CLIO. pp. 535–540. ISBN 9781851094417. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 Cohen, Joshua (2011). "Stages in Transition: Les Ballets Africains and Independence, 1959 to 1960". Journal of Black Studies. 43 (1): 11–48. doi:10.1177/0021934711426628. JSTOR 23215194. S2CID 146288922.
  6. 1 2 3 Pasles, Chris (15 March 1996). "Les Ballets Africains Unveils Cultural 'Heritage'". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ↑ "Famoudou Konaté". djembe.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  8. ↑ "Les Ballets Africains making a return to Utah". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  9. ↑ "Guinea's Syliphone Archives – Part 1 (Of 3)". 2017-09-06.
  10. ↑ "Les Ballets Africains". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
  11. ↑ Edinburgh International Festival 1964 Souvenir Programme. 1964.
  12. ↑ Bertrand, Jacques (8 January 2012). "Les Ballets africains censurés". Radio Canada. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Huggins, Julye (March 2010). "Censorship in Montréal: Les Ballets Africains". The Dance Current. Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  14. ↑ Nicholson, David (20 September 1991). "Les Ballets Africains: Sensual Dancing, Exuberant Chanting". Daily Press. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016.
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