A D X 2026: T r a n s c e n - dance

 TEACHER: THOMAS GUEI is originally from Côte d'Ivoire and the son of a juggler. Thomas trained at the School of Dance and Cultural Exchange (EDEC). From 1986 to 2000,   He toured extensively across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia as lead percussionist for Marie-Rose Guiraud’s company, "Guirivoire."
He have been living in France since 2000, collaborating with renowned choreographers such as Georges Momboye, Merlin Blériot Nyakam, and Aïssata Kouyaté.
Thomas's artistic collaborations include Stéphane Huchard (drummer), Sylvain Beuf (jazz musician), Pierre de Bethmann (pianist), Hervé Samb (guitarist), Cheikh Tidiane Seck (musician), Magic System (band), Lokoua Kanza (singer), Dobet Gnahoré (singer), and Virginie Robilliard (violinist) as part of the "Choc et Fusion" ensemble.
He acted in the film *Bronx-Barbès* by director Éliane de Latour and co-composed the soundtrack for the film, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Locarno Festival (Switzerland).
He serves as the musical director for the dance company Kobe Na Awati, the Afro Donkey Festival, and the Kouado Korea company in Asia (touring Korea, China, and Japan).
Thomas is the initiator and artistic director of the "100 Tambours" Festival and produced the album *Guelassemou* (released in 2008), the GT Big Band, and the group Sounan.

A virtuoso of the djembe, he is also one of the few musicians who plays the gloé, a traditional percussion instrument considered one of the oldest in the world.

DESCRIPTION:  Learning Zaouly from the Ivory Coast and Didadi from Mali.  

TEACHER: BLACK VERA  is a dancer, choreographer and language teacher with a multidisciplinary and multicultural background, working between Europe and Africa. Her dance background is rooted in African street dance styles such as coupé décalé, ndombolo and others, while also exploring commercial and hip-hop influences. Her classes combine rhythm, musicality, body awareness and performance, creating a space where dancers can develop their technique while connecting with their own movement identity. As an artist and educator, Black Vera brings a strong pedagogical approach to her classes, making them accessible, energetic and intentional. Her goal is not only to teach choreography, but to help dancers understand the energy, history and attitude behind the movement. 

DESCRIPTION: Coupé-Décalé is an african street dance styles and musical genre from Côte d’Ivoire that emerged in the early 2000s. Known for its rhythmic energetic body movements, attitude, musicality and playful character, it is strongly a representation to the Ivorian culture and social lifestyle.

In her classes, Black Vera approaches Coupé-Décalé through both movement and cultural understanding, encouraging dancers to connect with the rhythm, character and freedom of the style while having fun and connecting with each other. This class is  suggested for Young People aged 12 to 17 years.!!

TEACHER: C. KEMAL NANCE, PHD is an Associate Professor of Dance and African American Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  In 2023, the Illinois Arts Council Agency awarded him the coveted Artist Fellowship and the National Dance Education Organization recognized him for Outstanding Leadership in Higher Education.  Dr. Nance is the Senior Master Teacher of the Umfundalai contemporary African Dance technique and he directs an all-male dance initiative, A Nance Dance Collective (www.blackmendance.com). He serves as the President of the Executive Board for the Collegium of African Diaspora Dance (CADD) and the Chief Consultant for the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT), a non-profit organization that offers training opportunities for certification in African dance teaching.  

DESCRIPTION: Umfundalai is a contemporary African dance technique developed by the late Kariamu Welsh, the first Artistic Director of the National Company of Zimbabwe.  With a stylistic emphasis on essence, Umfundalai comprises African movement traditions from the continent of Africa as well as the Diaspora. LIVE DRUMS!

TEACHER: DAVID BLAKE, MA is the Director for Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Urdang City University of London. Prior to this appointment, Blake enjoyed an extensive performance career having appeared in musicals, commercials, television shows, film, and print. He performed principal roles in Disney’s The Lion King for 17 years on the West End and is a former principal dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica. As the founder of Blake Arts UK, Blake has showcased his artistic work in the United States, Caribbean, Canada, and Europe. His latest dance film, Melanin Migration Brothers in Arms (MMBIA), received a nomination by the One Dance UK Awards, and was featured in the Miami ScreenDance Festival and the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival in Toronto. 

DESCRIPTION: Experience the energy, rhythm and cultural richness of Gerrehbenta, drawn from the repertoire of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC). Led by former NDTC Principal Dancer David Blake, this masterclass explores the work’s distinctive movement vocabulary, musicality, dynamics and performance quality. 

TEACHER: BLACK VERA is a dancer, choreographer and language teacher with a multidisciplinary and multicultural background, working between Europe and Africa. Her dance background is rooted in Africans street dance styles such as coupé décalé, ndombolo and others, while also exploring commercial and hip-hop influences. Her classes combine rhythm, musicality, body awareness and performance, creating a space where dancers can develop their technique while connecting with their own movement identity. As an artist and educator, Black Vera brings a strong pedagogical approach to her classes, making them accessible, energetic and intentional. Her goal is not only to teach choreography, but to help dancers understand the energy, history and attitude behind the movement. 

DESCRIPTION: Coupé-Décalé is an african street dance styles and musical genre from Côte d’Ivoire that emerged in the early 2000s. Known for its rhythmic energetic body movements, attitude, musicality and playful character, it is strongly a representation to the Ivorian culture and social lifestyle.

In her classes, Black Vera approaches Coupé-Décalé through both movement and cultural understanding, encouraging dancers to connect with the rhythm, character and freedom of the style while having fun and connecting with each other. This class is  suggested for Adults aged 18+!

 TEACHER: AISSATA KOUYATE Griot, Aïssata Kouyaté was introduced to the arts of song and dance at an early age and joined Les Ballets Africains at the age 15. Two years later, she was hired by Mory Kanté as a lead vocalist and toured the world with him for five years. A series of collaborations followed: she sang and danced with Mamady Keïta and his group Sewa Kan, Touré Kunda, Pierre Marcault and the percussion group Tam Tam Mandingue, and the jazz trio Andoma. She then joined the Georges Momboye Company, participating in numerous choreographic and musical productions. 

My world draws upon African tradition to better showcase a contemporary Africa that is resolutely forward-looking and constantly evolving. I am a modern-day *griotte*, fully embracing my African identity and my openness to the world.

After her time on stage and touring, she dedicated herself to teaching traditional Guinean dance. Through her teaching style—at once subtle, gentle, and confident—she skillfully adapts to the varying skill levels and goals of her students. 

DESCRIPTION:  Class will include learning some of the popular rhythms from Guinea including, Soko, Mangani,  Dundunba, and others rhythms  with live drums!!