2014 CCDF: BIAMVU BIA KONGO SCHEDULE...

Mbote/Greetings Communities!

We told to save the dates all year for the Congolese Dance and Drum Festival 2014: BIAMVU BIA KONGO and now the time has come! I hope those who participated in Biza workshops are still on a high because he'll return. Those who missed him will luckily get to experience the energy this time, so get ready! Our artists: Titos Sompa, Biza Sompa, and Makaya Kayos will definitely make your attendance worth while, you don't want to miss this!!!

Here's a taste of last year's festival....
https://vimeo.com/communitybridgevideo/oaklandcongolesefestival

CDDF 2014:BIAMVU BIA KONGO CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

(Subject to Change, updated as of 9/17/14)

PLEASE NOTE: All participants are subject to photography/videography from approved festival personnel for our in house purposes. Also, no video/photo is to be taken during workshops other than the approved personnel, violators will be asked to put their devices away until the designated times; please respect the festival/artist requests! Matondo!

FRIDAY, 9/26 (Studio E):

7:00 – 8:15PM ~ Dance: MAKAYA "KAYOS"
8:30 – 9:00PM ~ Mini Presentation/Community Jam Session**

SATURDAY, 9/27 (Studio C):

10AM–11AM ~ YOUTH Dance(ALL AGES TO 18): LAKIESHA
11:45AM – 1:00 ~ LANGUAGE (Lari) Class: MAMPOUYA
1:15 – 2:30 ~ SONG/DRUM CIRCLE: TITOS*
2:45 – 4:00 ~ Dance: BIZA
4:15 – 5:30 ~ Dance: TITOS

SUNDAY, 9/28 (Studio E):

10:00AM ~ COMMUNITY BREAKFAST/POTLUCK
11:00AM - LECTURE ~ DR. YVONNE DANIEL, "DIASPORA DANCE EVIDENCE OF CONGO/ANGOLA HERITAGE"
12:00 – 1:15PM ~ Dance: MAKAYA "KAYOS"
1:30 – 2:45PM ~ Dance: BIZA
3:00 – 4:15PM ~ Dance: TITOS
4:30  – 5:45PM ~ Dance: (ALL TEACHERS)

FESTIVAL FEES:
DANCE, SONG/DRUM, OR LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: $15
YOUTH DANCE WORKSHOP: $10 (ages 13-18), $5 (ages 12 AND under)
MINI PRESENTATION/COMMUNITY JAM SESSION: $8 gen(W/O wksp), $5-/W Fri 6:30 wksp,

LOCATION:
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, 3rd floor, Oakland, CA

CONTACT:
CULTURALARTSOFGOLD@GMAIL.COM, 510-368-2475 or please visit: WWW.YOUMUSTDANCE.BLOGSPOT.COM OR Cultural Arts of Gold – CAG Facebook Page

*Drum Students: please send an email if you're interested in helping to play during the dance workshops, as last year's agreements will continue this year. Also, Drum participants must provide their own drum. Matondo!

SPECIAL THANKS to: Co-Sponsors; (ACTA) Alliance for California Traditional Arts, Dimensions Dance Theater, LIKHA, Fua Dia Kongo, Cultural Arts of Gold - CAG, (MCCA) Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, Guests/Artists; Titos Sompa, Biza Sompa, Makaya Kayos, LaKiesha Golden, Jean-Armel Mampouya, Dr. Yvonne Daniel, Constant Massengo, Rocssy Mahania, Teber Milandou Sita, R. Gandy, Ingrid Martin, All Volunteers, and In-Kind Donors; Trader Joe's, Safeway, , Grocery Outlet, Starbucks, Lucky!
Sponsored in part by ACTA.

Save the Dates: Breaking the Silence Congo Week VII, October 19 - 25, 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014: Digital Moment of Silence beginning at NOON for at least ONE hour in observance of Congo Week's "The Cell Out"!

Thursday, October 23, 2014: Film Screening hosted by Cultural Arts of Gold, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, OEBAC, co-sponsored by Leslie Carter, Director of African Queens....

Biza Sompa 2014 Workshop Tour Schedule

Greetings dance community, 

We've told you to save the dates and now it's time. Congolese Dance performance workshops, CO.SEN.GU + Liberian dance workshops, including collaborations with Mbayero, Naomi Diouf of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Theo of SambaFunk, and Alseny Soumah of Ballet Merveilles and Lahyidi, and other workshops will take place beginning this week through the end of August /w Distinguished Artist BIZA Sompa! See complete schedule below, most workshops will have a sliding scale. For any questions, please respond to this email. You can also find the schedule on the Cultural Arts of Gold FB page...

Biza Sompa 2014 Tour/Workshop Schedule: (subject to change)

OAKLAND: Thur, 8/7, Malonga Center, 2nd floor, 6:00 - 7:30pm, $15

OAKLAND: Sat, 8/9, (Congo-Senegal/Liberia) Combo /w Naomi Diouf, Malonga Center, 2nd floor, 2:30 - 4:00pm, $15 - $20

OAKLAND: Sat, 8/9, Performance Workshop #1, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, Studio C, 5:00 - 6:30pm, $18 drop-in ($15ea if at least 4 wksps are paid in advance)

UKIAH: Tues, 8/12, Ocean Motion Studio, 275 Kunzler Ranch Road, Ukiah, 95482, 6:30 - 8:00pm, $15-$20

OAKLAND: Wed, 8/13, Destiny Arts, 970 Grace Ave, 94608, 7:45 - 9:15pm, $15

OAKLAND: Thurs, 8/14, Performance Workshop #2, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, Studio C, 7:00 - 8:30pm, $18 drop-in ($15ea if at least 4 wksps are paid in advance)

OAKLAND: Sat, 8/16, Performance Workshop #3, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, Studio C, 5:00 - 6:30pm, $18 drop-in ($15ea if at least 4 wkshps are paid in advance)

OAKLAND: Sun, 8/17, Combo /w Mbayero, Malonga Center, 2nd fl, 12:00 - 1:30pm, $15 - $20

OAKLAND: Sun, 8/17, (Congo-Guinea) Combo /w Alseny Soumah, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, 4:00 - 5:30pm, $15 - $20

OAKLAND: Thurs, 8/21, Performance Workshop #4, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, Studio C, 7:00 - 8:30pm, $18 drop-in ($15ea if at least 4 wkshps are paid in advance)

OAKLAND: Sun, 8/24, Malonga Center, 2nd fl, 12:00 - 1:30pm, $15

OAKLAND: Sun 8/24, Combo /w Theo (SambaFunk), Malonga Center, 2nd fl, 4:00 - 6:00pm, $15

NEVADA CITY: Tues, 8/26, Cultural Center, Nevada City, DRUM Class, 4:00 - 5:00pm, $20, Dance Class 5:00 - 6:30pm, $15

OAKLAND: Thurs, 8/28, Performance Workshop #5, Malonga Center, 3rd fl, Studio C, 7:00 - 8:30pm, $18 drop-in ($15ea if at least 4 wkshps are paid in advance)

Labor Day Weekend-Santa Cruz Conference

*Please Note: The culminating presentation from the performance workshops will take place at the Congolese Dance and Drum Festival 2014: BIAMVU BIA KONGO on Friday evening, September 26, Malonga Center, Studio:TBA. The festival in general is 9/26 - 9/28. Students will be required to wear their own solid black tank tops/t-shirts and lappas (African wrap) of any color or pants if male. We're requesting that a minimum of 10 students commit to performing.

Special Thanks to all who helped make this possible: Leslie Carter, Director of African Queens Dance Company, Dimensions Dance Theater, Asia (Ukiah), Vivien Bassouamina (Santa Cruz), Cai Sorlien and crew (Nevada City), Alseny Soumah of Ballet Merveilles and Lahyidi, Theo of SambaFunk, Naomi Diouf, Artistic Director of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Mbayero, all musicians/drummers and anyone else that I may have forgotten :) 

In Dance,

LaKiesha Golden, Director

Cultural Arts of GOLD and

Nlolo Kongo

P.O. BOX 18576

OAKLAND, CA 94619

Save the Dates: Sept. 26-28, 2014:Congolese Dance and Drum Festival:BIAMVU BIA KONGO, Oakland, CA

Please "Like" our Cultural Arts of GOLD - CAG Facebook Page

Sunday 12p Congolese Dance in Jan 2014

Greetings and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and will have a happy, healthy, prosperous 2014! January is always a good time for transitions and change. So, beginning this month, the cost of class goes back to $12! The $15 rate will still apply from time to time for some guests, but I'll keep you posted in advance. Also, for the month of January, if you bring someone new to the class (it's their 1st Sunday class), their cost is $10! Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd floor, Studio A, Downtown Oakland, 12:00p - 1:30p. Here's the January schedule:

Sundays:

1/5: Vivien Bassouamina

1/12: Loubayi

1/19: Vivien Bassouamina

1/26: TBD

 

 

*Vivien also has a new class on Wednesdays, 8p-9:30p at Destiny Arts, 970 Grace in Oakland...

*Congolese Dance and Drum Festival:BIAMVU BIA CONGO - SEPTEMBER 2014, OAKLAND, CA

In Dance,

LaKiesha Golden, Director
Cultural Arts of Gold (CAG)

P.O. Box 18576
Oakland, CA 94619

12p Sunday Congolese-December guests

REMINDER...

We Thank You for dancing with us in the weekly Sunday Congolese with our guests! So, come back, bring a friend or two back plus whomever you brought last week, bring exact change, and come on time if you can! We welcome new faces, familiar faces, those re-entering dance, and everything in between that has positive energy! Hope to see you on the dance floor! Co-sponsored by Cultural Arts of GOLD and Special Thanks to Leslie Carter, Director of African Queens! Please post/share on your friends' FB pages...Matondo to Vivien and Loubayi for last 2 weekends! The following are upcoming:

Sunday, 11/24/13: Congolese Dance Workshop /w Vivien BASSOUAMINA

Sunday, 12/1/13 Congolese Dance Workshop /w LOUBAYI

Sunday, 12/8/13 Haitian Dance Workshop /w Laure

Sunday 12/15/13 Capoiera event (details to follow soon)

**(UPDATED):Thursday, 1/ 9 /13 /w LOUBAYI, 6pm - 7:30pm

F.Y.I. The CO.SEN.GU. workshops with Biza, Ousseynou, and Alseny hosted by Cultural Arts of Gold this time last year are being postponed to next Spring, given we can find a date when the schedules of all these wonderful artists can come together again...stay tuned...

Malonga Center, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd fl, Studio A, Oakland, CA
12:00pm - 1:30pm, $15

In Dance,

 

LaKiesha Golden, Director
Cultural Arts of Gold (CAG)

P.O. Box 18576
Oakland, CA 94619

Sun 11/10/13 12p Congolese - Matondo!

MATONDO!

Thank You Again-MATONDO for supporting any of the special Congolese events, particularly those co-sponsored by Cultural Arts of Gold this season from September through last Sunday at the weekly Sunday 12p Congolese dance class with international guest artist Willy Loketo!!!!
 
We invite you to continue to the Congolese high and momentum by dancing with us tomorrow! So, bring a friend or two back plus whomever you brought last week, bring exact change, and come on time if you can! We welcome new faces, familiar faces, those re-entering dance, and everything in between that has positive energy! Hope to see you on the dance floor!
 
Sunday, 11/10/13
Congolese Dance /w Mbayero and LaKiesha
Malonga Center, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd fl, Studio A, Oakland, CA
12:00pm - 1:30pm, $15
Live Drumming!

CONGO WEEK OCTOBER 2013

BREAKING the SILENCE "CONGO WEEK"

Breaking the Silence CONGO WEEK via Friends of the Congo runs October 20-26, 2013. To honor this week, Cultural Arts of Gold is hosting a Film Screening of "The Greatest Silence:Rape in the Congo", this Thursday, October 24, 2013, 6:00pm-7:30pm, Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd floor, Studio A, Oakland, CA. Please spread the word, bring a friend, and come on time if you can!
*Special Thanks to Leslie Carter, Director of African Queens Youth Dance Company

More info on the film:

The greatest silence [videorecording (DVD)] : rape in the Congo / Jackson Films ; in association with HBO Documentary Films and The Fledgling Fund ; producer/director/cinematographer/editor, Lisa F. Jackson

http://thegreatestsilence.org/

Also, the next two Sunday Congolese Dance classes at the Malonga Center will be taught by international guest artist Willy Loketo! 

Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
1428 Alice Street, 2nd floor, Studio A
Sundays 10/27/13 and 11/3/13
Cost:$15, 12:00pm-1:30pm
 
co-sponsored by Fua Dia Congo Performing Arts Dance Company, Mbayero, and Cultural Arts of GOLD



Please visit the link below or Fua Dia Congo Performing Arts Company on Facebook for other KONGOisms events this week:

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=kowiezbab&v=001zHmPEHN4waPJl566vvN4uif05tChAg43T71Rnmn6j7gAaJiVcUU8H84ugqiM_nZqmR3VXudimdFPtS3ifXwDFx43wSTtR6roJFnj7fksevTnJ2IWv_QTAx2IfQIkQJhum9K9ykQlXaj4uWIlA5URBFSib-gp0-L6raJABqdzWFcHHSiUDW9tWzVYzeYocKQbjeOTDSBxIgucDOAa38xlwb_REUHvwI-dR6RU3RESwG27FvqSwG_slHJXQIHRM5CSb2Ruba9_dBr4pqk1d7LD9UyPdC8oGjUiLRShp7IXYEk%3D

MATONDO (THANK YOU) -CDDF2013:BIAMVU BIA KONGO!!!!

Greetings Dance Community,


The big life event of my weekend aside from an upcoming birthday, the Congolese Dance and Drum Festival 2013: BIAMVU BIA KONGO (meaning Bridges of the Congo) took place October 11-13, 2013 at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, Oakland, CA,  and for this, I must say THANKS! MATONDO to the community near and far, the new faces, the youth, those who just observed, those who asked questions about the festival, those there in spirit, those who told anyone about it, passed on a flyer, email, or other type of message, those who came to help/support the drumming, the Vendors, the Malonga Center staff, the City of Oakland CFP, Dimensions Dance Theater, my helpers:Gabriela, Tyese, Asatu, Denise Pate Pearson, CB, Jumoke, Rhowana, (hope I didn't forget anyone, didn't mean to), and most definitely to the BIAMVU BIA KONGO festival artists who are all amazing and some of the best at their craft: the elder of the festival and the person if I had to choose only one, who I credit as my teacher--Biza Sompa, Makaya "Kayos", Loubayi, Balekita, Armel, Teber Milandou-Sita, Mampouya (EXTRA Matondo to the drummers because they rocked it, Nobody does it like the Congo when it comes to singing and drumming, gotta LOVE it!) Colette Eloi, Laure Fleurentin, Cassy Joseph & Haitian Drummer Crew, Javier Gordillo Barrera, Pedro Rosales, and Braulio Barrera. Can't do it without you!!! Please inbox me with your email address if I don't have it to get a survey, which will be going out this week to get your thoughts/comments about the festival. Otherwise, expect it to be sent on the SF and Santa Cruz yahoo groups and/or your email listed on the sign-in sheets. Save the Dates for CDDF 2014:BIAMVU BIA KONGO, tentatively September (3rd or 4th weekend)! Please let me know if anything else annual happens at that time. MATONDO!!!!

F.Y.I., as tired as I am, it's not over yet....BREAKING THE SILENCE CONGO WEEK is October 20-26, 2013, look for various events around the Bay Area, Cultural Arts of Gold may be hosting a candlelight vigil and lecture and/or film showing next Thursday, 10/24, 6p-7:30p at the Malonga Center, update to post soon....Attached are a couple of pics from BIAMVU BIA KONGO with the PERUvian connection on Friday, 10/11/13......more pics to come at a later date....maybe I'll get to rest at least a little now...hmm. Please return all surveys to the address listed below or return them to this email address. Thanks.

 

ONGOING:
CONGOLESE DANCE SUNDAYS, 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Malonga Center, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd floor, Oakland 94612
Sun., 10/20/13: Mbayero and LaKiesha, $15
See you on the dance floor!

In Dance,

LaKiesha Golden, Coordinator

Congolese Dance and Drum Festival
c/o LaKiesha Golden
P. O. BOX 18576
Oakland, CA 94619

Pre-Registration Closed and Artist Plug no3

 Pre-Registration Closed...BIAMVU BIA KONGO IS HERE!!!!!!!

Reminder: This weekend in Oakland, CA, is the Congolese Dance & Drum Festival 2013: BIAMVU BIA KONGO to be held at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, 2nd and 3rd floors. Pre-registration for the discounted rate on workshops is now closed. Still feel free to take as many workshops as you like! There will be vendors on Saturday and Sunday, please support them as well. All Festival Details can be found at:WWW.YOUMUSTDANCE.BLOGSPOT.COM. Please Check out the other Congolese Teaching Artists for the festival below. Also, please remember that there are a few things for the non-dancer and the early-riser: SATURDAY, 10/12 - Haitian Lecture @ 9:00AM, Congolese Drum Workshop @ 10:30AM, Kids Dance Workshop @ 1:30p, SUNDAY, 10/13 - Congolese LANGUAGE (Lari) Workhsop @ 9:00AM! This is a not to be missed event, as we will something for everyone!

  CDDF 2013 ARTIST PLUG no3:  

  HERVE 'KAYOS' MAKAYA  

MAKAYA 'KAYOS' is a traditional and contemporary artist-choreographer, dancer, and drummer from Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo in Central Africa.  He arrived in the U.S. in 2007, brought to the states as an artist performing with Compagnie Li-Sangha in the San Francisco International Arts Festival.  Prior to his arrival, he had toured parts of Europe while working with professional dance companies from the Congo.  He currently teaches dance and/or drum workshops/classes in Ukiah, Santa Cruz, and other places in the Bay Area. His energetic, technical style is desired by many.

 ARNAUD LOUBAYI 

ARNAUD LOUBAYI of Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, started his artistic career in 2000. He took part in various courses and trainings in modern, contemporary dance with several choreographers. He toured with many companies as solo artist. He joined the group Ngoma Za Kongo in 2006 as a choreographer and toured many places in Africa, Asia, and America. With his experience as a dancer and choreographer, Arnaud Loubayi would like to introduce his perspective of the arts and traditions of Congolese dance to America.

  LAKIESHA GOLDEN  

LaKiesha Golden began studying Congolese dance in 1994 with Biza Sompa, Director of Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theater in Michigan, where she later became a core member and assistant to the Director. She was also a core member for six consecutive year (until 2006) of Fua Dia Congo, directed by the late Malonga Casquelourd in Oakland, CA. Ms. Golden is the Manager and Coordinator for the Congolese Dance and Drum Festival: BIAMVU BIA KONGO , held consecutively 2006-2009, October 2013. She performs with Haitian dance performing companies, Rara Tou Limen, directed by Portsha Jefferson, and El Wah Movement, directed by Colette Eloi, both in Oakland, CA. Ms. Golden is an Artist in Residence for Dimensions Dance Theater, teaching dance in Oakland Public Schools since 2004. She also teaches workshops, private classes, and organizes arts events in an effort to preserve the cultural arts.

View Artist Plug No1: Jean-Claude Biza Sompa at:http://www.youmustdance.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

 View Artist Plug No2: Haiti and Peru at:http://youmustdance.blogspot.com/2013/10/originally-posted-september-27-2013.html

See full BIAMVU BIA KONGO Schedule at: http://youmustdance.blogspot.com/2013_08_01_archive.html

SEE YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR!!!!!

1 Week Countdown to Pre-Registration and Artist Plug no2

Originally Posted September 27, 2013

1 Week Countdown to Pre-Registration Deadline and Artist Plug no2

The CONGOLESE DANCE AND DRUM FESTIVAL 2013, entitled BIAMVU BIA KONGO (Bridges of the Congo), will be held Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 13th at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice Street, 3rd floor in downtown in Oakland, CA. This is a friendly reminder that we are within the One Week Countdown to Pre-Reg Deadline 10/4/13. Send your pre-registration form by OCT. 4, 2013 with 4 or more dance workshops chosen and pay $13 per workshop. View Schedule and other details at:WWW.YOUMUSTDANCE.BLOGSPOT.COM. Check out the highlighted festival artists below representing the Diaspora through the Congolese lens. Festival is going to be Hot, Hot, Hot! This is a not to be missed event!

CDDF 2013 Artist Plug no2 (PERU and HAITI):

JAVIER GORDILLO BARRERA, direct from Lima, Peru! Javier Barrera is a Master Dancer, Choreographer and Percussionist(Cajon). He’s the director of Escencia Negra Afro Peruvian Performing Company. Javier's classes are highly requested by all who have encountered his teaching style!

LAURE FLEURENTIN: Haitian Master Dancer Laure Fleurentin can be considered as one of the most versatile Haitian Folkloric dancers of our times. Ms. Fleurentin is not only a graduate from L'ENARTS (Ecole National des Arts in Port au Prince, Haiti), but she's also a trained Ballet and Jazz dancer because of her training at the American Academy of Ballet & Arts in Delmas, Haiti. Later, she studied Haitian Folkloric dance with Armande J. Piard and Viviane Gauthier, the most respected professor of Haitian Folkloric dance traditions also called in French "La Doyenne de la danse Folklorique Haitienne". With Viviane Gauthier dance company, Laure professional career began as a dancer. Florencia Pierre "Fofo", master dancer and teacher at Viviane Gauthier's school invited Ms Fleurentin to be part of her dance company "Afoutayi JAKA". Ms Fleurentin got invitations to dance with Peniel Guerrier dance company "Tamboula", Ramses Pierre P., "ADA" (Ayiti Dance ensemble) of Emmanuel Louis, Jean Apollon and many others. Ms Fleurentin is also a trained vocalist in Haitian traditional chants, the ones that usually accompany the many Folkloric dances. Today, Ms Fleurentin has decided to work with long time friend Cassy Joseph to help expand Haitian Folkloric art and culture in the United States and the Bay Area.

                                             

 

CASSY JOSEPH: Cassy Joseph is an exceptional Haitian master drummer who started his training of Haitian rhythms at 12 years of age, at a Catholic church in South East Haiti with Pere Edner Desvalcin. Mr. Joseph continued developing his drumming skills in Petionville, Port au Prince with Eddy Jean, mostly learning Haitian folkloric and Rada rhythms (Yanvalou, Pas Rigol & Mahi).

Mr Joseph had the privilege to work with La Troupe Aradayo, Arawak d'Haiti, La Troupe Baleldjo d'Haiti directed by master dancer Viviane Demerville, ADA directed by Emmanuel Louis, La Compagnie ARTCHO Danse Repertoire directed by Jean-Guy Saintus, the Institute of Dance Lynn Williams Rozier, the Jean-Rene Delsoin Dance center & and the dance company CDJRD. With the later, Mr. Joseph traveled throughout the French Caribbean, Canada, China, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Today, Mr. Joseph has decided to associate himself with long time friend Laure Fleurentin to help develop the appreciation of Haitian culture in the United States, and most particularly the Bay Area.

COLETTE ELOI: Colette Eloi is a former student of Laney College having taken her first formal Haitian Dance class there with Lynn Coles. Ms.  Eloi has dedicated her life to sharing with the world the rich traditions and cultural history of her parent’s native Haiti. She is the Artistic Director of El Wah Movement Dance Theater. She has performed professionally, nationally and internationally as a dancer/singer/choreographer. She has performed with various groups including Petit Le Croix, Reconnect, Chouconne Haitian Dance Troupe-NY, Emese (Messagers of the African Diaspora), Dimensions Dance Theatre,  and Nuba. She is also a board member of the Northern California Katherine Dunham Project. She received her formal foundational dance training at UC Berkeley where she received a BA in Development Studies. She also calls the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Performing Arts, formerly the Alice Art Center, her home. She has studied many styles including; jazz, ballet, modern, Dunham Technique and many traditional and folkloric styles. She has traveled to Haiti to study dance with master teachers.  To complement her understanding of the intricacies of Haitian Dance, Colette studied Haitian drumming as well. Ms. Eloi is a celebrated artist having earned awards for her artistic endeavors including  several exemplary choreography commissions, such as the West Coast premiere of the Tim Rice and Elton John’s “Aida” for which she received an award for choreography. She was also commissioned to choreograph a piece in Tribute of Ms. Katherine Dunham with Ms. Ruth Beckford. Having done dance research in Africa and several locales in the African Diaspora, Ms. Eloi offers a thorough glimpse into the world of Haitian Folkloric Dance, emphasizing the connections that exist in African based cultural art forms. Ms. Eloi received her MFA from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco California.

View Previous Artist Plug: Jean-Claude Biza Sompa at:http://www.youmustdance.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

See full BIAMVU BIA KONGO Schedule at: http://youmustdance.blogspot.com/2013_08_01_archive.html

SEE YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR!!!!!