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.

He teaches at conferences and workshops from Mexico to Amsterdam, California to Japan, yet maintains his position at the center of his African dance community in New York City. Youssouf returns to Guinea every year to lead a month-long immersion workshop for international students in drum and dance.

Gabriel Fara Tolno isn’t just a djembe teacher and master, he’s a living embodiment of the vibrant pulse of West Africa.

Born in the sun-soaked village of Kissidugu, Guinea, Fara’s rhythm took root at the tender age of nine, when he first picked up the iconic Djembe drum.

From village celebrations to dusty village streets, the drum became his playground, its deep tones echoing the ancient spirit of his land.

Fara shared the stage with luminaries like Youssou N’Dour and Mamady Keita, his fiery virtuosity electrifying audiences across the globe.

Etienne Tolno is a professional musician from Guinea, West Africa.

His area of expertise is in percussion but also dance and song! He has been a practicing music since he was sixteen years old, playing with various professional companies such as Sole Africa, Kissidugu Ensemble, Samato De Guinea, Africa Dance, and Merve De Guinea.

As a member of the Kissidugu Foundation and younger brother to world renowned artist and founder Gabriel Fara Tolno, Etienne is deeply committed to the cultural preservation and the perpetuation of Guinean music and culture.

Master drummer and musician, Ibrahimasory Fofana, also known as Soriba, is from the Susu tribe of people who reside on the coastal region of Guinea, Conakry in West Africa.

Soriba’s love for traditional music began at an early age and he began studying with Ali Sylla of Les Percussions de Guinea and later with Morcire Camara of Percussion Wassa. He went on to become Director of music for Percussion Wassa in Matam, Conakry in 2005.
Soriba came to the US in 2009 and began teaching and performing traditional music of Guinea in schools, festivals and in workshops nationwide.

He is the director of WASSA Dance & Drum Ensemble in New Mexico. Soriba believes in sharing his traditions with all who are seeking to discover the rich heritage of his country, Guinea.

Born in Bamako, Mali, Djeneba Sako began her journey with dance and music at the young age of 5. She started dancing professionally at age 11 with the Bienal District Troupe.

She danced with them for eight years, during which time they won the National Biannual Dance Competition four times in a row.

From there she went to the District of Bamako troupe, representing the city of Bamako, where she danced for eight years. She then joined the renowned traditional dance group Troupe Komi Djosse, after which she joined the Troupe Kantis featuring renowned djembefola Mamadou Kante.

In July 2002 she had arrived in the USA. She is now one of only three Malian dance teachers here in the US, of which she is the only woman.

Zimbabwean-born dancer, pedagogue, and scholar, specializing in contemporary African dance. 

Rujeko teaches neo-traditional and contemporary African dance and is conducting scholarly research on the interplay of gender and power in the rainmaking rituals of communities in southern Africa.

Rujeko has directed African dance conferences & has been invited to be a part of numerous productions and workshops. Her artistic career was propelled by being an original ensemble member in the Broadway musical production of FELA!. She was commissioned to produce a choreo-poem for the Smithsonian African Art Museum’s African Cosmos exhibit. She was an artist in residence at the University of Rochester in 2015 and Duke University in 2016.