Moustapha


Moustapha Bangoura hails from the West African nation of Guinea. He is a 22-year veteran of the largest and most celebrated dance company from the continent of Africa – Les Ballets Africains The internationally acclaimed master dancer, drummer, and choreographer has traveled the globe bringing the colorful musical performance traditions of his homeland to audiences worldwide. Moustapha’s mission is to continue to share his expertise while preserving the richness and authenticity of the culture. He is recognized for his thorough and charismatic technique that is deeply rooted in tradition.
Moustapha was born in 1955 in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea. He is of Baga and Sousou decent. During his childhood he spent time in the village of Kiffinda Where he learned to appreciate the history of the Baga people. He started dancing and performing at the young age of 13. He was a dancer with Conakry II under the direction of Sekouba W. Camara from 1969 – 1975. Moustapha was aggressively recruited into Les Ballets Africains in 1975, where he quickly became principal dancer and drummer. While with Les Ballets Africains, Moustapha traveled extensively with acclaimed performances in over 165 capitals worldwide. He has studied with many but gives special thanks for the opportunity to study with the Masters--Frankis Magloire Camara, Italo Zambo, Hamidou Bangoura, Kemoko Sano, and Sekouba W. Camara. These great artists continue to inspire Moustapha’s unique style and vibrant choreography. In 1993 Moustapha founded LE BAGATAE DANCE AND DRUM, an authorized dance and drum school in Conakry.
Since 1997 Moustapha has been a traveling ambassador for Guinea--independently conducting music and dance residencies and master classes throughout Africa, Europe, Australia, and the United States. He is sponsored by the Republic of Guinea’ s Ministry of Youth and Culture as an official art and cultural representative. He has worked with numerous arts organizations, professional dance companies, schools and universities including the University of Florida at Gainesville, Illinois Wesleyan University, New World School of the Art in Miami, University of Montana, Lisangua Ya Bato, Tam Tam Mandigue USA, Abalaye African Dance Ensemble of Los Angeles, Coyaba Dance Theatre of Washington, DC, DunDun Dole of Clearwater, Florida and HolyGoat of Chicago.
Moustapha Bangoura currently resides in Chicago, where he is Artistic Director with Le Bagatae Dance and Drum Ensemble, and he is also choreographer for Legends of West Africa. He continues to travel and share his knowledge and expertise of traditional dance and drum with students throughout the world. Delia Tyson started her dance training at the age of thirteen under the direction of the late Lucille Ellis. She later advanced to teaching Dunham technique and working with Ms. Ellis, the late Tommy Gomez, and the late Wilbert Bradley (all principal dancers with Katherine Dunham Dance Co.). Over the last 30 years she has studied and performed with many dance companies. Delia's collaboration with Moustapha began in 1999, when she was performing with Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. When he arrived in Chicago that year, he joined Muntu immediately and choreographed extensively for them. Additional dance companies and choreographers include the West Indian Folk Dance Company (Fred Baker, artistic director, Jamaica, Chicago), "Foday Musa Suso" (Renowned Kora player/musician from the Gambia), Najwa Dance Corps (Najwa, artistic director, Chicago), Teye-Se-Thiosanne West African Drum and Dance Co. (Aminisha Tambuzi, Bernard Thomas, artistic directors, San Diego Ca.), and Dance >Detour (Alana Wallace, artistic director, Chicago). In 2004, Delia continued her collaboration with Moustapha when she became an active dance member of Le Bagatae Drum and Dance Company. She even choreographed a piece for the company utilizing her six and a half foot Boa constrictor "Asha." Some noted performances in which Delia participated are "Maulana Karenga's annual Kwanzaa Celebration" (Los Angeles), "Unveiling of the Kwanzaa Stamp" (Los Angeles), "African American Women on Tour" (Oakland/Los Angeles/San Diego), "The National Black Nurses Association" (San Diego), "The Black Psychologists Association" (San Diego), "The National Black Lawyers Association" (San Diego), "Ravinia Festival" (Chicago), "N'Digo" (Chicago), "Dance Africa" (Chicago), "African Festival Of the Arts" (Chicago), "The Special Olympics" (North Carolina), and for President Jimmy Carter at a Habitat for Humanities Gala In addition to studying West African and Modern Dance, Delia has a specialty act where she performs with her six foot boa constrictor "DD" and eats fire. She has been performing this act throughout the US since the early nineteen eighties. In December 2008 she traveled to beautiful Costa Rica with Dance>Detour. In June 2009, Delia returned to sunny San Diego to perform with her formal dance company, "Teye Sa Thiosanne." As an honorary member, she performed in their 20th anniversary celebration. The anniversary celebration allowed her the opportunity to perform choreographed pieces with two world renowned artists, master dancer Djeneba Sako (Mali) and master drummer Moussa Traore (Mali). Delia holds a MA degree in "Dance movement therapy" and "Counseling" obtained from Columbia College, Chicago Illinois.

Moustapha Bangoura hails from the West African nation of Guinea. He is a 22-year veteran of the largest and most celebrated dance company from the continent of Africa – Les Ballets Africains The internationally acclaimed master dancer, drummer, and choreographer has traveled the globe bringing the colorful musical performance traditions of his homeland to audiences worldwide. Moustapha’s mission is to continue to share his expertise while preserving the richness and authenticity of the culture. He is recognized for his thorough and charismatic technique that is deeply rooted in tradition.

Moustapha was born in 1955 in Conakry, the capital city of Guinea. He is of Baga and Sousou decent. During his childhood he spent time in the village of Kiffinda Where he learned to appreciate the history of the Baga people. He started dancing and performing at the young age of 13. He was a dancer with Conakry II under the direction of Sekouba W. Camara from 1969 – 1975. Moustapha was aggressively recruited into Les Ballets Africains in 1975, where he quickly became principal dancer and drummer. While with Les Ballets Africains, Moustapha traveled extensively with acclaimed performances in over 165 capitals worldwide. He has studied with many but gives special thanks for the opportunity to study with the Masters--Frankis Magloire Camara, Italo Zambo, Hamidou Bangoura, Kemoko Sano, and Sekouba W. Camara. These great artists continue to inspire Moustapha’s unique style and vibrant choreography. In 1993 Moustapha founded LE BAGATAE DANCE AND DRUM, an authorized dance and drum school in Conakry.

Since 1997 Moustapha has been a traveling ambassador for Guinea--independently conducting music and dance residencies and master classes throughout Africa, Europe, Australia, and the United States. He is sponsored by the Republic of Guinea’ s Ministry of Youth and Culture as an official art and cultural representative. He has worked with numerous arts organizations, professional dance companies, schools and universities including the University of Florida at Gainesville, Illinois Wesleyan University, New World School of the Art in Miami, University of Montana, Lisangua Ya Bato, Tam Tam Mandigue USA, Abalaye African Dance Ensemble of Los Angeles, Coyaba Dance Theatre of Washington, DC, DunDun Dole of Clearwater, Florida and HolyGoat of Chicago.

Moustapha Bangoura currently resides in Chicago, where he is Artistic Director with Le Bagatae Dance and Drum Ensemble, and he is also choreographer for Legends of West Africa. He continues to travel and share his knowledge and expertise of traditional dance and drum with students throughout the world.

Delia Tyson started her dance training at the age of thirteen under the direction of the late Lucille Ellis. She later advanced to teaching Dunham technique and working with Ms. Ellis, the late Tommy Gomez, and the late Wilbert Bradley (all principal dancers with Katherine Dunham Dance Co.). Over the last 30 years she has studied and performed with many dance companies. Delia's collaboration with Moustapha began in 1999, when she was performing with Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. When he arrived in Chicago that year, he joined Muntu immediately and choreographed extensively for them.

Additional dance companies and choreographers include the West Indian Folk Dance Company (Fred Baker, artistic director, Jamaica, Chicago), "Foday Musa Suso" (Renowned Kora player/musician from the Gambia), Najwa Dance Corps (Najwa, artistic director, Chicago), Teye-Se-Thiosanne West African Drum and Dance Co. (Aminisha Tambuzi, Bernard Thomas, artistic directors, San Diego Ca.), and Dance >Detour (Alana Wallace, artistic director, Chicago). In 2004, Delia continued her collaboration with Moustapha when she became an active dance member of Le Bagatae Drum and Dance Company. She even choreographed a piece for the company utilizing her six and a half foot Boa constrictor "Asha."

Some noted performances in which Delia participated are "Maulana Karenga's annual Kwanzaa Celebration" (Los Angeles), "Unveiling of the Kwanzaa Stamp" (Los Angeles), "African American Women on Tour" (Oakland/Los Angeles/San Diego), "The National Black Nurses Association" (San Diego), "The Black Psychologists Association" (San Diego), "The National Black Lawyers Association" (San Diego), "Ravinia Festival" (Chicago), "N'Digo" (Chicago), "Dance Africa" (Chicago), "African Festival Of the Arts" (Chicago), "The Special Olympics" (North Carolina), and for President Jimmy Carter at a Habitat for Humanities Gala

In addition to studying West African and Modern Dance, Delia has a specialty act where she performs with her six foot boa constrictor "DD" and eats fire. She has been performing this act throughout the US since the early nineteen eighties. In December 2008 she traveled to beautiful Costa Rica with Dance>Detour. In June 2009, Delia returned to sunny San Diego to perform with her formal dance company, "Teye Sa Thiosanne." As an honorary member, she performed in their 20th anniversary celebration. The anniversary celebration allowed her the opportunity to perform choreographed pieces with two world renowned artists, master dancer Djeneba Sako (Mali) and master drummer Moussa Traore (Mali). Delia holds a MA degree in "Dance movement therapy" and "Counseling" obtained from Columbia College, Chicago Illinois.