West African Dance & Drum Ensemble
Artistic director: Olivier Tarpaga 11811 Venice Blvd Apt #342 Los Angeles, CA 90066 Cell: 646 351 3035
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________________________________________________ Description DAFRA is a multicultural group that performs dance and drumming from the Mandingue tradition of West Africa. The members of the ensemble are from Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and the United States. The ensemble plays numerous West African traditional instruments including the Djembé drum, the Kenkeni, the Samgban, the Dundumba, the Tama (talking drum), the djitafiè, the maracas and the balafon. In addition to the live music, dancers perform energetic traditional steps and repertory from the village’s traditional ceremonies. In the West African tradition of call and response, the audience will participate in the performance by learning some of the songs, rhythms, and dance steps. All the cast will wear traditional West African costumes. ________________________________________________ History Created in 1995 by Olivier Tarpaga, Dafra was at that time a simple comic and theatrical group composed by three members. In 1998, after is first European tour, Dafra become an Ensemble with five musicians and two dancers mostly from the famous group “Le Bourgeon du Burkina”. From 1999-2002 Dafra has grown with ten members and toured numerous times in festival and theater in Burkina Faso, France, Germany, UK, Canada and the USA. ________________________________________________ Members of Group: Olivier Tarpaga: Djembé drum, Dundun, Tama, Song and Choreography Dramane Koné: Djembé drum, Balafon and Song Aboubacar Kouyaté: Djembé drum, Dundun and Song Souly Wilfried: Dundun, Djembé drum, Dance and Song Esther Baker-Tarpaga: Dance, Djitafié, Maracas and Song
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