Assane Konte interview index, 2018
Scope and Contents
Assane Konte speaks about the importance that dance has played in his life, growing up in Senegal, and his first impressions of the United States. His life in dance led him to start visiting the United States for dance festivals, which eventually led him to decide to relocate to the U.S. He highlights the importance of hard work and discipline in dancing as well as and how these virtues contribute to other aspects of life. He believes that his upbringing in Senegal helped to teach him these virtues. He has participated in the DanceAfrica festival since its founding in 1987. He speaks about his love for the festival and how it plays an important role in nurturing cultures related to African dance in the U.S.
Dates
- Creation: 2018
Creator
- Konte, Assane (Person)
- Greenbaum, Sarah (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Assane Konte is the artistic director, choreographer and costume designer and founding member of the KanKouran West African Dance Company. He has toured the world with African Dance groups and taught at Georgetown, Howard University, George Washington, American University, and George Mason University. His professional dance career started in when he joined Ballet Africaine de Diebel Guee in Dakar at age 15. He later moved from Senegal to the United States where he founded KanKouran and continues to perform.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository