Study in Africa with Mohamed Diaby
March 5 - March 23, 2012
Choose 2 weeks or 3weeks
Mohamed Diaby invites you to Conakry, Guinea, West Africa for a 2 or 3-week dance & drumming workshop, lead by artists of Guinea's internationally acclaimed national dance troupes such as; Les Ballets Africains and Ballets Djoliba.
Workshop participants will reside in the city of Conakry "Uptown". Accommodations will be simple but comfortable with bedrooms and bathrooms shared by all workshop participants
Dancers will learn several dances while drummers will be trained on the djembe, dunduns or both.
Participants will get the opportunity to savor delicious local cuisine. Guinea cuisine is based on rice with fish, vegetables and meat served in a variety of sauces. Vegetarian diet is accommodated, please check on application.
CLASS SCHEDULE (MONDAY - FRIDAY)
09:30 - 11:00 Drum Workshop
11:00 - 12:30 Dance Workshop
14:30 - 16:00 Drum Wokshop
16:00 - 17:30 Dance Workshop
* No Classes Saturday or Sunday
MEAL SCHEDULE (INCLUDES WEEKENDS)
BREAKFAST 08:00 - 09:00
LUNCH 13:00 - 14:00
DINNER 18:00 - 19:30
Trip fee:
2 Week Camp $1,500 US
3 Week Camp $1,800 US
A deposit of 50% is required by December 15, 2011.
Deadline extended to December 30, 2011
The remaining balance is due January 27, 2012
Package Includes:
- Lodging in Conakry for 2 or 3 weeks
- 3 meals daily (bottled water not included in workshop price)
- Transportation to and from Conakry Airport
- Drum & Dance Classes
- Transportation to workshops and events in Guinea
For Registration Form
please download our pdf
file.
The only required vaccination is Yellow Fever. You must show the vaccination card with your passport in order to enter the country. Other vaccinations are recommended but not required. You can visit your doctor or for additional information and travel advisories call, The Center for Disease Control at 877-FYI-TRIP or visit their website at: http://www.cdc.gov
VISA
A tourist Visa is required to enter the country, it is recommended that you apply for your visa at least 6 weeks in advance. You must request an application from the Embassy of Guinea, fill it out and send it back with your passport, two passport photos, Visa Application Fee.
Guinean Embassy in Ottawa, Canada
483 Wilbrod Street, Ottawa, Ontario,
K1N 6N1. Canada
Phone: (613) 789-8444 / 789 -3418 or 789 -3428
Fax: (613) 789-7560
Email: ambaguineaott@sympatico.ca
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
No Traveler’s Cheques! Bring only new $100 US/CDN bills or new €100 Euro bills. Money is not exchanged in banks therefore you will not get the same exchange rate for smaller bills or Traveler’s Cheques.
COMMUNICATION
There are no phone lines at the house. You can make international calls at Telephone Centers and internet cafes. There are several of these Centers within walking distance.
1955 - 2008
Moustapha Diaby was the main drum teacher for the 2007 group that visited Guinea with Mohamed Diaby. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to study with him. Moustapha is Mohamed Diaby's older brother, his first djembe teacher and his mentor.
Moustapha Diaby was born in Kindia in 1955. At a young age of seven, he began mimicking the drum by playing on the boxes and in 1965, he put on his first ballet which won first prize. Later in 1967 and 1968, he was a member of the Federal Troupe of Conakry III, and in 1980 Moustapha entered the Djoliba National Ballet of Guinea under the directorship of Kemoco Sano and later Francis Camara. It was in Djoliba that he met Mamady Keita and they worked together in Guinea.
Over the years Moustapha had many students from all over the world. Moustapha's skills as a djembefola took him all over the world: Belgium, France, Holland, Cuba, Burkina Faso, South Korea, South Africa, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and the United States.