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Upcoming Performances & Workshops 2007 La Calabasse: A Performance of Contemporary and Traditional African Dance Gansango Music & Dance presents a vibrant performance of traditional and modern African dance with original choreography and live music. Featuring traditional dance from Benin and modern dance styles from West Africa. This diverse and educational performance will engage and entertain world culture fans of all ages. Seattle Art Museum. Friday October 5, 2007 at 7 pm Saturday October 6, 2007 at 2 pm Tickets $12 at SAM box office: (206) 654-3121 Gansango Music & Dance   Gansango Dance Company Performs contemporary and traditional dance and music from West Africa, particularly featuring dance and rhythms from Benin.   Gansango's collaborating musical artists also perform traditional music from West Africa in a variety of arrangements.   Performance Venue Mandinka Music Trio   Saturday, January 20, 2007 Opening of Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park Olympia Sacred Music Festival   Sunday, February 4, 2007

Mandinka Music Trio

Gansango's collaborating artistis play traditional music of the Mandinka people of West Africa. Gansango's Mandinka Trio features Kane Mathis on the kora, the 21-string African gourd harp; Naby Camara from Guinea on the balafon (African xylophone); and Etienne Cakpo from Benin on the djembe and djun djun drums.  Periodically, Mark Collins joins the group with the standing double bass to make a dynamic quartet!  Gansango's Mandinka Music Trio is available for performances throughout the year.  Appropriate for all ages.

November 4, 2006 - Federal Way & Foster Libraries, King County
August 15, 2005 - Casey Kid's Summer Camp, Bellevue, WA
May 1, 2005 - The Evergreen School, Seattle, WA
January 23, 2005 - CenterStage, Spokane, WA
January 10, 2004 - The Upstage, Port Townsend, WA

Jijoho: Dance of Peace

July 5-6, 2003, Seattle Art Museum
July 12-13, 2003, Kirkland Performance Center

A must-see! This performance of traditional and contemporary West African dance and music is a delight for all ages!
A refined performance of deeply traditional dances and modern choreography pieces inspired from African rhythm and movement. Jijoho challenged the established sense of African music and dance by exposing the audience to innovative blending of cultures and highly-rehearsed artistry.Jijoho will expose the audience to a refined performance of deeply traditional dances and modern choreography pieces inspired from African rhythm and movement. For some it may be the first time they have ever seen or heard the kora or the mbira being played, or experienced live contemporary and traditional dance from West Africa. For you audience members more experienced or knowledgeable about African cultural arts, the performance will challenge your established sense of African music and dance by exposing you to innovative blending of cultures and highly-rehearsed artistry.

Gbéplé: The Spirit of Union

December 8 & 9, 2001 Seattle Art Museum

The full Gansango team self-produced a high-quality 2-hour performance of traditional and contemporary African dance and music. The multicultural group of local and international dancers and musicians presented traditional dance from Benin and music from the Sahel. Traditional costumes and live music accompaniment of kora (21-string harp) and djembe provided the audience with a vibrant combination of color, sound and texture for the show.

Other past performances by Gansango Music & Dance include:

Enso Company