Balafon West African Dance Ensemble

In 1985, Kadiatou returned to the United States, coming to Washington D.C. to fulfill her dream of teaching the culture of her country. Kadiatou, affectionately known as Mama Kadiatou, has worked with Melvin Deal and the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers, Assan Conte and Kankouran, Jali Djimo Kouyate and Memory of African Culture, Wo’se, and the Andrew Cacho Drummers and Dancers. Kadiatou has also worked with the legendary women’s group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Kadiatou has taught at several universities and private and public schools in the region including Howard University, George Washington University, and the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts. She currently teaches to enthusiastic students at the Fitness Company at Green Court in downtown Washington, DC.

Kadiatou Conte is currently the artistic director of the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, Inc., which is composed of many of her students and colleagues from her years with the National Ballet of Guinea.

Kadiatou, a consummate teacher and motivator, believes that dance combined with constant prayer makes one stronger physically and mentally, and is a source of healing and balance in one’s life.

Choreography: Kadiatou Conte

Drum Arrangement: Fode Moussa Camara

Costume Design: Kadiatou Conte

Dancers: Kadiatou Conte
Hannah Hawkins and Children of Mine
Lauren Atkins | Susie Berman
Sheila Clyburn | Dalia Johnson
Kori Majeed | Tambi McCollum
Nicole Monteiro | Maureen Poux
Iliana Quander | Sloan Sanford
Juliet Stovall | Nicole Woo
Stacia Wood

Drummer Section: Fode Moussa Camara| Mahiri Keita
R.D. Carter Jr. | Gary Hemby
Dion Jacob | Michael Jackson
David Kane

R.D. Carter Jr., PhD is a real estate investor and entrepreneur. Dr. Carter has studied African dance for four years. He is a former civil rights activist and uses the medium of African dance to express his desire to see people of color free from economic and social racism. At 57 years of age, R.D. is the elder Balafon’s elder statesman.

Sheila Clyburn began taking West African dance classes on her 40th birthday with Kankouran West African Dance Company, at the insistence of her then 4-year-old son, a beginning drummer with Kankouran. It was through the community classes that Ms. Clyburn met Kadiatou Conte, who was a guest teacher at the time. Intrigued by the energetic style of Guinea dance, and encouraged by Ms. Conte, "Mama Sheila" soon became a regular at Balafon’s rehearsals. She has danced with Balafon West African Dance Ensemble in various venues including the Lincoln Theatre, Publick Playhouse, Harmony Hall and the Kennedy Center. "Thanks, son."

Gary Hemby, a building maintenance technician for Consolidated Engineering Service, joined Balafon in 2001. Gary is also a visual artist.

Dion Jacob was born in Scarborough, Tobago. At 16, he joined the famed Signal Hill Alumni choir as a lead singer and later became an African drummer. Dion began studying the rhythms of Guinea under the instruction of his uncle, Wayne Guerra. He toured with both groups and won different competitive and national awards. After moving to Washington, D.C. for further study, he joined Kadiatou Conte to enhance Balafon along with master drummer Fode Moussa Camara, currently his teacher. Dion now teaches drumming styles from both Tobago and West Africa.

Dalia Johnson is a native Washingtonian, and has been dancing with Mama Kadiatou for four years. Dalia dedicates this performance to her grandmother, Hermione Evelyn Boswell, whose wisdom she draws from everyday. This is for you Gema!

Kori Majeed is a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying information and communication systems. While Kori has had no formal dance training, she has been studying African dance with various teachers throughout the Washington, D.C. area for the past five years. Kori is also the owner of Butterflysoup (butterflysoup.com), a virtual assistance practice that provides technological and administrative consulting for entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations. Kori wishes to thank her husband, Ishaq, and Madame Conte for their continued support and inspiration. Allahu-Akbar!

Tambi N. McCollum, native of Birmingham, Alabama, started dancing at the age of four with the Alabama State Ballet School. She later studied ballet and modern dance at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and the Alvin Ailey School summer intensive program. After a 6-year hiatus from dance, during which she attended Howard University, Tambi also studied Russian language and culture at Moscow State University. Her first introduction to the world of African dance was in 1999, when she joined Balafon. Mama “Kadi” has been a gift and a blessing in her life. All thanks to the Creator. Tambi is currently manager of government relations at the American Diabetes Association.

Nicole Monteiro first took African Dance classes as a young girl in Philadelphia. However, it wasn’t until she was a senior at Howard University that she seriously thought about pursuing an African Dance education; and it wasn’t until she met Kadiatou Conte that the education really began and she learned what it meant to be an African Dancer. Nicole was one of the founding members of Balafon West African Dance Ensemble and she experienced tremendous personal and artistic growth with Kadiatou. Currently, Nicole is a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology and works as a psychotherapist in New York, where she continues to study African Dance.

Maureen Dinah Poux has been dancing with Ms. Kadiatou Conte for almost two years. She also danced for four years with a Miami-based dance group called, APAJHA, where the group performed Haitian folkloric dances. She currently works as a Health Educator with Howard University and Concerned Medical Health Professionals. She is also completing pre-requisites for dental school. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of dancing with Balafon and Ms. Conte from the spiritual to the physical. Dancing has helped her gain physical strength and endurance. She hopes to continue dancing under Ms. Konte as well as learning more styles of African dance.

Juliet Stovall was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She has called Washington, D.C. home since her move to the District in 1967. Juliet has always loved dancing and thanks Kadiatou and Balafon for allowing her to indulge in this love for the past two years, however she plans to keep her day job.