K a n K o u r a n 

W e s t  A f r i c a n  D a n c e  C o m p a n y 

presents its 28^th Annual National African Dance and Drum Conference

LEGENDS

A Celebration of the Legacy and Artistry of

Dance’s Living Legends
Melvin Deal and Chuck Davis

September 2 - 4, 2011

Washington, DC

For over 27 years Assane Konte, co-founder and Artistic Director of KanKouran West African Dance Company, has staged authentic glimpses of the peoples and cultures of Africa. This year's concert production entitled “LEGENDS” is a celebration of the legacy and artistry of dance’s living legends, Melvin Deal and Chuck Davis.

MR. MELVIN DEAL is the Founder and Artistic Director of the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers. Credited with performing the District of Columbia’s first Kwanzaa ceremony and celebration in 1968, he is considered by many as the “Father of African culture” in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

DR. CHARLES "CHUCK" DAVIS is the Founder and Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble and the New York based DanceAfrica. Throughout his studies, he has earned a reputation as one of the best teachers and accomplished choreographers in the traditional techniques of African dance. Since 1984, he has nurtured and led his Ensemble on a course to become one of the premier dance companies of any kind touring the nation today.

KanKouran’s annual African dance and drum conference offers attendees a chance to experience the sights and sounds of West Africa.  KanKouran invites you to become part of its wonderful community. Hundreds of participants from across the country will visit the nation’s capitol to partake in three days of intense workshops in traditional African dance and drum, taught by master dancers and drummers from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea

Workshop Instructors & Performing Guest Artists

Medoune Yacine Gueye, Fode Bangoura, Youssouf Koumbassa, Babacar M’Baye,

Assane M’Baye, Fode Camara, Souleymane Diop, Zak & Naomi Diouf,

Kadiatou Conte, Rich Faye, Cheikh Tairou M’Baye,

Amadou Kouyate, Babacar N’Diaye, Cheikh N’Dong, Mariama Basse, Balla Sy,

Marie Basse-Wiles, Idy Ciss and Mouminatou Camara,

as well as KanKouran’s own Assane Konte

Registration & Fees (link)

Conference Schedule (link)

Concert (link)

Hotel Accommodations (link)

Frequently Asked Questions (link)

“LEGENDS” is sponsored in part by Washington Plaza

KanKouran is supported in part by the late Dr. Sherrill Berryman-Johnson; Denise Saunders and the students of Howard University’s Dance Major Program; The D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (an Agency Supported In Part By The National Endowment For The Arts); The D.C. Department Of Parks And Recreation; Adaci; The Washington Performing Arts Society

Audio, video, and photographic equipment is strictly prohibited at all 2011 Conference events.

Registration

NOTE: Pre-registration will only be handled ONLINE. KanKouran will NOT offer discounts at the door. We are no longer offering the 10% discount to individuals that pre-register or 15% to groups of 5 or more that pre-register. To receive the discounted fees, you must register in advance online.

Classes are open, so you DO NOT need to select specific classes from the schedule. Class admittance is on a first come, first served basis.

Class Fees (pre-registration)

NOTE: Online registration requires a processing fee.

Registration Deadlines

Early Bird Registration ends July 30, 2011 (11:55 pm ET)

Advance Registration ends August 20, 2011 (11:55 pm ET)

Participants may pre-register up to 11:55 pm ET on August 20. After August 20, class tickets must be purchased at the door.

At The Door (fees)

Dance Classes - $20/class for adults and $15/class for children 16 and under

Drum Classes - $20/class (Drum classes must be purchased separately)

:: ONLY CASH, CREDIT, MONEY ORDERS, TRAVELER’S OR CASHIER’S CHECKS ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR. ::

No Personal checks.  No Refunds or Exchanges. No Discounts at the Door.

For additional information, please view the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.  If you require further assistance, please contact the registration team at info[AT]kankouran[DOT]org.

FAQs

Can my children attend classes for free?

KanKouran is offering one free children’s dance class and one free children’s drum class.  Children are considered any person 16 years old and younger.  Please see the class schedule for the times.  If your children would like to take additional classes, you must pay the listed fee.  Anyone over the age of 16 must pay the adult fee for classes.

Can I share my class card with another attendee?

If you would like to give your class card to anoyther attendee, you may. However, KanKouran will not hold tickets at the door for other attendees to pick up. If you woudl like to give your ticket to another person, you are resposnible for that transaction.

To help you out with your choices, we'll give you a few scenarios:

My friend and I want to take 5 classes each and go to the concert.  We want to sit together at the concert.  What should we do?

You should each buy 5 Dance Class Cards*. So when you go to the KanKouran registration link, increase the "Advance: Dance Class Ticket" quantity to "5". As you register, the system will ask you to enter your information.  You will will receive one receipt and you can pick up your class cards at the KanKouran conference registration desk under the purchaser's name. To purchase your concert tickets, please purchase your tickets from a Ticket Master outlet, TicketMaster.com or one of the community ticket outlets in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area.  NOTE: The same arrangement would work for a group where everyone is taking classes and going to the concert.

I am ordering class tickets for a group of people, can I get a discount?

The pre-registration rates automatically include a discount.  If you would like to order for a group, you must buy class cards for your group members (as directed in the scenarios above). If you choose to purchase tickets for a group, you (the purchaser) are required to pick up and distribute tickets to your group. KanKouran is not responsible for distributing class cards to your group.

NOTE: We are no longer offering the 10% discount to individuals that pre-register or 15% to groups of 5 or more that pre-register.

You can purchase your concert tickets from one of the concert ticket outlets listed below, at www.KanKouran.org or at the registration desk during the conference (subject to availability).

Will I receive my class card in the mail?

Participants who have pre-registered will receive a receipt by e-mail and their class tickets at the conference registration desk. You will need your picture ID and printed receipt in order to receive your tickets at the registration desk.

I ordered a conference t-shirt, when will I get it?

When you order conference t-shirts will receive them at the registration desk when you pick up your tickets at the registration desk.

Accommodations

Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20005

For reservations call 202-842-1300 (reference “KanKouran”)

Room rates:  $109 (single/double rooms); $129 (triples); $149 (quads)

Cut-off date for these rates is August 15, 2011

CONCERT

Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 8:00pm

Lisner Auditorium

George Washington University, 730 21^st Street, NW

(202) 994-6800   (202) 994-6800

Tickets: $30.00

[$25, seniors, children 16 & under and students w/ valid ID)

RESERVED SEATING. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY!

Tickets available at all TicketMaster Outlets

Blue Nile Trading Co. (202) 232-3535 (202) 232-3535

Salon Obsessions (301) 565-4247 (301) 565-4247

Hair Studio (703) 769-9288 (703) 769-9288

For more information, please visit www.kankouran.org

KanKouran, Inc. and Washington Plaza Hotel shall not be held liable for any injuries to participants, or the loss, theft, and/or damage to their property while participating in LEGENDS