Soli Drum and Dance Festival

World renowned West African drummer, Moussa Traore of Mali, will make his only Texas stop on his 2012 tour of North America in McKinney, Texas, a Dallas suburb, for the Soli Drum and Dance Festival September 15-16, 2012.

Moussa Traore, Mamabouba Mohamed Camara, and Fode “Lavia” Camara offer drum workshops for all levels of students. This year’s event will instruct students in intros, breaks and solo parts of West African rhythms. The workshop participants will be performing at the Grand Finale on Sunday evening September 16th.

These drum masters have dedicated their lives to performing and preserving the music of West Africa, their creativity and superlative teaching skills have elevated the djembe and expanded the study of West African music across the continent.

Full two day workshop costs only $60.00 (over 24 hours of classes includes all Soli Drum and Dance Festival workshops and events - senior/youth and Drums Not Guns member discounts available). A one day set of Workshops are only $30.00.

On Saturday night there will be a free community concert and dance featuring Aciable, an Afro Reggae band from Austin, lead by noted Ivory Coast dancer and musician, Jean Claude Lessou.

Moussa Traore’s workshops will take place on Saturday and Sunday during the Soli Drum and Dance Festival which also includes workshops by the world famous African Dancer Djeneba Sako of Mali. Dance workshops will be accompanied by Abou Sylla, Mamadouba Mohamed Camara, Yamoussa Camara, Fode “Lavia” Camara and Moussa Traore.

The Soli Drum and Dance Festival concludes with a free “Grande Finale” performance, open to the public, including many of the visiting teachers and some of their students.