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Kouakou
Yao "Angelo", Director
and Choreographer, has been studying and performing the traditional and
contemporary dances of his home country, Ivory Coast, and other West African
countries for over 20 years. His professional dance career began as he toured
internationally with Ivory Coast's National Dance Theatre Company, "Ensemble
de Koteba". From his work, he was selected to be an Artist
in Residency for the Yale Repertory Theatre to perform in GEOGRAPHY by Choreographer,
Ralph Lemon. Angelo created Afrique Aya Dance Company in Burlington, VT, in 1999. The group performed at many performances and schools throughout the New England area. After moving to Northwest Arkansas several years ago, Angelo has continued to share his work as an artist based in a tradition of celebratory, ritual and lyrical music and dance. He now teaches drum and dance classes regionally and performs with the company in schools, universities and festivals.