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Dounia
Djembe
West African Arts with Manimou Camara
Camp Saamato
Get ready to heat it up at Camp Saamato. Manimou and Jessica are excited and proud to invite all of you to enjoy some extremely talented artists for a weekend packed with unbelievable music, hot hot dancing, sweat, smiles and good food!
The retreat will be held at the beautiful Camp River Ranch in Carnation, WA. The dance class space overlooks Lake Langois and is just steps from the Tolt River, surrounded by gorgeous temperate rain forest.
 Manimou CamaraYour host, Manimou, is excited to bring together a world class gathering of artists to share, and enjoy the music and dance of Guinea. Register today! |  Moustapha BangouraHe is a 22-year veteran of the largest and most celebrated dance company from the continent of Africa - Les Ballets Africains. Moustapha's mission is to continue to share his dance expertise while preserving the richness and authenticity of the culture. He is recognized for his thorough and charismatic technique that that is deeply rooted in tradition. |  Marietou CamaraMarietou Camara, a native of Guinea, West Africa, is a sought after dance instructor throughout the USA. A former member of Les Mervilles d'Afrique and Les Ballets Africains, Camara is known for her high-energy and electric style. |
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 Namory KeitaNamory Keita was born in 1982 in the village of Sangbarala, Guinea. At age 7 he began drumming and has been the lead drummer in his village since 2006. Members of his family are well-known drummers around the world such as his brothers, Solo Keita, who lives in Japan, and Nansady Keita, in England. Namory grew up drumming with his uncle Famoudou Konate, one of the most famous African drummers in the world. |  Alhassane Papin CamaraA truly phenomenal teacher, dancer and performer, Alhassane teaches a dynamic and high spirited class. He grew up in Guinea under the tutelage of renowned master dancer, Youssouf Koumbassa, which is visible in Alhassane's beautiful and graceful style of movement. Alhassane was also principal dancer of Ballet Tayeli. |  N'nato CamaraN’Nato Camara is a member of the Susu tribe and comes from the city of Conakry in Guinea West Africa. In Guinea, N’Nato was the principal dancer with the Ballet Taille, Circus Baobob, Kaley Multicultural, and Aklysso. After arriving in Canada 2004, N’Nato performed with Masabo Culture Company and primarily with Alpha Ya Ya Diallo. N’Nato travels the world performing and teaching Traditional West African Dance. |
 Fana BangouraFana's professional career began in 1990 when his older brother’s wife brought him into the group Macaca Ballet. After this group he joined another private ballet called Kounkoré Bamba Ballet and later, he joined the Fareta Ballet. Fana was also named “Master Drummer” by the Guinean Ministry of Culture in 2008. As a performer he has been a featured djembe soloist for two national groups of Guinea, Percussions de Guinee and Les Ballets Africains. |  Mohamed Andre DuranteauEver since he was a young chid growing up in rural Guinea, West Africa, Andre Duranteau dreamt of becoming a great performing artist. Andre began to pursue this dream at the young age of 15 when he moved to the capitol, Conakry to join his first ballet " L'Ensemble Instrumentale de Kakimbo" Here, Andre developed his skills as a singer, drummer and dancer, travelling and performing around the country until 1996 when he moved on to join "Le Ballet Taille". in 2007 he moved to Canada, |
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