History
Founded by African Master Drummer Alseny Sylla and New York-based choreographer Suzannah Kincannon, Lannaya West African Drum and Dance Ensemble was established in 2000 to perform and present the art and culture of West Africa. In March of 2007, Lannaya was granted 501©(3) non-profit tax status.
Lannaya’s mission is to inspire the celebration of life that is universal from one culture to the next. The Ensemble seeks to educate and motivate creative consciousness within our community through performances, workshops, cultural and social interactions.
Individually, Lannaya members have years of extensive training, exposure and performance in dances, rhythms, and cultural traditions of the African Diaspora.
2000 marked Lannaya’s debut performance and the Ensemble was invited to perform with the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Company at Concordia University. Since then, current programming includes performances both at home and regionally, performances for charitable events, festivals, benefits to raise public awareness for Africa, public instructional classes and workshops in dance/drum, AISD school shows, dance/drum camp intensives with nationally and internationally recognized dancers and musicians, and artist residencies.
A selection of guest artists Lannaya has featured and/or worked with in the past include Youssouf Koumbassa, world renowned dancer and choreographer, Mouminatou Camara, principal dancer with Les Ballets Africains; Mamadoube Mohamed Camara, lead djembefola for Percussion de Guinea; Djeneba Sako and Moussa Traore of Mali, and Ismael "Bonfils" Kouyate of Les Ballets Africains.
Lannaya’s mission is to inspire the celebration of life that is universal from one culture to the next. The Ensemble seeks to educate and motivate creative consciousness within our community through performances, workshops, cultural and social interactions.
Individually, Lannaya members have years of extensive training, exposure and performance in dances, rhythms, and cultural traditions of the African Diaspora.
2000 marked Lannaya’s debut performance and the Ensemble was invited to perform with the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Company at Concordia University. Since then, current programming includes performances both at home and regionally, performances for charitable events, festivals, benefits to raise public awareness for Africa, public instructional classes and workshops in dance/drum, AISD school shows, dance/drum camp intensives with nationally and internationally recognized dancers and musicians, and artist residencies.
A selection of guest artists Lannaya has featured and/or worked with in the past include Youssouf Koumbassa, world renowned dancer and choreographer, Mouminatou Camara, principal dancer with Les Ballets Africains; Mamadoube Mohamed Camara, lead djembefola for Percussion de Guinea; Djeneba Sako and Moussa Traore of Mali, and Ismael "Bonfils" Kouyate of Les Ballets Africains.
