The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Out & About

Media Credit: KELLY WEGEL

Life for farmers outside of town in Africa is hard.

Wake before sunrise, work in the fields until the sun sets and go home. After long days of manual labor in places lacking MTV or American entertainment, these people find a more meaningful way to unwind.

Dancing, drumming, friends and traditional wines make for the perfect means of relaxation.

It doesn't matter who or how old the person is. Shyness and insecurities are not factors when dancing and drumming are involved.

These art forms are learned early and remain a part of a person's life until a very old age (it isn't uncommon to see grandpas dancing to the music and keeping up with men in their 30s).

Just ask Samba Diallo. The dancer, drummer, teacher and award-winning performer has danced and played since he was a small child. Since that time his dancing has allowed him to visit the world, and has given him international recognition.

Diallo went to college in Africa and like many people from his home town, was faced with limited opportunities. Diallo said people attend college and gain a wealth of knowledge only to be forced to go back to the farm to work since there aren't any jobs available.

"So, when I hear the National Ballet is open for auditions, I go," he said. "And all they do all day is dance."

Unlike the ballets in the United States, which are a highly structured classical style, the choreography of the National Ballet of Cote d'Ivoire focuses more on implementing everyday dance styles from various regions on the continent.

"It's my passion (dancing). When there's a lot of people, that's when I feel good. Especially when there's a good drummer behind me. I love it. I love it," Diallo said. "I can perform two, three times a day. When you're doing something that you love, you never have time to think about how you are tired."

After winning the national dance competition, choreographing several important shows and dancing in the 1996 opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics in Atlanta, Diallo has found another life calling: teaching.

Though his primary focus is dance, Diallo teaches drumming as well.

Diallo's classes are open to people of all ages and currently are offered at Canopy Studios in Athens on Sundays, followed by an African dance class.

Diallo's largest goal is to spread his culture to as many people as possible.

"That's my vision," Diallo said, "to get people to see."

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