Ousmane Sall
He has performed with many dance groups in this area, including Sing Sing Rhythms and Maimouna Keita Dance Company and later formed his own group, YAKAR Roots and Rhythms African Drum and Dance Ensemble. YAKAR has dazzled many audiences in the past five years including ZEYBRAH’s annual Moment In Time Festival at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black, History and Culture. Ousmane has performed and taught workshops at various schools, festivals and clubs in the NYC area and also throughout the United States. He appeared in Bruce Willis film, Tears of the Sun. He is a percussionist in the CD, From the Belly of Abraham by Hasidic New Wave. He has taught for many years at Fareta Dance Studio and Djoniba Drum and Dance Center in New York, and he currently teaches classes at various city venues and workshops nationwide.
As a teacher Ousmane brings a warmth and presence into the classroom that encourages each student to feel at ease, inspiring the freedom to open themselves up to the rhythm, brings out the best in their learning abilities. He shows unending patience for his students whatever their age. His energetic dancing constantly defies the bounds of gravity. His sensual and mystical dance style brings at once to the audience or students - charm, strength, masculinity, and vibrant energy.
Ousmane Sall is a master dancer/choreographer and also a drummer from Senegal, West Africa.
He excels in all of the Senegalese styles of drum and dance and has a particular specialty in the Kutiro rhythms. He was born in Senegal, to a traditional drumming and dance family and was formally trained at the National Dance Academy. He performed for many years in Senegal with the second national dance group of Senegal, National Ballet Senemew, and also Silimbo D’Adeane.
Continuing his career in New York, Ousmane, has performed extensively in this area at such venues as: The United Nations, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space, The Florence Gould Hall, The Jewish Heritage Museum, Town Hall, Lincoln Center’s Summer Stage and Damrosh Park.