Our services.

We provide many services to schools, universities, companies and community organizations. Please explore our services below.

Workshop

Workshop

Afriky Lolo offers workshops as a unique opportunity to share diverse African styles and teachings with the St. Louis community and beyond. Workshops offer a one-time intensive study for current dancers and others who want to experience the diversity and richness of African dance, drumming, song and culture in an authentic way. Along with artistic director Diadie Bathily, Afriky Lolo invites master dancers and drummers from Africa to participate in workshops as a way to expose our community to the different countries, cultures and dances that make up this rich continent.

Workshops are offered by Diadie Bathily in collaboration with his colleagues. To date, Bathily has given workshops to:

  • Washington University

  • University of Missouri at St. Louis

  • Blue Shout

  • Wyman Youth Center

  • The Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis

  • Boy Scouts of America

  • Viva Vox

We provide workshops for schools, universities and community organizations.

Performance

Afriky Lolo offers a range of exciting performances for many different audiences of differing sizes.

Afriky Lolo has been performing since 2003. The Company has a large cast— ranging in age from 6 to over 60 and 8 drummers. Afriky Lolo, meaning African Star, performs traditional West African dance at community events throughout the year. The Company’s annual performance is its largest event each year.

Afriky Lolo performances are choreographed, staged, costumed, and directed by Diádié Bathily. These performances reflect the rich culture of West Africa, and each dance performed by Afriky Lolo is enhanced by traditional West African costumes. Costuming is a very important aspect of traditional West African dance. Bathily travels frequently to the Cote d’Ivoire and Mali in order to obtain authentic West African cloth, beads, and masks for the costumes worn by the dancers and drummers. All costumes are sewn by Bathily and/or specialists in West Africa.

School Programs

Diadie Bathily’s African dance program introduces students to West African dance and culture.

African Dance and Culture in Schools

Diadie Bathily’s African dance program introduces students to the basic movement of West African dance. Through African dance, elementary, middle and high school students increase physical fitness, improve coordination and concentration, and build an understanding of African culture. Mr. Bathily teaches during regular physical education classes and in after school programs.

Mr. Bathily teaches basic West African dances, African geography and language, and African culture. At the end of the program, students have learned several authentic African dances, have gained a grade-appropriate understanding of West Africa, and have learned some of the languages and customs of Mali and Ivory Coast.Afriky Lolo teaches education programs in primary and secondary schools across the region. To date, Diadie has taught in school and/or after school programs at:

  • Clayton elementary and middle schools

  • Ladue Middle School

  • St. Cecilia’s

  • The Cathedral School

  • Fanning Middle School

  • Reformed Jewish Academy

  • The Learning Tree

  • Old Bonhomme

  • Hixon Middle School

  • Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

  • Grace Lutheran School

In addition, school performances with company founder Diadié Bathily and his dance companies Afriky Lolo and Yele are available upon request. Along with the dynamic movement of West African dance, these events include lessons on history, geography and language, and incorporate storytelling that is bound to captivate the imaginative minds of children.

Choreography

Choreography

Afriky Lolo offers choreography for dancers and dance companies that want to integrate West African Dance into their production.

Diádié Bathily is available as a guest choreographer to your school, dance company or individual production. Diádié has provided choreography around the world and he is considered a master of West African dance. Contact Diádié now for excellent West African choreography.