The Ndaje Dance festival, put on by Pape N'Diaye and DionneThomas, recently closed in Boston. Although just in its third year, the conference is quickly gaining in popularilty, offering a good selection of classes and comraderie. This year, as an added bonus, conference attendees were treated to the debut performance of LES ENFANTS DU SOLEIL, a professional, African dance touring company composed of dancers and drummers from Guinea, Senegal, Mali and the US. The company featured both male and female dancers The men were represented by Malang Bayo, Rich Faye, Babacar N'Diaye, Pape N'Diaye, Ousman Sall, Mor Talla Samb and Mamdy Sano. We have it on good authority that Babacra M'Baye will also participate in the future. The women were Heike Currie, Alauna Faye, Tamika Haris, Tamara Jones, Shurla Nelson, Zaleika Reid, Maila Sylla, Koko Tete-Rosenthal and Dionne Thomas. Djeneba Sako and Marie Basse-Wiles added a little spice.

After the drum call, the dancing opened with the women performing a high spirited and well danced Lamba/Yaro-Yaro. The women entered in purple modified boubous. The boubou is the traditional costume for Lamba, but as many of you know from experience, its hard to dance in. But the troupe handled the costumes without a flaw and at no point did the costuming become a distraction from the technical performance. In fact, if anything, the costumes were a little understated and didn't do justice to the beauty of the dancers.

A fully costumed Balanta followed, with African dance and story telling at its finest. We got our first look at the men, not that we haven't seen them before. But this is an effort for the first time to produce a touring company of the same calibre as the National Ballet. In this number the full company wove in dancers who were attending the conference but who are not part of the regular troup. It was an interesting idea with lots of potential for incorporating local people from the various regions in which the company performs. Of course, the men get to preen in the Balanta and go through their rituals of challenge and courtship. It was an entertaining performance. After a short intermission the company came back with another well costumed and well danced Bougarabou/Ekonkon. Of course the show ended with a fast moving sabar number including audience participation.

The drumming in the show was absolutely top notch and the crowd was on the edge of its seat for most of the night. The drummers were also from Senegal and Guinea and featured Fode bangoura, Thiokho Diagne, Brigo Gueye, Mamadou Guisse, Abdou M'baye, Babacar Seck and Mangue Sylla. Narration for the show was supplied by Mamadou Diouck, who played the talking drum.

Les Enfants du Soleil has the potential to develop into a really fine touring company and its an idea that is long over due. In restrospect it seems strange that it has taken so long for a touring company to form. After all, so many of the talented dancers and drummers of the various national companies are here in the US now. A touring company may also be a good option for regional conferences where the community does not have the depth or strength of experience to stage a full, well done concert. The Artistic Director and Chereographer is Pape N'Diaye. Malang Bayo is the Assistant Choreographer, with Dionne Thomas serving as the Production Manager.

Here's some things we would like to see as the company develops:

1) Use the talking drums more! There were three great drummers on this instrument. They could have been featured a little better, which would give the dancers a little more time to catch their breath; 2) It will be interesting to see how all of the professional egos can be harnessed during the solos. Maybe an informal system of who goes when would help; 3)The Balanta has a great story, but its hard to hold the attention of the American audience when so much is being conveyed in Wolof. The choreography here can probably be shortened; and finally 4) a little more rehearsal time is needed. The audience may be forgiving of mistakes when local dancers perform but they will have higher expectations for a professional company. Missing breaks and dance sequences won't be viewed kindly.

Having said that, we thoroughly enjoyed the debut performance and we are looking forward to following the maturation of Les Enfants du Soleil. Their next performance is in New York on August 21st. Make sure to look for them in the future in your area as well.You can also see an sample of what to expect on Youtube.