CHOUMMALAITHONG

Sen Choummalaithong (ze/he) seeks to advance his dance training + expertise in Mande dance, a vital component of West African cultural heritage. Zis dedication to preserving and propagating West African culture through dance is in lineage with his practice as a Hip Hop + Break Dancer, Choreographer, and multidisciplinary artist who works in the Afro-Latin diaspora. Mande dance, representing this rich heritage, is at the heart of Sen’s journey as a dancer, artist and activist. Through close apprenticeship with Seydou Coulibaly, expert culture-bearer and Malian dancer + drummer, Sen strives to ensure the accurate transmission of cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of tracing dance traditions, languages, pedagogies and histories. Dance serves as a bridge connecting past, present, and future generations, preserving and celebrating our cultural roots while enabling powerful expression and storytelling. NEFA supports Sen’s mission to remind us to appreciate our culture's origins.