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Angelo
Kouakou Yao "Angelo", Director and Choreographer of the Agrique Aya Dance Company, performs and instructs traditional and contemporary dances of his home country, Ivory Coast, and other West African countries for over 20 years. His professional dance career began as he toured internationally with Ivory Coast's National Dance Theatre Company, "Ensemble de Koteba".
He was selected to be an Artist in Residency for the Yale Repertory Theatre to perform in GEOGRAPHY by Choreographer, Ralph Lemon. Angelo created Afrique Aya Dance Company in Burlington, VT, in 1999. The group performed at many performances and schools throughout the New England area. After moving to Northwest Arkansas, Angelo has continued to share his work as an artist based in a tradition of celebratory, ritual and lyrical music and dance. He teaches drum and dance classes locally and performs with the company in local and regional schools, universities and festivals.
Yao Angelo can be reached at 479-363-9373 or afriqueaya@earthlink.net