Alseny Soumah
Guinean Dance
Alseny Soumah began learning traditional Guinean dance and drumming at a young age in Guinea, West Africa, where these art forms are deeply rooted in daily life and community celebrations. He trained under master dancers and drummers within his cultural community through an oral and immersive process that emphasized observation, repetition, and participation. Alseny was a principal dancer with Ballet Merveilles and the internationally recognized Les Ballets Africains. His training included village ceremonies, rites of passage, and festivals, where dance and rhythm serve as essential forms of communication and storytelling. Over time, he expanded his knowledge by working with nationally recognized artists and performance groups, refining both his technical skills and cultural knowledge. This lifelong training has enabled him to carry forward authentic Malinké and SouSou traditions, which he now teaches and performs internationally.
Apprenticeship Program
2026
Traditional Guinean Dance with Marie Soumah
Marie Soumah will learn from her father, Alseny Soumah, the traditions of Guinean dance and its deep connections to music, storytelling, and community life. Alseny will guide Marie in dance technique, choreography, relationships between movement and drumming, and the ceremonial, social, and historical context of each dance. Through this apprenticeship, Marie will deepen her embodied knowledge of the tradition and its connections to the African Diaspora, preparing her to carry forward and share these cultural practices.
2007
Traditional Guinean Dance with Joti Singh
Joti Singh studied Guinean dance with master artist Alseny Soumah as part of ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program in 2007. Soumah’s family taught him to dance when he was a small child in Conakry, Guinea, and he performed with a neighborhood group before dancing professionally with Ballets Merveilles and Les Ballets Africains. Singh has studied Guinean dance for eight years with master dancers in Portland, Oregon, the Bay Area, and Guinea, West Africa. During the apprenticeship she will study improvisation, and other skills necessary for solo performance.
