Coyaba Dance Theater was founded in 1997 by Founder/Artistic
Director Sylvia Soumah.
The mission of Coyaba Dance Theater is to present traditional
and contemporary West African dance and music focusing on the
diverse ethnic groups and various humanitarian themes of West
African culture.
Coyaba Dance Theater performs throughout the year and has been
featured at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
The Publick Playhouse, the Lincoln Theater, the Lisner Auditorium,
Dance Place, the Chicago Theater and the World Culture Open in
Seoul, South Korea.
Full-length Concerts
Coyaba Dance Theater offers full-length African dance concerts.
For more information please contact Sylvia Soumah, Coyaba Dance Theater Company Manager at 240-643-1831.
Outreach Programs and Performances
for Adults and Children
Coyaba Dance Theater is available for performances, workshops
and residencies throughout the Washington Metropolitan area as
well as throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Outreach performance at your school
Coyaba Dance Theater brings the spirit of Africa and its traditions
to your school. Students will experience traditional West African
dance and drumming depicting daily life of African culture. The
performance includes history and audience participation.
School Residencies
Coyaba Dance Theater is available during school hours to teach
repertory classes. The class will focus on African technique
in traditional dance and drumming. Students will learn choreographic
repertory from Coyaba Dance Theater that will culminate into a
performance for your school complete with costumes and live music.
Our objective is for students to enhance, goal setting and team-building
skills as well as to perform with a professional company!
Coyaba Academy for the Arts Children's Classes
Coyaba Dance Theater offers classes for children throughout
the year. Please call for session start dates. Coyaba
Academy for the Arts is located at 3305 8th Street, NE Studio
H, adjacent to Dance Place.
Offerings
Coyaba Dance Theater is also available for:
Programs for Seniors
Weddings
Corporate Events
Festivals
What Critics Have Said about Coyaba Dance Theater:
"Soumah has transmitted her zeal for the total experience
of African dance - its uplifting essence as well as its form
- to others in such a powerful and artful way."
-- Sarah Kaufman, The Washington Post
"Coyaba Dance Theater...performs with easy charm."
-- Pamela Squires, The Washington Post
"Coyaba Dance Theater is more than a dance company -- it is a
community."
-- The Washington Post
"A flourish of female dancers creating rhythmic poetry..."
-- Lucia Mauro, Chicago Tribune
"Coyaba Dance Theater laments the loss of society."
-- Kristen Brodenberger, The Washington Post
"Coyaba Dance Theater...fierce, sexy and contemporary."
--The Washington Post
For more information about Coyaba Dance Theater, bookings or
to receive a press packet please contact us:
Founder/Artistic Director: Sylvia Soumah
Assistant Directors: Marcia Howard
Company Manager:Sylvia Soumah, call Sylvia at 240-643-1831 to arrange bookings.
Phone: 240-643-1831
Email: coyabadance@yahoo.com
Coyaba Dance Theater
3225 8th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
To download photos in high resolution suitable for newspapers,
magazines, or print, click here.
Top photos by Stan Barouh.