Fana Soro

Discipline: Music
Homebase: Gatineau
Languages: English, French, African Dialects
Grant Eligibility: Eligible for 40% AIE

Fana Soro is a West African musician from the Ivory Coast. His experience as a primary performer with the Ballet National of Ivory Coast is what gave him the opportunity to share his culture with audiences across the world. His expertise include traditional West African dance, percussions and a traditional Senoufo instrument called the Balafon. The Senoufo village where Fana was raised places a great importance on passing traditions on to younger generations. Since his arrival in Canada, Fana has educated and inspired thousands of students through exciting West African music and dance.

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Performance(s)

Yamo Yamo - Greetings from Africa

School Year: 23-24
Discipline: Music, Dance
Offered Languages: English, French
Grade Suitability: K - 12
Duration: 50mins.
Capacity: 300
Tech Requirements: 1 microphone, 8 chairs
Available Formats: In Person

Yamo! Yamo!" ("Hello! How are you doing!" in Baoule) from the charismatic ambassador of West African culture! In this dynamic and interactive performance, Fana Soro, a hereditary master musician of the Senoufo people, shares the musical traditions of Ivory Coast to showcase the soaring melodies, driving rhythms and spirited dances of traditional West African performing arts.

Workshop(s)

West African Drumming Workshop

School Year: 23-24
Discipline: Music
Offered Languages: English, French
Grade Suitability: K - 12
Duration: 1 day
Capacity: 50
Tech Requirements: must have use of workshop space for full day (music room or gym)
Available Formats: In Person

This workshop offers a flexible structure which can be tailored to your needs (all dance, all music, or a combination of the two to give your students a taste of everything.) As a master percussionist, Fana will introduce traditional playing techniques of the djembe, West Africa's most popular drum. He will share call and response in various languages native to northern Ivory Coast.

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Testimonials & Reviews

An artist with integrity, vision, and immense talent, Fana has been a positive influence on hundreds of Vancouver students and educators and I give him my highest recommendation. Valerie Dare, Director, Oceanside Community Arts Council

Fana offers a number of programs through MASC: West African drumming and dance workshops, as well as a solo performance. Fana has a strong commitment to arts education and offers these performances and workshops to students ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 12/sec V. His work is of the highest artistic and educational quality, he is conscientious and offers his art form with much enthusiasm and creativity. Schools consistently have a high regard for the vibrant experience that Fana Soro offers. Wendy Hartley, Director, MASC

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