Aboubacar Camara was born in Guinea, West Africa, and began drumming with a local troupe at the age of nine, thrilled to absorb the music and culture of his country. By the age of 19 he had become a dancer and choreographer of the national Ballets Soleil d'Afrique de Guinea, and after touring internationally he moved to Canada in 1995 where he performed with the Juno award-winning group Alpha Yaya Diallo. He also started a troupe in Vancouver called Doundounba Music and Dance that would help Canadians learn the two arts: drumming and dancing. That's when he met Coast resident Charlie Hopson, who has been drumming for about 10 years. Hopson is frequently heard accompanying Jean-Pierre Makosso's African dance class in Gibsons. Hopson will bring Doundounba, including Aboubacar Camara and drummer Sekou Syllam, to the Coast for special workshops on Jan. 30 and 31 at the Kinsmen Hall (at Dougall Park) in Gibsons. The sessions promise to be full of energy and high jumps, says Hopson. Friday workshops include one dance session in which movements are choreographed to follow traditional rhythms and one drum session on the djembe (hand drum) and the doundoun (bass drum). The sessions are repeated on Saturday. Each class is $12, or two classes for $22. After the class on Saturday, Hopson hopes to hold an informal dance and drum party. Check with him about this when you register at 604-886-9517. More information about the dance troupe can be found at www.doundounba.ca.
