Lamine Dabo
Storyteller, musician and dancer
Lamine Dabo comes from Senegal and has travelled around the world for many years as an ambassador for timeless African authenticity.
In 1996, with his diploma from the national Conservatoire of Arts and Culture of Senegal in his pocket, he starts his career as an acrobat - dancer with the national ballet of Senegal, La Linguère, and tours with them on world renown stages in Europe, China, the United States and numerous African countries; in 1996, they perform a concert with the Senegalese musician Youssou N’Dour.
During the same year, Lamine Dabo obtains a honorary diploma from the Prison Visitors Association, one the most important Senegalese associations for social reintegration of prison inmates.
In 2000, after a tour with the ballet in Italy, Lamine Dabo decides to settle in this country to teach rhythm and Senegalese dance; through his own experiences his wishes to transmit the true culture of this great African country in its most authentic and moving form.
Lamine Dabo then starts to perform in Rome and the rest of Italy with numerous Senegalese groups: Sunu Africa, Tamburi di Gorèe, Africa Djembe, Badu N’Diaye, Mande di Pape Kanute, participating in numerous TV programmes (Rai uno, Rai due, Rai tre, Rete quattro, Canale cinque, Stream tv, Tele Ambiente, Tele Donna, Tele Lazio).
For the 2002-2003 season he choreographs the show The Dreams Merchant, organised by the Ateneo Theatre of the La Sapienza University of Rome.
In 2001, he creates Farafinaritmi, an African dance and music company, one of the most famous and important African dance companies in Rome. As choreographer, Lamine Dabo is called upon to direct numerous dance shows for events in Rome (9 September 2006 : La Nuit Blanche with the UNICEF) ; he also teaches African dance, hip hop, salsa and percussions, and since 2002 directs African dance and percussion workshops in schools in Rome.
In 2004, Farafinaritmi becomes a socio-cultural association with the aim of becoming a resource and documentation point for artists and students researching traditional and contemporary African arts. The association also wishes to preserve a certain cultural identity through its own development and research in the vast heritage of artistic languages issued from the Black Continent.
Today the Farafinaritmi association is composed of the Orchestre Tribù Farafina and the African Music and Dance Company. The repertoire of the orchestra is part of the latest generations of Italian Afro reggae and gets its inspiration from the African slave music as well as from the Jamaican music of the Rastafarians. Lamine Dabo is the artistic director of the ensemble, conductor of the Tribù Farafina and choreographer of the Farafinaritmi company.
In 2002 and 2003, Lamine Dabo followed courses of cultural mediation and from 2004 till now works as a cultural activity leader in holiday resorts and other beach resorts.
Website: www.farafinaritmi.org
