KANKOUR A N

April 5, 2013

WEST AFRICAN DANCE COMPANY Contact: (202) 518-1213

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BREAKING NEWS!!!

AN UNPRECIDENTED MOVEMENT BY DC RESIDENTS, ACTIVISTS AND SUPPORTERS TO STOP THE MASSIVE EROSION OF THE AFRICAN CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN THE DISTRICT
The Washington, D.C. area has seen a massive erosion of African educational and cultural organizations in recent years. This Movement by District residents, activists and supporters is an attempt to stop the erosion of these organizations and to develop a sustainable and permanent residence base in the District. Just in the past two months, two pioneer DC- based performing arts institutions, the 50 plus year old African Heritage Dancers and Drummers and KanKouran West African Dance Company, almost 30 years old, have been forced to shut their doors indefinitely where they have been offering educational and cultural arts programming to the D.C. community, national and international communities collectively for more than 80 years. Other District-based arts organizations such as the DMV Arts Alliance share our concern and effort to identify a sustainable environment for our continued growth and existence in the District of Columbia. Supporters are being asked to contact DC Council Members as well as testify at the upcoming Office on African Affairs budget hearings on Friday, April 19 at 10am at the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. For local arts organizations, it has become extremely difficult and almost impossible to secure and maintain affordable studio space in the District. As such, these organizations have been operating on life support. Sadly the rapid pace of redevelopment and gentrification in the District of Columbia has not been kind to arts organizations like KanKouran. While we applaud the citys rebirth, and all of the wonderful, new things occurring around us, DCs African and African American cultural treasures are going by the wayside, in the very face of the Districts transformation. Additionally, the current economic crisis has further crippled these organizations and has threatened their very survival. The departure of KanKouran West African Dance Company and the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers from the D.C. cultural and performing arts scene will have a devastating impact on the Districts rich cultural fabric and on the people these organizations have served for decadesespecially the children. Movement Objectives: Stop the erosion and focus on the preservation and sustainability of the Africa cultural organizations in the District of Columbia. It cannot be done by organizations alone; Provide Grant Making Authority for the Mayors Office on African Affairs (OAA) equal to other DC government offices with similar mandate that will allow OAA to oversee technical assistance grants that will allow African cultural organizations to maintain their presence in DC; Provide immediate relief including appropriate studio space for KanKouran and engage in discussions with other organizations like the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers to ascertain their needs and options.

How you can help

1) Call, Visit or Email Mayor Vincent Gray and DC Council Members Listed below;
Mayor Vincent Gray: Tel: (202) 727-6300; Email: eom@dc.gov

Council Members on the Committee on Workforce and Community Affairs

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Marion Barry Ward 8; Chair; Tel: (202) 724-8045; Email: mbarry@dccouncil.us Kenyan McDuffy Ward 5; Tel: (202) 724-8028; Email: kmcduffie@dccouncil.us Tommy Wells - Ward 6 ; Tel: (202) 724-8072; Email: twells@dccouncil.us Yvette Alexander Ward 7: Tel: (202) 724-8068; Email: yalexander@dccouncil.us Jim Graham- Ward 1: Tel: (202) 724-8181; Email: jgraham@dccouncil.us

2) TESTIFY at OAAs Upcoming Council Budget Hearing, FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 10 AM

Budget Hearing for the Office on African Affairs has been scheduled for Friday, April 19th at 10:00AM. The hearing will be held in room 120 at the John Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). Persons wishing to testify about the performance of OAA or another Community Affairs agency may contact Garret King, Committee on Workforce and Community Affairs at 741-0948 or email: gking@dccouncil.us.
KanKouran members and supporters are primarily from DC, with several members and supporters living in the metropolitan area. We are District residents looking to be served by those we elect into office.

What You Should Know About KanKouran

KanKouran was founded in Washington, DC in 1983 as a non-profit performing arts organization by Assane Konte and Abdou Kounta, both nationals of Senegal, West Africa. The company members are from Africa, the Caribbean and the United States, all dedicated to the companys purpose of preserving and sharing the rich culture of Africa. The company has been offering educational and cultural programming for children and adults in the authentic dancing and drumming styles of West Africa. The companys outstanding reputation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and nationally, has deemed it one of the most significant cultural institutions deeply rooted in the Districts art scene. Under the leadership of its highly acclaimed co-founder, choreographer and Artistic Director, Assane Konte, KanKouran has performed at some of the countrys most prominent venues, including the White House, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Smithsonian Institution. But its most treasured prize is the thousands of educational programs and performances the company has conducted for public, private, and charter schools throughout the Washington, DC area. KanKouran is host to the largest family reunion for African dancers and drummers in the United States for almost 30 years. This major national conference draws African dancers and drummers from across the US, Africa and the Caribbean and has sealed KanKourans reputation as a key treasure in the District of Columbia. The Companys success is perhaps best judged by its longevity and by the large number of company and community members who are involved in diverse academic, professional, and entrepreneurial pursuits, and who credit KanKouran with instilling within them the discipline, pride, and commitment to self and community which have made their life pursuits meaningful as well as successful. KanKouran is also internationally acclaimed, having performed as far away as Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Of all these places, KanKouran proudly calls Washington DC home.

For more information, please visit us at www.kankouran.org WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. The spirit lives on! -###-