Director of the Dance Company Georges Momboye,
Founder of the of pluri-African dances and the cultures of the world Centre
Been born in Kouibly (Ivory Cost), in one of the richest regions in masks of dance societies, Georges Momboye dances since his childhood, rocked by the rhythms and the songs of his country.
From the age of 13 years, he gives African dance and forms lessons in parallel in ballet dance, jazz and modern ' jazz. Its curiosity and its concern of perfection urge him to enrich its training with some great choreographers such as : Alvin Ailey, Brigitte Matenzi, Rick Odums and Gisèle Houri. Unesco orders him its big first choreography " The Peace ", in which it steers 50 dancers, on the occasion of a congress in Félix Houphouet Boigny Foundation. The spectacle presented in front of Francisco Mayor in Yamoussoukro gains an enormous success. Since 1992, Georges Momboye settled in France, to make shine the African traditional and contemporary dance.
Georges Momboye, federative element
He bases in Paris his company of dance with which he creates seven spectacles among which " Le Zaouli " which will worth him the price of the best spectacle intended to the Young Public awarded by the Musical youths of France and the Afrique-Orient Tradition Association, " Kamanda... What do you think about it? " Which will be presented in preview in the Lyon Biennale dance in September 94 and " At first was the drum " which will know a loud success in Caracas.
Full of life of the concern to federate the young African artists around a project which allows them to express, Georges Momboye melts in Abidjan in 97 " Ivory Dances Company ". The first spectacle GLATAGLA presented and co produced by the French Cultural centre in Abidjan opened beautiful perspectives to this company.
Always in the same spirit, he bases in Paris DJIBALA GROOVE PERCUSSIONS, a music group of 11 musicians and singers which has already produced in the Tanning and in the Bataclan. Djibala's philosophy: restore a honor place in the African percussion in surrounding modern instruments.
... A future for the recognition of the African dance
To put the African dance and allow it to bloom, Georges Momboye based the PLURI AFRICAN DANCES AND WORLD CULTURES CENTRE which opened its doors in September, 98. Situated in 25 rue Boyer in Paris in the 20th district, it allows to the actors of the African dance to have finally a place where to exercise their art in real professional conditions. The pupils find there a quality education and a personalized reception.
Georges Momboye is regularly urged to give trainings in France and in Europe (Birmingham, London, Brussels at Mamady Keïta, Festival from Vienna to Austria, Festival of Neuchâtel in Switzerland(Swiss), Festival of Amsterdam) as well as in the United States: New York, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Sacramento's university, in Venezuela and in Asia.
Georges Momboye also created choreographies for clips (Apha Blondy, Kool and the gang) and realized two choreographies for the international tour 97 of the American company " Dimensions Dance Theater " based in San Francisco.
Georges Momboye's choreography, an eclectic creator
Georges Momboye created the following choreographies : In France, the "Harry Janos" opera by ZOLTAN KODALY, directed by Jean-Paul Scarpitta, with Gérard Depardieu. A commission from Radio France for the opening of the Montpellier Festival on 15 and 16 July 2002, at the Opéra Berlioz-Le-Corum, and performed again at Montpellier in May 2004 and at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in June 2004.
AFRIKA, AFRIKA, a show involving 120 artists (musicians, dancers and circus artists) as a tribute to African art and creativity, was performed abroad in December 2005. Created for the big top, AFRIKA AFRIKA toured in some of the largest towns and cities in Germany and Austria in 2005 and 2006, and is about to go on international tour (London, Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, etc...)
