One World Dance

African dance with live drumming

Mondays, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
beginner/intermediate with Sarah Lee

Mondays, 8:00-9:15 p.m.
intermediate with Sarah Lee

Thursdays, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
all levels with Karim

Planet Earth Yoga
418 N. 35th St.
(just east of Phinney Ave. on the north side of the street)

Class Prices:
  • $15 per class (drop-in rate)
  • $65 for a 5-class card ($13 per class)
  • $110 for a 10-class card ($11 per class)
  • $5.00 discount for attending both Monday classes

    • Monday Classes

    High-energy instruction in the traditional dance of Guinea, West Africa, by Sarah Lee Parker Koumbassa.

    Thursday Class

    In this upbeat class Karim Koumbassa will teach you traditional dances from Guinea West Africa. This class is a great blend of technique and vocabulary; you can expect to receive compassionate feedback and input on your dancing while at the same time picking up some sweet moves! As a beautiful and articulate dancer, Karim takes the time to really teach the nuances of the movements. As a great musician, he distinguishes the details of the rhythm and music, and how it fits with the movement. This is a fun, high energy class that will support you in growing as a dancer!

    Move your body to grooves from Guinea, West Africa. Simple choreography and a nurturing environment make this a very fun and inviting class.

    For more information, e-mail Sarah Lee Parker.

    I used muscles that I hadn't before and I like that! I felt great after class and really in touch with my body. It was a fabulous experience for me and I will be back next week for sure! The live drumming has such a huge impact. Plus nice, laid-back people with no pressure to look or be anything. — Amy

    Sarah Lee Parker Koumbassa

    One World Dance has been Sarah Lee Parker's dream for many, many years.

    Sarah Lee has an Undergraduate Degree in Exercise Science, Nutrition, and Health and Wellness from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She designed this degree after spending 6 months in an Intensive Care Unit in 1990, completely paralyzed from head to toe. Ever since, she has been a student and teacher of wellness and prevention, and is passionately committed to sharing what she has learned about how to be healthy.

    Among other things, she has been a member of the University of Minnesota Repertory Dance Company, managed the Fitness Program at the West Seattle YMCA (100 classes per/week), has studied with dozens of West African Dance Instructors, and is currently studying the healing effects of meditation.

    Live music by the One World Dance band

    Karim Koumbassa

    Karim Koumbassa leads the music for the class. Karim is a Master Drummer, Dancer, Choreographer, Director and Instrument Maker from Guinea West Africa who has worked extensively with some of the best and most renowned artists from his country such as Famadou Konate, Mamady Keita, and Youssouf Koumbassa. Before coming to the United States, he was the Artistic Director and Choreographer of the performance company Oiseaux Blanc. He has performed with many other professional ballets in Guinea, namely Les Merveilles de Guinee, Ballets Taille, Wassa So, and Kounkouri.

    The One World Dance band includes Larry Swanson, Lance Scott, Frenchy Lamont, Michael Hunter, and numerous other musicians from Seattle's large community of West African drummers.

    In addition to this core group, other musicians have sat in with us from time to time. World music percussionist Joseph "Pepe" Danza, Senegalese djembe master Thione Diop, Guinean balafon virtuoso and griot Naby Camara, local djembefola Tyler Richart, and many others have joined us over the past six years.

    Distinguished alumni of the band include Alika Santos, Cadence Howard, Christine Hopkins, Joe Katroscik, John vanBrokhoven, Meredith Jones, Phillip Seward, and Thierno Diop.

    OWD at the 2003 Solstice Parade

    Check out these photo albums (album 1, album 2) of our performance at the 2003 Fremont Solstice Parade.

    Photos


    One World Dance drummers and dancers at West Seattle's Hi-Yu Parade, 2002.


    One World Dance drummers at Alki, 2002. Until the police strongly suggested that we find a less noise-sensitive locale, we held class at this beautiful spot on Alki on nice days.


    Site created and hosted by Seattle massage therapist Larry Swanson, who also publishes the Bodywork U massage school directory and massage CEUs listing.