DANCE ORIGIN: Central Africa
GENRE: Congolese/Balari Ethnic Group
DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: Renee Puckett
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT: Neema Foster, Mason Larkin
First Appearance in SF EDF: 2005
Email: Neypuc@yahoo.com
 

The Congo, on the continent of Africa, is often mistaken as a country when it actually consists of two neighboring countries in Central Africa that are divided by the Congo River. The smaller of the two countries, the Republic of the Congo, sometimes called Congo-Brazzaville, is a former French colony to the west, whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also referred to as Congo-Kinshasa (formerly Zaire), the third largest country on the African continent, was a Belgian colony.
 

The Balari are one of over two hundred tribal groups in the Congos. Residing in the dense tropical rain forest in the south of Congo-Brazzaville, the Balari had a rich musical tradition traveling from village to village with songs of love, death and friendship, and playing ritual music for funerals. With an animistic faith, the Balari’s religion centers on ancestor and spirit sects that play a large role in their societal social and political organization.

The drum takes on critical importance in any African dance ritual because it is a symbol of life and of the continuity of heritage. One of the oldest drums of Congo is the tall, cylindrical standing drum, the n’goma, played throughout centuries at births, weddings, funerals, healing rituals and as a way for one village to communicate with another. It is believed that by using this drum, participants can communicate with the spirits of their ancestors.

Ballet Lisanga Congolese Performing Arts Company was created in 2004 to preserve and promote the Congolese performance tradition and to carry on the work of their teachers. Artistic director, Renee Puckett was a member and assistant director to the late Malonga Casquelourd’s cherished Fua Dia Congo Dance Company and the Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company.