Assane Konte KanKouran West African Dance Co. Scholarship

I am a passionate dancer and lover of African dance. When I was younger, my Mom suggested I take up dance recreationally. I found a sense of liberation that felt like I had been loosed from the chains of all my anxiety and depression. I was happy, and it was real. This past summer I did a brief internship teaching Black dancers from ages to 3-13. Throughout the summer, we spent some time studying African diaspora's diverse history, including the transatlantic slave trade, the migration of African peoples and their cultural and social legacies as it relates to dance. I helped foster more understanding and empathy towards the diaspora's struggles and successes and uncover the evolution of dance and movement. The young dancers had so much fun. Definitely it was fun for me too, and I also learned some valuable lessons about the value of African dance, expression and artistic form. I'm currently at Spelman College pursing dance as a major and two (2) minors: education and psychology. I want to spread joy through the art of dance, including African dance. My legacy will be one of the joy through dance. One thing I firmly believe is that joy is revolutionary and literally life-changing. Dance provides opportunities for people to explore their identities and tell their stories through movement. This past fall, I performed onstage alongside my fellow Spelman dance sisters. Our big performance was entitled "aunTEA". Our show highlighted the experience of the Black woman through her connection with other Black women and African dance and music throughout African diaspora cultures. I was honored to share and amplify knowledge about the rich cultural, historical, and social contributions of the African diaspora and dance. After college, I plan to pursue a career as a Dance Movement Therapist (DMT). DMTs engage in advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care and promote access to therapy services. I want to help Black people the way dance helped me. I plan to incorporate elements of African dance. I will promote African diaspora cultures by teaching and sharing African dance movements and traditions. It is so important to me that young black dancers maintain a strong connection to their heritage. I plan to pursue that mission with the aid of this scholarship. I was moved to apply for this scholarship because I am in great of financial aid for college. Thank you sincerely for your consideration for your scholarship.