Rachel Bangoura

Rachel Bangoura has travelled to Conakry, the Republic of Guinea many times to study traditional Guinean dance and rhythm. In Conakry, she studied privately with principal artists from Les Ballets Africains and Ballet Matam, including the renowned director and choereographer Sekouba Camara, Aminata Conte and Nema Camara. In Australia she has studied under masters such as Epizo Bangoura (Guinea), Mory Traore (Guinea), Abdulaye Camara (Senegal), Aku Kadogo and Fode Mane (Senegal). She has developed a close affinity with the Guinean artistic communities in Conakry and here in Australia. Rachel now performs and works alongside the leading West African musicians in Sydney.

Rachel has developed an in depth knowledge of Guinean traditional rhythms and choreography; she is unique in this regard and renowned for this knowledge amongst the African and other dance communities in Australia. A talented and creative teacher, Rachel currently teaches extensively in and around Sydney and is regularly invited to teach workshops around Australia, including Canberra, the Blue Mountains, Dance Expo and several local festivals. She has travelled to Europe to teach in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Having trained in Classical and other contemporary dance styles, Rachel is able to articulate for western students the differences in the African styles.

Rachel has choreographed several pieces for performance and worked in collaboration with groups of dancers with various dance backgrounds. She has performed regularly with traditional percussion group Mohata and recently performed for Mamady Keita at his tribute concert in sydney. She is co-director of newly formed dance group Douniya, working alongside Guinean dancer/choreographer Mory Traore