Assane Konte is founder, artistic director, choreography, and costume designer of KanKouran West African Dance Company. His career as a professional dancer began at age 15 with Ballet Africaine de Diebel Guee of Dakar, Senegal. In 1983, along with his childhood friend and master drummer, Abdou Kounta, Assane founded KanKouran West African Dance Company. He has promoted cross-cultural appreciation and understanding by his dedication to preserving and sharing Africa’s rich culture through dance and music. In 2019 Assane was awarded a Dance/USA Fellowship to Artists through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Chuck Hicks | The 202Studio

Welcome to The 202Studio, a podcast series from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities exploring the history and heartbeat of Washington, DC's creativity and culture. The series was recorded in stages throughout 2018 and 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Arts Commission's original establishment on November 29, 1968.

Unless otherwise noted, episode guests are independent professionals, not employees or affiliates of CAH or the District of Columbia government. The views expressed are their own and not necessarily those of CAH or the District of Columbia government.