The Goddess, Zaouli is a treasured mythical West African story about love, jealousy, redemption and compassion. Zaouli Djèla Lou is a goddess who comes of age and becomes eligible for marriage. Her father, the Lion, deems only the Bird and the Serpent worthy of her hand in marriage and organizes a race to decide which one will win her. Rather than rushing to Zaouli after completing the difficult two-day race, the Bird and Serpent seek immediate food and water, ignoring Zaouli and the true intention of the race. Witnessing her suitor’s selfishness, Zaouli flees into the forest, suffering from a broken heart. Rather than help Zaouli in her time of need, her friend leaves her to die without food and water because of her life-long jealousy of the goddess. Although Zaouli dies in the forest, her spirit returns to her father and disloyal friend, revealing compassion and love rather than hatred and revenge.

Diadie Bathily’s truly brings “The Goddess, Zaloui” to life on the stage with intense and spell-binding choreography, brilliant costumes from Ivory Coast, and the accompaniment of outstanding West African drumming.

Dance Celebration is a captivating journey into West African dance, culture, and art, providing the audience with an amazing and authentic West African experience.

Event info

MEDIA OPPS:
• Stunning, colorful b-roll of Diadie Bathily, dancers, and drummers performing.
• Interviews with Diadie Bathily and members of the dance company.

For further information about The Goddess Zaouli, please contact Diadie Bathily at 314-522-6308 or dbathily@yahoo.com.

Background Of The Artistic Director

Diadie Bathily is a master West African choreographer and dancer and the Artistic Director of two St. Louis-based West African dance companies—Afriky Lolo. Diadie grew up Abidjan and Bouake, Ivory Coast and studied dance at Marie-Rose Guiraud's School of Dance and Cultural Exchange in Abidjan and at Adam's Drame's Dance Institute in Boauake, Ivory Coast. Diadie has performed at the United Nations, with Village Arts & Humanities in Philadelphia, at universities across the country, and after teaching master classes at Temple University, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Washington University, Webster University, the Katherine Dunham School, he has made St. Louis his permanent home. For more into visit his web site.