IDY CISS COMMUNITY CLASS

CLASS DESCRIPTION

We’re excited to launch our very first ongoing community class, and we’re kicking it off with an 8-week session! IDY CISS COMMUNITY CLASS happens every Friday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Mayfair Arts Center. Whether you’re a dancer looking to sharpen your skills, someone wanting to move and get active, or you're curious to learn more about West African dance — especially traditions from Senegal — this space is for you. We’re blessed to learn from one of our most beloved and respected Babas, Baba Idy Ciss, who has been pouring into the Chicago community for over 20 years. This class is an opportunity to train under his guidance, receive his wisdom, and strengthen our technique. Baba Idy grew up in Senegal, immersed in a deep tradition of dance passed down by his grandparents, who were celebrated dancers in their village. From the age of five, he was called upon to perform at special ceremonies, and it was the love and support of his family and neighbors that nurtured him into a professional artist — a journey that mirrors the experience of so many in Chicago’s village, where we know firsthand how pouring into one another can ignite passion-filled careers. Baba Idy’s career has taken him from performing with Les Ballets Africans Kolaam Serere and Ballets Africans to gracing stages before presidents and global leaders. He is a former member of Muntu Dance Theatre and has taught West African dance at major global conferences, universities, and local schools. His artistry is rooted in the power of rhythm as a living language — a way to connect, heal, and celebrate our shared traditions. Baba Idy continues to share his love for dance and his village with our village here in Chicago. "My art and work are firmly grounded in the West African aesthetic and consistently seek to create opportunities to bring people into relationship with each other. My approach does not take differences lightly, but illuminates the uniqueness and critical issues that make us both different and alike. In this way, I am invested in transforming lives and bringing new context to traditional and contemporary dance, audiences, and art creators." — Baba Idy Ciss But it’s bigger than just dance. This is about healing, connecting, and honoring the culture and traditions that bind us. Let’s show up, move, train, and love on each other the way only our village can. Class Pricing: $15 for a single class $55 for a 4-week pass $100 for an 8-week pass