Djapo: Marie Basse-Wiles
and Omari Wiles
At outdoor Henry J. Leir Stage: Jun 27
Event Dates
About
Djapo: Marie Basse-Wiles and Omari Wiles
Friday, June 27 at 5:30pm | Henry J. Leir Stage
Pillow Debut
Omari Wiles—a force in New York’s ballroom and dance scenes—joins his mother, Marie Basse-Wiles, a revered figure in African diasporic dance, for Djapo, a vibrant new work commissioned by Works & Process, bringing together their companies Les Ballet Afrik and Maimouna Keita School of African Dance.
Rooted in the rhythms of Senegal and Mali, this electrifying performance blends traditional West African dance with contemporary African club culture, Afrobeats, and live percussion, shaped through the duo’s intergenerational collaboration. Company dancers come together for an in-process performance of Djapo, exploring the evolution of movement, music, and community, celebrating the deep ties between past and present while amplifying the visibility of African cultural traditions in today’s global dance landscape.
Djapo’s development is supported by Works & Process LaunchPAD residencies at Bethany Arts Community, Watermill Center, Pocantico Center, and Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross. Music commission made possible by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. Additional support provided by the New York State Council on the Arts.