Biography
Dyalli dance group was founded in 2002. in Zagreb (Croatia) by a group of friends, African culture, music and dance lovers/promoters. From its early beginnings, the group has presented its work at numerous events and festivals (FAKI- Zagreb's festival of alternative theatre expression, the Founding Ceremony of the Croatian-African Friendship Society etc.). With the wish to share their love and knowledge on Africa with others, DYALLI members started in 2005. a joint project with the Student Center in Zagreb called „Korijeni“ (meaning Roots), an introduction to African culture. That is when they’ve started to regularly teach African dance courses. The project also included a series of lectures on African culture(s) and tradition.
Being the only ones doing African dance in Croatia (for now), DYALLI dancers have often travelled a foreign for education dance techniques improvement. They have participated in many dance workshops and worked with different dance and percussion collectives. In the six years of stage experience, DYALLI dance group has preformed at various festivals, live shows, concerts and other events (to name a few: Student Center’s Culture Fair; FRIK! Francophone theater festival; NEBO ethno music festival; CESTistheBEST street art festival; FABRICA LATINA latin music event; the summer opening ceremony at the Esplanada Hotel in Zagreb; Rhythm Tribe CD & DVD promotion events; the Biggest percussion gathering in Croatia; Ricardo Luque’s CD promo concert, etc.)
Apart from live stage performances, the group’s members occasionally organize and teach African dance workshops, which lead them across the country (Osijek Youths Summer festival; Multikulti festival in the island of Šolta; Student Center Fair in Zagreb; FISTT Art Festival, etc.), and currently they teach an whole year dance course in Multimedia Center KOPRIVA in Zagreb (Ilica 196).
After several years of effort and investment in the organization of different manifestations and events (ex: The Annual International Africa Day Celebration), their wish of widening their activities in fields of education and presentation of African culture has come true in 2009. when DYALLI officially became a registered national Association for cultural cooperation and the promotion of African Culture in Croatia.
In stage performances DYALLI uses music of different styles and origins (traditional African percussion, contemporary African music, soukous, lingala, rhumba, coupé decalé, world music, gwoka, soca) from all over Africa and African Diaspora (the Caribbean), or is backed by live percussion (cooperation with percussion groups Rhythm Tribe, Naš Mali Afro Bend, Zemljani or others).
Josipa Bekić and Kahithe Kiiru both perform and choreograph all their dance shows, and they also make their own costumes (Josipa Bekić) and matching jewelry (Kahithe Kiiru).
Being the only ones doing African dance in Croatia (for now), DYALLI dancers have often travelled a foreign for education dance techniques improvement. They have participated in many dance workshops and worked with different dance and percussion collectives. In the six years of stage experience, DYALLI dance group has preformed at various festivals, live shows, concerts and other events (to name a few: Student Center’s Culture Fair; FRIK! Francophone theater festival; NEBO ethno music festival; CESTistheBEST street art festival; FABRICA LATINA latin music event; the summer opening ceremony at the Esplanada Hotel in Zagreb; Rhythm Tribe CD & DVD promotion events; the Biggest percussion gathering in Croatia; Ricardo Luque’s CD promo concert, etc.)
Apart from live stage performances, the group’s members occasionally organize and teach African dance workshops, which lead them across the country (Osijek Youths Summer festival; Multikulti festival in the island of Šolta; Student Center Fair in Zagreb; FISTT Art Festival, etc.), and currently they teach an whole year dance course in Multimedia Center KOPRIVA in Zagreb (Ilica 196).
After several years of effort and investment in the organization of different manifestations and events (ex: The Annual International Africa Day Celebration), their wish of widening their activities in fields of education and presentation of African culture has come true in 2009. when DYALLI officially became a registered national Association for cultural cooperation and the promotion of African Culture in Croatia.
In stage performances DYALLI uses music of different styles and origins (traditional African percussion, contemporary African music, soukous, lingala, rhumba, coupé decalé, world music, gwoka, soca) from all over Africa and African Diaspora (the Caribbean), or is backed by live percussion (cooperation with percussion groups Rhythm Tribe, Naš Mali Afro Bend, Zemljani or others).
Josipa Bekić and Kahithe Kiiru both perform and choreograph all their dance shows, and they also make their own costumes (Josipa Bekić) and matching jewelry (Kahithe Kiiru).
