I met a girl name Imani, she is Black African American who was born and raise here In the United States. She is 25 years old and she went to Baruch college, she is a dance and education major. She’s short with long color red hair, her body is slim, with low voice. She lived with her mother and father and three of her brothers. Imani started learning the Sabar dance when she was 12 years old. Her mother never wanted her to dance, she wanted her to focus on school and get a job. After, she was not in good terms with her mother, because she wasnt following her mothers words. However, she had a boyfriend that she was going out with for 4 years, he was helping her paying the dance class. After she broke with him, so she found herself a job and she was paying it for herself. She enjoyed dancing to Sabar, she’s perfect with the dance because she’s been doing it for many years now.
During the conversation with Imani, she was exited to talk about the dance class. She said, " Sabar is a dance that I Love and Enjoy doing, when I'm stress i'll dance, if I have nothing to do i will dance to saber." She feel comfortable with the dance, she loves the drum beats and energetic the dance has. Imani like to be in the front row, Imani feel more comfortable being in the front, because she said she will learn more from the teacher. When Imani first started the dance she didn’t like it, It was difficult for her and it was hard for her to learn. She was always confused with the dance because of the feet and the hand movement. At sometimes she would say that she will quit but she forced her self to learn. She said, “ When i visited senegal in 2009, i went to a lot of Sabar celebration. The people were friendly and kind, i felt like i was Senegalaise because i was doing everything they were doing, like cooking going out to a weeding or baby shower. I was also learning new dance from them and the song they sing when they are about to dance.” i asked her If she was comfortable when she first arrived and when she saw the acting of the people was it something new to her? she said, “ At some point i was uncomfortable but then i was fine.Everything was new to me, the way people were dressing with the African attire just walking around the house or cooking, it was shocking and i loved it.” Imani was also taking sabar classes there while she was visiting and showing the people in the neighborhood she was performing the dance that she learned. Overall, Imani’s goal is to have her own class and start to teach. Imani know more of the dance move then the other students, because she’s been there longer then them.
I also interview I guy name Abdou Rahmane Diallo. His also a Sabar dancer. Abdou Rahmane was born and raise here. His from Guinea, West Africa. He never used to like dancing. His a student at Baruch college studying finance. Dancing was never his thing. However, when he went to visit his aunt in Senegal for tree weeks, there was a Sabar celebration that occur while he was there. He said, " I was standing by the ruth watching this celebration of Sabar, I was shock, I never knew there was a dance like this, It was interested to me." When Abdou Saw the dance he wanted to learned it, he said," I love Sabar, is something I enjoy doing." When he came back from his visit, he started to search of they were any Sabar class, so that he could learn. He couldn't find any, however one of his Senegalais friend told him about the class. He started taking the class in 2006 until now. His pretty good with the dance and his willing to know every step so that in his future dreams can teach it himself.
Abdou Rahmane When back to Senegal in 2009 with his dance class. They went to visit and to also learn. They had performed in Concert to show the people in Senegal that they also know the dance. He said, " I was uncomfortable being on that stage performing in front of people." Abdou Rahmane is a little shy performing in front of people. They met some artist, and they also performed for them. Overall, Abdou became a great dancer and he enjoy doing the dance. This dance is something that he does all the time, on his free time.
