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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-88
In the Council of the District of Columbia
July 1, 2013
To recognize and honor Sylvia Soumah for her extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, and positive contributions to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as Founder and Artistic Director of Coyaba Dance Theater, Inc.
WHEREAS, Sylvia Soumah established Coyaba Dance Theater, Inc. in Washington, D.C. in 1997, and is in residence at Dance Place, located in the Brookland neighborhood in Ward 5;
WHEREAS, Coyaba Dance Theater, Inc. is a contemporary West African dance company whose mission is to present authentic portrayals of African dance, music, and other artistic and educational programs, focusing on the diverse ethnic groups of the African Diaspora and the African American experience;
WHEREAS, under Sylvia Soumah’s leadership, Coyaba Dance Theater provides informative and energetic community classes, workshops, and performances for all populations of people;
WHEREAS, under Sylvia Soumah’s leadership, Coyaba Dance Theater serves as a cultural ambassador, bringing attention to the importance of the struggles as well as the beauty of the continent of Africa through artistry, compassion, and humanity as it relates to American culture;
WHEREAS, under Sylvia Soumah’s leadership, Coyaba Dance Theater received the Washington, D.C. Dance Award for Outstanding Group Performance in 2001 and 2004;
WHEREAS, under Sylvia Soumah’s leadership, in 2007, Coyaba Dance Theater received a $10,000 Creation Fund Grant from the National Performance Network for a new work entitled “Destiny,” which premiered in Washington, D.C.;
WHEREAS, under Sylvia Soumah’s leadership, Coyaba Dance Theater has performed at the World Culture Open in Seoul, South Korea, with Master Dancers/Choreographers Moustapha Bangoura in Conakry, Guinea and Bouly Sonko in Dakar, Senegal, at DanceAfrica DC and DanceAfrica Chicago, the Shakespeare Theatre, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Barns at Wolf Trap, National Theatre, THEARC and The Atlas;
WHEREAS, Coyaba Dance Theater provides outreach performances and educational workshops for the Washington Performing Arts Society at schools in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and has performed and conducted outreach programs for the Smithsonian; and
WHEREAS, under the dynamic leadership of Sylvia Soumah, Coyaba Dance Theater was rated number 1 by the Washington Post for their all-inclusive, high-spirited dance class experience.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCI L OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Sylvia Soumah Recognition Resolution of 2013”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia wholeheartedly honors Sylvia Soumah for 16 years of extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, and positive contributions to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as the Founder and Artistic Director of Coyaba Dance Theater.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
