faty diassy

Faty Diassy really portrays what it's like to be Senegalese and African-American . She is the first cousin of Ballet National of Senegal, drummer and dancer Malang Bayo. The family originates from the Casamance region of Senegal where her father Ibrahima Diassy was born and raised. Her mother who resides in Los Angeles who is also a dancer, is schooled in classical ballet and was train through studying with Dance Theater of Harlem, who also later studied with Malang Bayo when he moved to Los Angeles. Faty grew up in a household where Senegalese and American culture was an everyday experience, she listened to African and all genres of African-American music. Growing up, Faty took many classes in Los Angeles at Lula Washington Dance Theater and Debbie Allen Dance Academy. In addition, Faty has travelled across the nation to places like Oakland, New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago to take part in West African Dance Conferences featuring world-renowned master dancers and drummers. In Los Angeles she has studied under her mother Bayette “N’della” Davis-Diassy, Mareme Faye, Aziz Faye, Babacar Ndiaye of Senegal and Nzingha Camara. In Oakland, she has studied under Alseny Soumah and Marietou Camara of Guinea, Naomi Diouf of Liberia and Ousseynou Kouyate of Senegal/Mali. In New York, she has studied under Marie Basse, and Malang Bayo of Senegal and Youssouf Koumbassa of Guinea. In Washington D.C., she has studied under Assane Konte of Senegal and in Chicago Moustapha Bangoura of Guinea. Upon traveling she had the opportunity to also study with Djeneba Sako (Mali), Mabiba Baenge (Congo), Naby Bangoura (Guinea) and the late Abdoulaye Sylla of Guinea. Faty is well versed in Djembe, Sabar and Kutiro dance styles.

From elementary school until now, Faty has participated in and has progressed to be principal dancer in Dembrebrah West African Dance and Drum Ensemble with whom she does annual shows at The Aquarium of the Pacific for African-American History month and International Children's Day. She has also performed at various universities and schools for different youth programs. She has danced at City of Refuge and Faithful Central Bible Church, which are two of the biggest African-American churches in Los Angeles. Faty has also danced at many events such as weddings, birthdays and productions while maintaining a 4.4 GPA at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. She has performed for the 100 year anniversary gala for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority whose audience included the likes of Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tim and Daphne Reed, Kym Whitley and Blair Underwood. When Senegalese pop artist Viviane Chidid came to Los Angeles for a concert, Faty was asked to join her on stage to dance. In 2015 she was asked to join Le Ballet Dembaya, which is a group of friends who grew up in the West African Drum and Dance culture together. 

In June 2016 she graduated from Junipero Serra High School and was ranked top 5 of her graduating class. She now attends San Diego State University with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Africana Studies. Faty wants to become a dermatologist and create products and medicine of her own, especially for people of color. At San Diego State University, she is part of the African Student Union, Black Students Science Organization, Med Life, and the Student African American Sisterhood. She’s also working on starting a dance class to share her culture on a university campus.