TESTIMONIALS

Appalachian State University- Boone, NC
"On the behalf of the Appalachian State University community, the Diversity Celebration Community extends its sincere appreciation for visiting us here in the mountains for our third diversity celebration. Sharing your talent with us enriches the diversity of our campus community and helped us embody our theme, "the more you know the more you grow-Water the Garden". It has been with your involvement that this year's event was a fantastic success, creating a wonderful and memorable tapestry of diversity and unity. Your gift has water the garden for many."
Robert Black-Outreach Assistant

Piedmont Virginia Community College- Charlottesville, VA
"Portraying the Yoruba Tradition of West Africa”, The Elegba Folklore Society recently performed at Piedmont Virginia Community College. I would highly recommend the performance of Mr. Cheick Sissoko, one of the 18 performers with this company of Dancers, musicians and storytellers"
Carrington Well-Director of Development & Arts Administrator

Kukundi Camp- Asheville, NC
"Thank you for Drumming at the Kukundi Camp Benefit. You are greatly appreciated in Asheville and we look forward to working with you in the future"
Amy & Lara Narayan

Dreams of Wilmington- Wilmington, NC
"He is an amazing teacher and has a good rapport with is students. He also teaches at the Juvenile Day Treatment Center. These kids are possibly the most difficult kids to work with, Cheick is one of the few teachers I've seen who is able to reach them and actually effect they lives positively.
They simply love him"
Tracy Wilkes-Co-founder and Executive Director for Dreams of Wilmington

Dance Cooperative- Wilmington, NC
"His ability to teach at different skill levels, ages and backgrounds is brilliant. He comes alive in front of an audience, whether in class or on stage. He has a way of super-charging both audience and performer that is really astonishing."
Suzanne Palmer- Founding member of the Dance Cooperative

Star News- Wilmington, NC
"Sissoko means "Grio" or african storyteller. It is said that when an African tribal elder dies, it's like a library burning. Since much tribal history is passed down orally, it's the role of the "Grio" to assure that history will not be forgotten"
William "Paco" Strickland

The Mountain Time- Boone, NC
"Creativity is exactly what comes to mind when watching the room of Dancers. Each in multicolored wraps and work out dress, the Dancers move in lines, circles, and rotate to the rhythm of the Drums."
Rebecca Klein

Wrightsville's News- Wilmington, NC
"In homage to Betty Cameron, Cheick Sissoko performed a traditional African Dance to honor the village elder, with symbols of unity expressed with seeds and woven cloth."
Marimar McNaughton

Cuyahoga County Commissioners- Cleveland, OH
"We applaud your contribution to art and culture to greater Cleveland and commend you for your unique artistic expression and talents. Through "Iris and the Magic Village" you have helped to ensure both the continued excellence of your rich cultural heritage and, more importantly, its preservation for today and future generation."
Jimmy Dimora - Timothy F .Hagan - Peter Lawson Jones

Full Belly Project- Wilmington, NC
"Thank you for your incredible performance again this year at our fundraiser. We sincerely appreciate your generous support for the Full Belly Project."
Shelly

Unity Festival- Boone, NC
"Thank you and your students for bringing a tour of the culture of West Africa to the Unity Festival. I love the energy of your music and Dance and greatly enjoyed having a chance to Dance with you on the stage."
Cindy

Appalachian State University- Boone, NC
"Thank you for your part in the fourth annual diversity Celebration at Appalachian State University. This year's event was a huge success, drawing around 5000 people, which is about twice as many as we have ever had before. Your participation helped the people of Appalachian State University and the surrounding community experience a taste of the diversity among people in our world, helping make it a safer, more tolerant home for us all. Again, I thank you for your part in this annual festival and we hope to get to see you again sometime in the future".
Robert Black- Outreach Assistant