Sylvia Soumah

Sylvia Soumah (born July 31, 1963) is an American dancer, choreographer, and educator, renowned for her contributions to African dance in the United States. She founded and is the artistic director of the Coyaba Dance Theater, based in Washington, D.C. As a teaching artist, Soumah emphasizes the community and spirituality of African dance in both its traditional and contemporary styles, and uses performance and community engagement to foster a broader appreciation for West African cultures. She has performed extensively throughout the United States and internationally, including in Korea, Senegal, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

Soumah was introduced to formal dance instruction in the 7th grade by dancer and teaching artist Carla Perlo, then a student at the University of Cincinnati, who led a community program at a local recreation center. When she spotted Soumah and her friends hanging out nearby, Perlo invited the young teens to learn how to dance. The instruction also helped Soumah discover her talent for singing, which she enjoyed as much as dancing.

Practical necessity led to her conversion to African dance in 1990. After the birth of her son, Soumah resumed participation in modern dance classes and often had to bring her child along with her. By the time he was two years old, the toddler's crying and restlessness disrupted the quiet and intensity necessary for modern dance training. After one class, a drummer suggested Soumah switch to African dance where her son could be better accommodated because, he told her, even a noisy toddler can't compete with the sound of drumming. Her son's acceptance into the class embodied what Soumah came to love about the style.

quote| "African [dance is] about community," she said in an interview with Smithsonian magazine. "It's spiritual, it's about family and it's about culture. Modern ballet is a dance form. But African dance is a dance form and a culture. It's a way of life." Coyaba has performed at major venues, including the Kennedy Center and Dance Place, and has toured internationally. In 2001 and again in 2004, Coyaba received the D.C. Dance Award for outstanding group performance.

Soumah has also collaborated with organizations and artists such as Step Afrika and Kingsman Island Festival in Washington, D.C., Usuthu Arts Productions in South Africa, Salamata in Ghana, and Jessica Phillips Silver (Finding Rhythm! The Journey Through The Musical Brain, 2020). She co-choreographed and performed with the touring company What's Going On, directed by Vincent Thomas.

Educational work Soumah has been a dedicated dance educator, teaching at Dance Place and serving as a teaching artist with Inspired Child. She has led workshops at institutions such as the National Museum of African Art and Washington Performing Arts. She also trains young dancers in traditional African dance forms at the Coyaba Academy, where she emphasizes cultural heritage and artistic expression. She was also featured in an educational music video with Inspired Child, A to Z This is MY DC.

Awards and recognition In 2013, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Sylvia Soumah Recognition Resolution of 2013, honoring her for her "extraordinary leadership, dedicated service, and positive contributions to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as the Founder and Artistic Director of Coyaba Dance Theater." She has received acclaim for her choreography, particularly her work Year of the Griot, which was praised by The Washington Post. and in 2020, she was the recipient of the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Outstanding Community Service Award. Soumah was also honored with the 2024 Pola Nirenska Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to dance and education.

Personal life Soumah has two children: a son born in 1988 and a daughter born in 1996.