We are thrilled to introduce you to AS220’s new Dance Studio Coordinator, Assitan ‘Sita’ Coulibaly!

ASSITAN ‘SITA’ COULIBALY (she/her/hers) is a Malian-American dancer, choreographer, and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Assitan began training in West African dance with New Works/World Traditions at Brown University with whom she has performed and travelled worldwide.

Much of her choreographic work is greatly inspired by her Malian heritage and is highlighted by her fusion of Coupe Decalé, Afrobeats, traditional West African, and Hip Hop dance and music styles. These bodies of work are meant to reflect the fun and energetic community lifestyle that is reminiscent of her childhood growing up between the United States and Mali.

She has taught West African Dance at Wheaton College, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, and the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. Assitan holds her B.A. in Psychology with a double minor in Peace and Social Justice and French Studies from Wheaton College-MA (2017) and 200-hr Yoga Teacher Certification (B4C 2020). Coulibaly is one of five founding members of The Haus of Glitter Dance Company, a member of New Works/ World Traditions Dance Company, a principal dancer with Troupe Yeredon in Mali, and was awarded RISCA’s Folk Arts Fellowship (2021), for her work as a preserver of Traditional Mande Dance.

Outside of her African Dance practice, she enjoys practicing Yoga, Meditation, Latin (Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, and Cumbia), Dancehall, Step, and Contemporary dance styles. In addition to her art, she is the acting Director of Legacy Arts & Education at Centre Yeredon in Bamako, Mali and a Teaching Artist and Performer with Pushed Learning and Media, a Boston based non-profit that specializes in diversity, privilege, and racial justice education.