Biography | dance

Chris Babingui was born in Enyelle, Congo Brazzaville. Babingui began his artistic career in hip-hop. He has toured extensively internationally in Africa and Europe from 2012-2014. In 2012, Chris participated in Gregory Makoma and Florent Mahoukou’s creation of a piece titled Wake Up. His other works include a solo performance of his Nibo Nabo choreography in Mbogui Square in San Francisco, CA (2015). An interpretative performance of Nkisi Nkondi by Kiandanda Dance Theater, Saint Mary’s College of California and Red Poppy Art House, San Francisco, CA; Ntela Traditional Congolese Interpretation by Loubayi, Louden Nelson Center, Santa Cruz, CA; Nibo Nabo, REVERBdance Festival, New York, NY (2016). His latest creation, Iboga-Odzanga premiered at Evening of Duets, Philadelphia, PA; Nkisi Mabele by Kiandanda Dance Theater at Dance Mission Theater, Black Choreographers Festival, San Francisco, CA and Malonga Center, Collage Des Cultures Festival, Oakland, CA; Ndogi at Miner’s Foundry Cultural Center, Nevada City, CA; Iboga Odzanga street dance at Festival Platform Mbogui Square, Santa Cruz, CA; Improvisation Dance at 60th San Francisco international Film Festival, San Francisco, CA; Iboga Odzanga street performance, Washington, D.C. (Voice of America Interview); Nibo Nabo, Richmond Dance Festival, Richmond, VA; Nkissi Kongo, Choreography by Vivien Bassouamina and Chris Babingui at Café Istanbul, New Orleans, LA; Taboos and Heroes, Eastside Cultural Center, Oakland, CA; Iboga Odzanga, Eastside Cultural Center, Oakland, CA (2017); NewMoves Contemporary Dance Festival, Pittsburgh, PA; Malcolm X Jazz Festival, Oakland CA; Residency, Congo Brazzaville (2018) He co-directs the Mbongui Square Festival , San Francisco