Westside School chose Valentine's Day to hold a school assembly featuring a 4-person African Dance and Drum Troupe called Nian Cho Elyno that combined African drumming, dancing, acrobatics, authentic costumes, and a lot of interaction with the students and teachers.

The four performers from all over the United States (three of them were immigrants from Africa), demonstrated and shared with the audience songs, some samplings of language, and got everyone involved in dancing to the rhythms.

Curtis Ghoma Diallo from San Diego led most of the program by dancing and teaching the children some words in Swahili. The husband and wife team of Limene and Dallas Somah from Guinea played drums and danced respectively and were joined by drummer Baye Balla. The troupe explained that the drums were made of wood, had cow skin covers and were called Djimbe (Jimbee) drums.

After performing some dances, the children and teachers had a chance to learn a few dance moves from Diallo (who explained that his name means "bold one or strong" in Swahili). "I try to keep it easy to learn for people, just A-B-C," he said. Diallo dancing through the whole room sometimes leaping several feet in the air to the delight of the crowd. In the process the entire audience was applauding, laughing and cheering.

One teacher said, "This is the best assembly we've ever had here."

Westside School regularly brings in performers such as chinese acrobats and other culturally enriching programs through an organization called the Bureau of Lectures and Concert Artists inc.