Dance Africa | New York, NY

Created in 1977 as the nation’s first festival devoted to the rich legacy of African dance, DanceAfrica has evolved into a highly-anticipated and high-spirited Memorial Day Weekend tradition that brings together the entire community. Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM) week-long celebration, which is centered around the dance performances in the Gilman Opera House, also includes DanceAfrica master classes; the popular outdoor DanceAfrica Bazaar with more than 300 vendors offering crafts, food, fashion, as well as outdoor performers; an art display at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA); a film series at BAM Rose Cinemas; and a dance party at BAMcafé with live music..

Under the artistic direction of Founding Elder Chuck Davis, the 33rd annual DanceAfrica Festival, African Rhythms/American Echoes will feature:

• Pamodzi Dance Troupe, a traditional dance group comprising artists from various community dance troupes, including members of the Zambia National Dance Troupe. The company is dedicated to the development, promotion, and preservation of traditional Zambian music and dance, both at home and abroad, with a repertory that includes a medley of styles from all nine of Zambia’s regions.

• Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the oldest, continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1976, the troupe of diverse, multi-ethnic dancers perform a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic, and spiritual works, by an array of renowned choreographers, including Alvin Ailey, Elisa Monte, David Parsons, and Alonzo King, among others.

• Illstyle & Peace Productions, a multicultural dance company based in Philadelphia, which fuses the movement and spirit of old school hip-hop with various styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, and tap.

The festival will also feature the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble, an annual favorite and a powerful symbol of youth involvement in the preservation of African heritage, performing for the 14th straight year.

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
Address: 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone: 718-636-4100
Official Website: www.bam.org
Map & Driving Directions

Photos (top to bottom): Members of the BAM/RestorationAfrica Ensemble, Members of Farafina Kan, Members of Evidence Dance Company. Courtesy of  The New York Times.