Virtual DanceAfrica, DC

Celebrate with us June 29 – July 3, 2020!

Celebrate the dance, music, and spirit of the African Diaspora with this year’s Virtual DanceAfrica, DC! Our 33rd annual festival features live streamed master classes, daily greetings from DanceAfrica, DC elders, a virtual marketplace, and interactive clips from Oral History interviews – all online for you to take part in from Monday, June 29 through Friday, July 3rd. DanceAfrica, DC 2020 is guaranteed to inspire, invigorate, educate, and entertain.

Class Live Stream

Oral History Interviews

Virtual Marketplace

Master Class Schedule

All DanceAfrica, DC elders’ greetings and master classes will be live streamed on our Facebook page here. Monday, June 296:30pm EST Elders’ greeting from Baba Baile McKnight 7:00pm EST Class with Mama Sylvia Soumah Tuesday, June 30 6:30pm EST Elders’ greeting from Mama Akua Kouyate 7:00pm EST Class with Mama Marcia Howard Wednesday, July 1 6:30pm EST Elders’ greeting by Mama Makini Niliwaambieni 7:00pm EST Class with Mama Lesina Martin Thursday, July 26:30pm EST Elders’ greeting by Mama Sylvia Soumah 7:00pm EST Class with Baba Dunjo Olagunke Friday, July 36:30pm EST Sharing Oral History from Baba Melvin Deal 7:00pm EST Class with Mama Nkenge Cunningham

To the DanceAfrica, DC community:
Dance Place offers its sincere apology to Mama Sylvia Soumah, Mama Makini, Mama Lesina, Mama Nkenge and Farafina Kan for Dance Place’s administrative oversight of playing the incorrect introduction for Wednesday night’s virtual master class. This was a clear lapse in care and stewardship of this important program.

We hope you will join us Thursday, July 2 for class with Babadunjo Olagunke’, and on Friday, July 3 for class with Mama Nkenge. Thank you.

Interact with Oral History interviews!

Learn more about the festival’s history from members of the DanceAfrica, DC elders council. Each audio clip below speaks to different aspects of DanceAfrica that resonate to the storied past of this treasured festival.

Listen as Griot Mama Sylvia paints a picture of DanceAfrica, DC.

Listen as Mama Makini shares more about the communities who are involved with DanceAfrica.

Listen as Baba Assane Konte speaks to appreciation and learning at DanceAfrica.

Listen as Mama Akua remembers Baba Chuck Davis’ commitment to DanceAfrica.

Virtual Marketplace

Every year, the Arts Park and 8th St. is lined with local and national vendors to celebrate DanceAfrica, DC. We are excited to continue to bridge their connection with you through our Virtual Marketplace. Learn more about each vendor, their merchandise, and how you can reach out to them directly.

Explore our Virtual Marketplace

Commemorate your DanceAfrica, DC experience with a 2020 t-shirt! Our 33rd annual festival will not be complete without our new t-shirts, designed specifically for this year’s festival.

Still interested in purchasing a t-shirt? We have some left! Email amberc@danceplace.org for more information.

*Proceeds from this year’s DanceAfrica, DC t-shirts will go to Black Lives Matter DC GoFundMe for legal aid.

Shirts will be sold for $25 and are available in sizes small, medium, large and x-large.

Thank you to this year’s DanceAfrica, DC sponsors and funders!