Dear Dance Place Community,
This season we have curated a diverse and robust season with intentionality and care, as we honor our theme, Between Living and Dreaming. We are grateful for the ongoing conversations with our community of stakeholders and partners, as we share our progress, joys, challenges, and triumphs.
Today, we are formally announcing that Dance Africa DC (DADC) will be on hiatus for the 2024-2025 season; there will not be a festival this June. We recognize how much this festival means to the local African dance community and understand that this news may bring disappointment. Please rest assured that DADC remains an essential part of Dance Place, continuing under the leadership of Griot Sylvia Soumah, Founder and Artistic Director of Coyaba Dance Theater.
Instead of DADC, we are proud to partner with Griot Sylvia Soumah and Carla Creative in supporting Coyaba’s Village Celebration, which will take place from June 2–7, 2025 at both Dance Place and Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, MD. More details on these events will be shared in the coming weeks.
Founded in 1997, Coyaba Dance Theater presents traditional and contemporary West African dance and music, celebrating the diverse ethnic groups and rich cultural traditions of West Africa. The company has graced renowned stages such as The Kennedy Center, The Publick Playhouse, the Lincoln Theatre, and the Lisner Auditorium, as well as international platforms like the World Culture Open in Seoul, South Korea. We are honored to continue working with them and to keep the spirit of Dance Africa DC alive through this collaboration.
Dance Place has accomplished so much over its 45-year history, and we are excited to celebrate our anniversary with you throughout next season. Looking ahead, Dance Africa DC will return in 2026, refreshed and stronger than ever. Until then, we invite you to join us in celebrating the legacy and vibrancy of African dance at Coyaba’s Village Celebration this June!
For more information please contact: darind@danceplace.org
With gratitude always,
André Mazelin
Executive Director
