Click here to watch the virtual performances!
Join us for a week of dance, music, and tradition during our 34th annual DanceAfrica, DC festival; Together Again: Celebrating Life, Love, Unity, and Hope! Celebrate the spirit of the African Diaspora with master classes, oral histories, and both virtual and in-person performances. Hosted by Griot Mama Sylvia Soumah, DanceAfrica, DC 2021 is guaranteed to inspire, invigorate, educate, and entertain.
This year’s festival will honor the memory of Mama Faye Walker, who has joined the ancestors. Mama Faye was the Artistic Director, and one of the original dancers, of Ezibu Muntu, a Virginia-based African dance company. Ezibu Muntu has performed at several past DanceAfrica, DC festivals and will be part of this year’s festival. Mama Faye was also a performer, choreographer, and teacher throughout the DC metro area. Her photo is featured on this year’s lead artwork and shirt design to honor her legacy (pictured above).
Master Class Schedule
All class times are in EST and will take place on Zoom.
Click on the class links below to register through MindBody! You will receive an email approximately 15 minutes before the start of the class time with the Zoom link.
Tuesday, June 1st at 6:30pm – Master Class with KanKouran, taught by Baba Assane Konte
Wednesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm – Master Class with Farafina Kan, taught by Mama Nkenge Cunningham
Thursday, June 3rd at 7pm – Master Class with Akoma De Gado, taught by Babadunjo
Sunday, June 6th at 12pm – Master Class with Farafina Kan, taught by Mama Lesina Martin
Performance Schedule
Click here to watch the virtual performances!
Friday, June 4th at 7pm EST – virtual performance
- Candlebearing Ceremony led by Donna Kearney
- Tribute to Mama Faye, who has joined the ancestors
- A Tribute to Baba Melvin Deal, a living legend, in association with the International Association of Blacks in Dance, African Heritage Dancers and Drummers, and the Kennedy Center’s Cultural Caucus
- Ni Dembaya African Drum & Dance Ensemble
- Farafina Kan
Saturday, June 5th – in-person, outdoor performances at Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park (weather dependent)*
- 2:00pm: Candlebearing Ceremony led by Donna Kearney
- 3:30pm: KanKouran West African Dance Company
- 4:45pm: Ezibu Muntu
- 6:00pm: Akoma de Gado Dance & Drum Performance Ensemble
Sunday, June 6th at 1pm EST – virtual performance
- Candlebearing Ceremony led by Donna Kearney
- Tribute to Mama Faye, who has joined the ancestors
- A Tribute to Baba Melvin Deal, a living legend, in association with the International Association of Blacks in Dance, African Heritage Dancers and Drummers, and the Kennedy Center’s Cultural Caucus
- Coyaba Dance Theater Annual Youth Academy Village Celebration
- Tam Tam Mandingue
- Soul in Motion
- Deal-Davis Commissioned artist Samantha Salters
*The Saturday, June 5th performances will be held on the upper level of Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park, near the Joan of Ark Statue, in Washington D.C.. This is an open admission event, no reservation required.
Dance Place acknowledges that safety protocols in relationship to COVID-19 are changing, however to keep everyone safe we ask that all attendees wear a face mask and maintain distance from others whenever possible.
The DanceAfrica, DC schedule is subject to change in the days leading up to the performance. We encourage you to check this website for time confirmation of the performances you plan to attend. Thank you for your patience and flexibility!
The virtual performances will include open captioning.
The outdoor event will include ASL interpretation.
Interact with Oral History interviews!
Learn more about the festival’s history from members of the DanceAfrica, DC elders council and Directors Emeritus of Dance Place. Each audio clip below speaks to different aspects of DanceAfrica that resonate to the storied past of this treasured festival.
Listen as Mama Marcia Howard, original company member of Coyaba Dance Theater and coordinator of the Coyaba Youth Academy, reflects on her life and passion for dance. Howard talks of the importance of DanceAfrica, DC and how the festival is an anchor in the community.
Listen as Donna Kearney, long-time member of the Dance Place community, reflects on her life and love of dance. Kearney talks about her performances at DanceAfrica, DC as well as DanceAfrica festivals across the country.
Listen as Denise Rollins, former Chair of the Board of Directors at Dance Place, reflects on her life and relationship to the DC African dance community. Rollins recalls the early years of Dance Place and DanceAfrica, DC and how each remains important to her life today.
Listen as Director Emerita of Dance Place Deborah Riley reflects on her life and leadership of Dance Place, as well as her legacy and what she hopes to see continue in the dance field post COVID-19 as Dance Place celebrates its 40-year history.
Listen as Founding Director Emerita of Dance Place Carla Perlo reflects on her life and leadership of Dance Place, the organizing host of DanceAfrica, DC. Perlo also speaks on her legacy in the dance community and the future of dance post COVID-19.
To listen to the first round of interviews from the DanceAfrica DC Oral History project, click HERE
HumanitiesDC’s Oral History Project Extension Grant is in partnership with the DC Oral History Collaborative and supported by the DC Public Library. Dance Place’s 2020 Oral History Project will be included in the DanceAfrica, DC oral history collection in the DC Public Library in early 2021.
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.
Commemorate your DanceAfrica, DC experience with a 2021 t-shirt! Our 34th annual festival will not be complete without our new t-shirts, designed specifically for this year’s festival.
This year’s t-shirt pre-order has closed. Please email amberc@danceplace.org if you still interested in purchasing a shirt; limited inventory is available.
The DanceAfrica, DC Festival is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
This year’s festival is also supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The Deal-Davis DanceAfrica DC Commission Project commission is made possible with direct financial and administrative support from Dance Place and the financial support of The International Association of Blacks in Dance.
This year’s festival is also supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
The Deal-Davis DanceAfrica DC Commission Project commission is made possible with direct financial and administrative support from Dance Place and the financial support of The International Association of Blacks in Dance.
Header photo by Jonathan Hsu.
Graphics by Jay Williams and Sasha Raskin.
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