PROGRAMS

DanceAfrica 2020

May 17—Jul 7, 2020

ONGOING

VISUAL ART

Omar Victor Diop

VISUAL ART

Omar Victor Diop

Revisit work by 2016 DanceAfrica visual artist Omar Victor Diop, a self-taught Sengalese photographer working within the rich tradition of the West African portrait studio, in a blog post featuring four of his photographs.

Season Sponsor:

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Leadership support for off-site programs provided by:

Leadership support for BAM Access Programs provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation

Jerome L. Greene Foundation

Leadership support for dance at BAM provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

Leadership support for dance at BAM provided by The SHS Foundation.

Leadership support for BAM Hamm Archives provided by Charles J. & Irene F. Hamm

Leadership support for the Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive provided by the Leon Levy Foundation

Leadership support for dance at BAM provided by:

Major Sponsor:

ConEdison

Leadership support for the BAM Hamm Archives and BAM Film, Community, and Education programs provided by The Thompson Family Foundation

Major support for BAM Film provided by the Ford Foundation

Major support for the DanceAfrica Education Program provided by the Charles Hayden Foundation

Major support for dance education programs at BAM provided by Jody & John Arnhold

PAST EVENTS

FILM SERIES

FilmAfrica: co-presented by BAM & AFF, Inc.

May 28—Jun 26, 2020

FILM SERIES

FilmAfrica: co-presented by BAM & AFF, Inc.

May 28—Jun 26, 2020

This year’s edition of the annual cinematic companion to DanceAfrica goes online with a selection of modern African cinema classics presented by BAM and African Film Festival, Inc.

PROGRAMS

DanceAfrica Virtual Bazaar

PROGRAMS

DanceAfrica Virtual Bazaar

We spotlight some of the local small businesses that have been part of DanceAfrica through the years, with all sales providing critical support to these artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs.

TALKS

Music and DanceAfrica

Mon, May 18 at 6pm

Music and DanceAfrica

Mon, May 18 at 6pm

Former DanceAfrica Music Director Baba Bradley Simmons and drummer Foluso Alamide Mimy gather with BAM’s Charmaine Warren to reflect on DanceAfrica 1993: Sweet 16! and the always-integral role of music at DanceAfrica. The three view and discuss select video clips from that year’s festival featuring Baba Abu Shabazz and Nana Kimati Dinizulu, Women of the Calabash, and DanceAfrica Djembe Orchestra.

VIDEO

Contemporary Dance and DanceAfrica

Wed, May 20 at 6pm

Contemporary Dance and DanceAfrica

Wed, May 20 at 6pm

Contemporary dance has always had a home at DanceAfrica. Celebrated choreographers Rennie Harris of Rennie Harris PureMovement, Jamel Gaines of Creative Outlet, and Ronald K. Brown of Evidence Dance Company join BAM’s Charmaine Warren for a live discussion, reflecting on and sharing their work at DanceAfrica over the years, complemented by video clips from past performances.

CLASSES

Bantaba Hip-Hop

Fri, May 22 at 2pm

Bantaba Hip-Hop

Fri, May 22 at 2pm

James “Cricket” Colter leads a bantaba hip-hop class online, inviting the community to come together through dance. A founding company member of Rennie Harris PureMovement, Colter is an internationally renowned professional street dancer creating work rooted in hip-hop and contemporary dance.

RSVP

TALKS

The Early Years

Mon, May 25 at 11:15am

The Early Years

Mon, May 25 at 11:15am

Mikki Shepard, the original producer of DanceAfrica, discusses the inaugural festival in 1977 and its growth over the years. She is joined by BAM’s Charmaine Warren for an insightful conversation about how a powerful idea evolved into a beloved Brooklyn tradition.

Music

DanceAfrica Dance Party

Mon, May 25, 2020

DanceAfrica Dance Party

Mon, May 25, 2020

Keep the DanceAfrica celebration going with a live virtual dance party, featuring a mix of Afrobeat, funk, soul, rock, jazz, and hip-hop stylings courtesy of DanceAfrica veteran DJ YB.

TALKS

Behind the Scenes

Tue, May 26 at 6pm

Behind the Scenes

Tue, May 26 at 6pm

Mamma Normadien and Baba N’goma Woolbright—who were married on the DanceAfrica stage in 1983—join DanceAfrica Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam and BAM’s Charmaine Warren to reflect on the festival over the years, complemented by video clips of renewing their vows in 1993 and a performance featuring the Chuck Davis Dance Company.

TALKS

Council of Elders

Wed, May 27 at 6pm

Council of Elders

Wed, May 27 at 6pm

DanceAfrica Council of Elders leaders and longtime members Mamma Lynette White-Mathews, Baba Bill (William) Mathews and Hanan Hameen Artistic Director of the Candle Bearers join arts consultant Stephanie Hughley for a discussion of DanceAfrica over the years, complemented by video clips from DanceAfrica performances in 2011 and 2019.

TALKS

Education and DanceAfrica

Thu, May 28 at 6pm

Education and DanceAfrica

Thu, May 28 at 6pm

Karen Thornton Daniels, former artistic director of BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble, and Sabine LaFortune, RestorationART Senior Director of Operations and Production, join DanceAfrica Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam and BAM’s Coco Killingsworth to shine a light on the essential and evolving role of education at DanceAfrica over the years.

CLASSES

Bantaba West African Dance

Fri, May 29 at 2pm

Bantaba West African Dance

Fri, May 29 at 2pm

Former Artistic Director of BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble Karen Thornton Daniels and BAM Teaching Artist Farai Malianga lead a class focusing on a variety of West African dances and traditions.

RSVP

TALKS

DanceAfrica Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Fri, May 29 at 6pm

DanceAfrica Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Fri, May 29 at 6pm

The late Baba Chuck Davis was DanceAfrica’s founder and artistic director for almost 40 years, until passing the torch to Abdel R. Salaam in 2016. Salaam gathers with BAM Vice President of Community and Education Coco Killingsworth and DanceAfrica Associate Producer Charmaine Warren to discuss that landmark transition and celebrate DanceAfrica’s vibrant programming over the last five years. Their conversation is complemented by video clips from DanceAfrica 2019, Rwanda Reborn: The Remix.