DanceAfrica 2024

Abdel R. Salaam is the Artistic Director of DanceAfrica, the Executive Artistic Director and co-founder of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, and a critically acclaimed choreographer. Born in Harlem, he has served as a dancer, teacher, and performing artist on five continents throughout his 56-year career. He has received numerous awards and fellowships for excellence in dance and dance theater, and continues to dedicate his life's work to the healing and empowerment of us all.

Founded in 2001 by acclaimed Cameroonian choreographer and dancer Merlin Nyakam, Cie La Calebasse is a dynamic artistic ensemble dedicated to the exploration of Afro-contemporary works. The company boasts a diverse ensemble of dancers and musicians hailing from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and France. Nyakam's artistic vision, shaped by his experiences with renowned choreographers like Philippe Jamet and Georges Momboye, infuses the company's repertoire with a unique blend of African spirituality and Japanese influence, revitalizing universal ritual forms for contemporary audiences.

The DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers were founded by Baba Abdel R. Salaam in 2016 to theatrically honor the ancestors of Africa and its diaspora through the annual DanceAfrica Memorial Tribute, originally developed by the late Baba Chuck Davis. The group comprises professional dance artists and musicians from the RestorationART alumni and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, melding African vernacular forms, modern, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. The DanceAfrica Spiritwalkers is a division of Forces of Nature Dance Theatre.

This DanceAfrica favorite returns to the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House for the 27th year. The ensemble serves as a symbol of youth involvement in the preservation of African heritage, celebrating both ancestral roots and the modern-day community.

Formed in 1978 by the late Madeleine Yayodele Nelson, Women Of The Calabash combine traditional instruments, vocals, and musical forms with contemporary influences. Through performance and informal dialogue, the ensemble—currently Joan Ashley, Caren Calder-Adams, Susan Rapalee, and Carole Caru Thompson—introduces audiences of all ages to the history and playing techniques of a wide variety of instruments. By performing music from Africa, the Caribbean, and Black America, Women Of The Calabash gives unity and context to the African American experience.