About Our Programs
DanceAfrica
DanceAfrica celebrates the cultural vitality of Africa and its diaspora through dance, art, film, and an outdoor bazaar.
DanceAfrica is BAM's longest running program and America's largest celebration of African and African-American dance, music, and culture. Created in 1977, under the artistic direction of Founding Elder Chuck Davis and with the aim of heightening awareness of African culture, the festival has evolved into a beloved annual Memorial Day weekend event that brings the entire community together. In 2015, the leadership baton was passed to Abdel R. Salaam.
Each year DanceAfrica welcomes a new visiting company from Africa or its diaspora at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House. The performances include other traditional and contemporary dance companies, including the students of BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble, and live music. The weekend-long festival also includes master classes, community events, film screenings, an art exhibition, and the one-and-only DanceAfrica outdoor bazaar, a global marketplace of African, African-American, and Caribbean arts, crafts, and food featuring over 200 vendors and attracting up to 30,000 visitors per year.
DanceAfrica is part of the Winter/Spring Season.
This year, we celebrate DanceAfrica with a series of digital offerings, including online dance classes, streams of past performances, a virtual bazaar, and more.
The beloved festival returns with a month of performances, classes, the bazaar, and more!
Celebrate Haiti at this vibrant virtual festival featuring dance, classes, films, and more.
This year’s DanceAfrica performance offers a taste of the rich movement traditions of Rwanda.
This year’s performance offers a taste of the rhythm and spirit of South Africa.
This year’s 40th anniversary celebration pays tribute to the music and movement traditions of Guinea.
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to African dance returns for its 39th year.
The nation’s largest African dance festival returns, celebrating Afro-Brazilian dance.
BAM’s annual festival of African dance welcomes Madagascar-based troupe Bakomanga.
The nation’s largest African dance festival welcomes Umkhathi Theatre Works from Zimbabwe.
DanceAfrica, a vibrant celebration of Africa and the diaspora, celebrates 35 years.