CURATED FOR BAM BY LARRY OSSEI-MENSAH, BAM GUEST CURATOR-AT-LARGE
Commissioned by BAM
About the work: Created for DanceAfrica 2023, Cecilia Lamptey-Botchway’s “Spirit and Rhythm of African Dance” takes inspiration from the celebrated dancer, educator, and choreographer Cherie Hill. “The more I perform African dance, the more I discover and enjoy euphoria,” Hill has written. “When the drums are beating and the body is dancing everything fits in sync and I feel limitless and powerful.” Lamptey-Botchway’s painting reaffirms that African dance is not homogenous; it is as diverse and multifaceted as the various countries that make up the continent. Rooted in the rhythm that unites the diaspora’s many different movements, the artist captures the essence of BAM’s annual celebration of African dance.
Lamptey-Botchway (@cecilia_lamptey_botchway) will participate in an Instagram Live event moderated by Larry Ossei-Mensah, BAM Guest Curator-at-Large, on his Instagram (@LarryOsseiMensah) on Tuesday, May 23 at 12pm. This conversation will offer insights into the Accra-based artist’s interdisciplinary approach, which utilizes a variety of media, from cloth stamping and batik tradition to mopping wool.
BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building
Dorothy W. Levitt Lobby
Located along the escalator wall
ALL TICKETS: FREE
All events will adhere to protocols developed in accordance with New York State regulations and in consultation with medical professionals for the safety of our artists, audiences, and staff
Performance dates are highlighted in white.
Leadership support for BAM Access Programs provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for BAM Visual Art provided by Toby Devan Lewis
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to African dance and music returns to the stages and streets of Brooklyn for its 46th year! In 2023, we celebrate with traditional dance and music from Ghana.
Join Al Taw’am, recipients of the 2022—2023 Chuck Davis Emerging Choreographer Fellowship, as they guide participants through their “House Fusion” dance style.
DanceAfrica 2023 kicks off with this annual community welcome for the artists, featuring performances by students from the Restoration Youth Arts Academy.
This traditional tribute to those who have passed features music and drumming, dance performances, and a libation ceremony conducted by the DanceAfrica Council of Elders.
The Memorial Room is dedicated to preserving the tradition of paying homage to the ancestors of DanceAfrica’s past and present, as well as the ancestors of the visiting companies.
This cinematic companion to the annual DanceAfrica celebration showcases the best new narrative, documentary, and short films from across Africa and the diaspora, with a special focus on films from and about Ghana.
DanceAfrica’s beloved bazaar returns, featuring more than 150 vendors from around the world, offering African, Caribbean, and African-American food, crafts, and fashion.
Caregivers and children alike deepen their engagement with DanceAfrica in this fun-filled, hands-on workshop with BAM teaching artist Adia Whitaker on the fundamentals of Haitian movement and music.
Keep the celebration going after hours with DJ YB, who brings a mix of Afrobeat, funk, soul, rock, jazz, and hip-hop stylings to the dance floor of BAMcafé.
Members of DanceAfrica’s Council of Elders discuss the importance of preserving legacy and their work to create connections between the ancestors, the culture of Africa and its diaspora, and the BAM community.
DanceAfrica invites caregivers and children to explore the fundamentals of Ghanaian dance movement and music in this fun-filled, hands-on workshop.
Discover how African and diasporic dance forms celebrate community and aspects of daily life in this inclusive, interactive class led by Pat Hall, designed for persons with or without disabilities.
A member of the National Dance Company of Ghana leads this immersive workshop in music and dance, introducing participants to Ghanaian rhythmic traditions and traditional movement styles.
Discover the BAM Hamm Archives’ ongoing work to preserve the incredible legacy of DanceAfrica through projects focused on oral history, audiovisual media.
