DanceAfrica
danceafrica heritage community celebration equable manifold dance form african diaspora held annually new york city washington dc chicago included indoor outdoor performance including live music film series master class education program outdoor bazaar current artistic director abdel r salaam political movement growth dance led development number african american dance company celebration danceafrica created chuck davis built momentum movement showcase african africanamerican tradition art form african american cultural awareness emerged seen performance pearl primus katherine dunham bam dance focus shifted entertainment toward modern dance integrating african element alvin ailey talley beatty donald mckayle appeared bam artist based harlem cultural center new dance group chuck davis arrived early davis moved new york city perform musician babatunde olatunji also studied dunham technique jazz syvilla fort davis formed chuck davis dance company south bronx community action theatre later moved bronx community college february chuck davis dance company performed constructed african village bam lepercq space based success engagement danceafrica debuted following spring beginning daylong african bazaar arthur hall charles moore chuck davis dinizulu international afrikan american ballet participated festival offered five performance bam playhouse culminated five companies—approximately performers—on opera house stage festival born growing country largest annual celebration african african american dance adding date city chicago washington dc los angeles miami minneapolis philadelphia pittsburgh many others dallas recently made festival annual event danceafrica bam’s longest running performance series—and become memorial day weekend tradition brooklyn wedding christening ceremony taken place danceafrica—transcending performance becoming ritual—a community’s celebration african identity rennie harris also one choreographer chuck davis added master class african movement music danceafrica opened motorcade procession harlem step bam fiftytwo member imperial bikers motorcycle club carrying flag african country joined council elder artist dignitary libation pouring ceremony included gigantic carrot cake baked shape africa th anniversary celebration debuted bamrestoration danceafrica ensemble collaboration bam bedford stuyvesant restoration corporation’s youth art academy become annual crowd favorite danceafrica showcased troupe based africa african diaspora including many new york company ranged style indigenous african urban american hiphop danceafrica shown “traditional” african dance fixed time remains tremendously inclusive diverse even cuttingedge choreography contain african influence danceafrica embodies tradition also spirit change growth reaching back past forward future embracing link culture across african diaspora always bearing message “peace love respect everybody” danceafrica celebrates th festival year danceafrica remember honor respect african dance odyssey mark another milestone—its founder baba chuck davis’ th birthday since annually june chuck davis serf master ceremony festival washington dc hosted dance place danceafrica dc jubilant annual celebration cultural vitality africa diaspora nation capital inspired brooklyn academy music festival guidance dr baba chuck davis dance place spearheaded unique format tradition vital vibrant celebration today director dance place african dance program sylvia soumah serf artistic director griot since passing much beloved baba chuck davis danceafrica dc one longest running arm nationwide phenomenon celebrating year education artistry advocacy african culture nation capital danceafrica chicago began presented columbia college chicago festival occur year brooklyn academy music chuck davis dance company archived wayback machine museum contemporary african diasporan art mocada new dance group bedford stuyvesant restoration corporation dance place danceafrica interview abdel salaam