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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

In Context: DanceAfrica 2019


This year’s DanceAfrica performances (May 24—27) offer a taste of the rich culture and traditions of Rwanda, under the leadership of artistic director Abdel R. Salaam. In acknowledgement of the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and the undaunted national movement toward reconciliation and renewal, DanceAfrica offers a moment to celebrate a path forward.

This year’s visiting company is the globally recognized Rwandan dance troupe Inganzo Ngari. Founded in 2006, the ensemble is utterly beloved by Rwandans for its dedication to traditional forms and movement idioms, from warrior dances to a variety of crop rituals. They are joined onstage by Rwandan-born spoken word artist Malaika Uwamahoro, composer Michael Wimberly, percussionist Kofi Osei Williams, percussionist Frank Molloy IV, the DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers, and the beloved RestorationArt Dance Youth Ensemble. Together, with the DanceAfrica and BAM community, they rejoice in the transcendent power of movement and music.

After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought by posting in the comments below and on social media using #DanceAfrica.

Program Notes

DanceAfrica 2019 (PDF)


Related Events

Film
FilmAfrica (May 23—27)

Neighborhood
DanceAfrica 2019 Bazaar (May 23—25)
DanceAfrica Portal (May 25—27)

Literary
Connecting Generations and Continents: RadioBook Rwanda (May 26)

Read

Article
Rwanda Gets the Spotlight at DanceAfrica 2019 (BAMblog)
Abdel R. Salaam reflects on his trip to Rwanda and why featuring Rwanda at this year’s festival is part of his “longtime dream.”

Article
A Guide to DanceAfrica 2019 (BAMblog)
An overview of all activities taking place during the 10-day festival.

Article
Intore: The longest-living traditional Rwandan dance reserved for elite royal soldiers (Face2Face Africa)
Learn about Intore, one of the more famous traditional dances from Rwanda.

Article
Play Marks 25th Anniversary of Rwandan Massacre (Amsterdam News)
In this interview, DanceAfrica performer/spoken-word artist Malaika speaks about her one-woman-play Miracle in Rwanda, which tells the story of Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza.

Watch & Listen

Video
Inganzo Ngari Entertains Guests (YouTube)
See our featured dance troupe in action during a performance in Kigali, Rwanda.

Video
DanceAfrica Portal (YouTube)
Check out the newest feature of this year’s festival, the DanceAfrica Portal by Shared_Studios, which creates spaces for intimate exchanges between festival attendees and people in Kigali, Rwanda.

Podcast
Waiting for Words (RadioBook Rwanda)
Explore the work of Rwandan writers with the podcast RadioBook Rwanda, our partners for our literary discussion at The Center for Fiction.

Video
Building Rwanda's art scene (BBC News)
Innocent Nkurunziza—featured DanceAfrica visual artist—along with his brother, Emmanuel Nkuranga, founded Inema Arts Center in 2012 as the leading source of contemporary art in Rwanda. Here, Emmanuel discusses the importance of art in his community.

Now your turn...

What did you think? Tell us what's on your mind in the comments below and on social media using #DanceAfrica.

© 2019 Brooklyn Academy of Music, Inc. All rights reserved.

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