Artist Panel Discussion

"Transcending Boundaries” Moderated by Baba Stafford & Professor Iris Rosa

Time: 2:30–4:00 p.m.

Location: Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Grand Hall

Admission: Free and open to the public

West African Bantaba with Baba Stafford & Guest Artists

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Gresham Food Court, 1001 N Fee Ln
Admission: Participants must register.
Registration coming soon.

Note: Multiple classes are offered during each time slot. Registration and payment is required to participate in classes. All Saturday classes are held in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Eagleson Avenue.

9:00–10:15 a.m.
• Umfundalai Contemporary African technique with Dr. C. Kemal Nance
• House with Danzel Thompson-Stout
• Work & Werk, an Afro-Vogue Dance Experience with Kenny Eaddy
• Ghanaian dance with Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe
• Foundations of West African Drumming with Joyce Lindsey

10:30–11:45 a.m.
• Umfundalai Contemporary African technique with Dr. C. Kemal Nance
• House with Danzel Thompson-Stout
• Ghanaian dance with Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe
• Afro-Cuban Rumba with Beatrice Capote
• Foundations of West African Drumming with Joyce Lindsey

12:00–1:15 p.m. Luncheon

1:30–3:30 p.m.

Note: Participants must be available and agree to perform in the informal Dance Showcase at 6–7:30 p.m. in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall. The 1:30–3:30 p.m. classes are focused on choreography and preparation for informal performance.
• Umfundalai Contemporary African technique with Dr. C. Kemal Nance
• House with Danzel Thompson-Stout
• Work & Werk, an Afro-Vogue Dance Experience with Kenny Eaddy
• African Contemporary with Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe
• Foundations of West African Drumming with Joyce Lindsey

28th Annual Dance Showcase

Time: 6:00–7:30 p.m. 

Location: Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Grand Hall

Admission: Free and open to the public

African Contemporary
Instructed by Dr. Emmanuel Cudjoe
Description This class explores African Contemporary dance as a dynamic practice that draws from African traditional movement systems while engaging contemporary choreographic ideas. Students will examine how African philosophies, histories, and lived experiences inform modern movement creation. Through technique, improvisation, and creative exploration, the course emphasizes identity, expression, and innovation rooted in African and diasporic aesthetics. Open to dancers of all levels.

Afro-Cuban Rumba
Instructed by Beatrice Capote
This Cuban social dance movement workshop invites you into the vibrant world of CubanRumba Guaguancó, one of Cuba’s most beloved secular popular dances. Guaguancó is a playful couple dance rooted in rhythm, connection, and friendly competition. This rhythm is danced in an open position where the lead and follower engage in a dynamic exchange. The workshop unfolds in four parts: an opening circle to ground and connect, a guided warm-up, open partner work exploring a Rumba phrase, and a closing circle to practice and embody what you’ve learned. Through movement and shared rhythm, participants will build body mobility, musicality, and connection while dancing with a partner.

Bantaba
Instructed by Stafford C. Berry Jr. and Guest Artists
The word “Bantaba” is a Mandinka word meaning “gathering space or dancing ground.” Led by the director of AADC and Kukusanya, we bring everyone together to launch into the intensive weekend with vigor and clarity…together. Through music and movement, we will dance. “As long as we dance together, we have no time to hate.” — Baba Chuck Davis.

Foundations of West African Drumming
Instructed by Joyce Lindsey
This class introduces students to the fundamentals of West African drumming, with a focus on basic playing techniques for djembe and dundun. Students will learn traditional accompaniment parts for rhythms such as Kuku and Djansa, explore ensemble playing, develop rhythm retention skills, and practice adapting rhythms across different percussion instruments. The class also includes basic arrangements and introductory solo djembe phrasing for Kuku and Djansa, emphasizing musicality, listening, and group connection.

Ghanaian Dance
Instructed by Emmanuel Cudjoe
This class introduces students to Kpanlogo, a vibrant social dance form from Ghana that blends traditional movement vocabularies with urban youth expression. Students will explore foundational steps, rhythms, songs, and cultural contexts that shaped Kpanlogo as a post-independence dance. Emphasis is placed on embodiment, musicality, community engagement, and the social meanings embedded in movement. No prior dance experience is required. 

House
Instructed by Danzel- Thompson Stout
“House” is an improvisation-based class that uses aesthetics, vocabulary, footwork, and social dances that come out of the historical underground house clubs of the U.S. The class acts as a guide for students to explore the essence of House—a dance of feeling first and moving second. The class is a guided experience that focuses on fundamental technique and inventive freestyle exercises equipping dancers to explore innovation, individuality, aesthetic nuance, and foundation. The underlying objective is to create a community-based atmosphere filled with freedom of movement and self-expression for all that participate. You will sweat and you will smile all while being immersed in the sounds of house music and the “feels” of house dance.

Umfundalai Contemporary African Technique
Instructed by C. Kemal Nance
Umfundalai is a contemporary African dance technique developed by the late Kariamu Welsh, D. Arts (1949–2021).  With a focus on “essence,” Umfundalai draws its vocabulary from movement traditions from Africa’s continent and its Diaspora. Oluko Baba Kemal’s workshop offers its students an experience in Umfundalai’s core movement progressions and an opportunity to perform them in emergent choreography that he will develop during the conference.

Work & Werk, an Afro-Vogue Dance Experience
Instructed by Kenny Eaddy
Become immersed in the diasporic fusion of rhythms and movement that tie West African and Vogue stylings together. Djembe and Duckwalk. Sabar and Spins. Work and Werk.