The nation’s largest festival dedicated to African diasporic dance and music returns to the stages and streets of Brooklyn for its 47th year, featuring the iconic outdoor bazaar, traditional dance and music from Cameroon, classes, workshops, late-night dance parties, and FilmAfrica’s lineup of cinematic gems.

PERFORMANCES

DanceAfrica 2024: The Origin of Communities / A Calabash of Cultures
DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers, Women Of The Calabash, The Billie's Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and Siren – Protectors of The Rainforest
Fri, May 24 at 7:30pm
Sat, May 25 at 2pm & 7pm
Sun, May 26 at 3pm
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave)
Tickets start at $34.50 fees included (half-price for ages 16 & under)

DANCE CLASSES

DanceAfrica Community Class
Co-presented by BAM and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Sat. May 25 at 11am
Brooklyn Bridge Park (Pier 6 Liberty Lawn)
Free with registration All ages
Caregivers and children alike deepen their engagement with DanceAfrica in a fun-filled, outdoor workshop led by BAM teaching artist and performance art education scholar Dánica Jones learning rhythms and movement from Cameroon. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

DanceAfrica Family Class
Co-presented by BAM and Mark Morris Dance Group
Mon, May 27 at 10am
Duffy Studio (Mark Morris Dance Center, 3 Lafayette Ave)
Tickets are $12 for adults; $15 family of two; $20 family of three; and $25 family of four All ages
DanceAfrica invites families to explore the fundamentals of Cameroonian dance movement and music in a fun-filled, hands-on workshop led by a professional dance artist. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Tribute to the Ancestors
In partnership with Weeksville Heritage Center
Sat, May 18 at 10am
Weeksville Heritage Center (158 Buffalo Avenue)
Free
Under the guidance of artistic director Abdel R. Salaam and the DanceAfrica Council of Elders, this traditional tribute to those who have passed features music and drumming, dance performances, and a libation ceremony conducted by the Council of Elders.

Community Day
In association with The Billie's Youth Arts Academy
Sat, May 18 at 1pm
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza (1368 Fulton St)
Free DanceAfrica 2024 gets started with its annual Restoration DanceAfrica Community Day Kickoff. This year’s program celebrates The Billie Holiday Theatre's Youth Arts Academy's 27th year participating in DanceAfrica. The event includes performances by special guest artists, current Youth Arts Academy students, Pre-Professional Training Program members, and more!

DanceAfrica 2024 Bazaar
Sat, May 25, 12pm—10pm
Sun, May 26, 12pm—8pm
Mon; May 27, 12pm—8pm
Ashland Pl/ Lafayette Ave Free
Each year, the free outdoor DanceAfrica Bazaar serves as a gathering place for diverse crowds from all five boroughs of New York and the tri-state area, attracting an estimated 30,000 people throughout the weekend. The Bazaar includes nearly 200 local and international vendors, transforming the streets surrounding BAM into a global marketplace of African, Caribbean, and African American food, fashion, artifacts, jewelry, and crafts.