#danceAfrica2017

[rahndarize]

Hey y’all! What’s good?! A lot going on in my world as usual! Just working on maintaining balance! Hope you are doing well and hope this day has been a good one! Have you been able to get some joy in? I hope so! This has been a hilarious day for me!!! One thing after another has had me in stitches!! But I needed the laughter! Lol! So in honor of it all, I had to post some pics of me basking in my joy! #Throwback #TBT #BlackJoy #DanceAfrica2017 #BAMFestival2017 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbxs47hTYNytPUz4ffXN3hH4dnXkiwjLzEVMI0/?igshid=zbx7vlvwgcs

#throwback #tbt #blackjoy #danceafrica2017 #bamfestival2017

[westampersand]

West& DanceAfrica 2017 |

I had the distinguished honor of performing at the 40 year Anniversary of DanceAfrica! I’ve studied, traveled and been in love with traditional vernacular for over 20 years. So being able to perform on that platform was a tremendous honor. Dr Baba Chuck founded this illustrious event (that occurs throughout the Country and beyond) in 1977. He recently transitioned to being an Ancestor. This only made this year even more significant. His impact on all us is immeasurable. And it’s out time now to do the work as cultural carriers.

The DanceAfrica 2017 theme was, “The Healing Light of Rhythm: Tradition and Beyond.” Celebrating the movement and rhythmic traditions of Guinea. We did 7 shows in 5 days (May 25-29, 2017). Performing,"The Healing Sevens," under the direction of Baba Abdel Salaam. Thank you to everyone that came and made it possible for 4 out of the 5 public shows to sell out. Featuring Asase Yaa, Illstyle & Peace Productions and Forces of Nature Dance Theatre. In honor of Dr. Baba Chuck Davis,#WeGotThis!

-J. West

#Jerijah West #danceAfrica2017 #whywegobeyond #danceAFRICA #Abdel r Salaam #fondt #forcesofnaturedancetheatre #forces of nature dance theater #dance company #black excellence #BAM #Brooklyn Academy of Music #dancelife #african culture #african dance #legacy #baba chuck #baba chuck davis #dr baba chuck davis

[pharaonicbrand]

Be the Epitome of Greatness & our Children will be sure to follow! Pharaonic Brand can help you Shine just a Little bit Brighter! Get your Greatness on today! Check out www.pharaonicbrand.bigcartel.com #pharaonicorp #pharaonic #pharaonicbrand #greatness #kemetic #heru #HRU #horus #ambassadorsofgreatness #getbacktogreatness #grindforgreatness #BAM #DanceAfrica2017 #fultonflea2017 #islandboiphotography

#pharaonicbrand #ambassadorsofgreatness #hru #heru #fultonflea2017 #pharaonicorp #greatness #islandboiphotography #horus #kemetic #getbacktogreatness #grindforgreatness #bam #pharaonic #danceafrica2017

[bellus-spiritus]

#latergram 40yrs of #danceafrica #bam #brooklyn #streetphotography #colors #streetfashion #danceafrica2017 #womenswear #fashion #streetstyle (at BAM)

#fashion #colors #streetstyle #bam #danceafrica #latergram #danceafrica2017 #streetphotography #brooklyn #streetfashion #womenswear

[f1n1sh3r-blog]

African dreams are owned by many and only few are realized. We leave our homes, family and friends behind to chase after these dreams. The fantasy of living the lives we imagine seem all too easy. But the reality of the work to get there is hard and harsh. Our hands become calloused and chaffed. Our backs and knees weak. Still we dream and never stop until it is realized in our children. We left our homes not to live into the dream, that was the motivating force. We leave to pave paths, break down walls and bar cruel lashes for them to be great. Be great! It's yours, it was never meant to be mine. #danthonyphotography #DanceAfrica2017 #DanceAfrica #brooklyn #festival #dailynews #nytimes #nyc #flatbush #igers #newyork_instagram #picoftheday #instagood #streetphotography #nikon #photography #african #beautiful #people #vendors #peoplescreatives #rasta #rastafari (at BAM)

#newyork_instagram #rastafari #danceafrica #photography #streetphotography #rasta #dailynews #danceafrica2017 #beautiful #vendors #nytimes #igers #nikon #brooklyn #nyc #instagood #danthonyphotography #people #festival #picoftheday #flatbush #african #peoplescreatives

[debralb1]

When you hear a #drumline in the distance....you finally see the #drummers and you know that the #rhythmisgonnagetyou excited...right @nadilowe ? I see you and Paige jammin to de beat. #drums #danceafrica2017 #brooklyn #music #drumming #africanbeats #danceafrica2017 (at Dance Africa)

#brooklyn #africanbeats #drummers #rhythmisgonnagetyou #music #drumming #drums #drumline #danceafrica2017

[mzkendrafoster]

Had the honor of kickin' it w/ 👑Michelline @michihighlights Creator of MichiHighlights.com & "Kitchen Talk", Entrepreneur, Fashionista, sweet❤️ on the last day of #DanceAfrica2017

#danceafrica2017

[itsyourqueens]

Fun times yesterday at #danceafrica2017 #YourQueens

#danceafrica2017 #yourqueens

[teawithqueenandj]

We're here for this shot of #blackjoy taken at the #DanceAfrica bazaar by @shavonmeyers ❤✊🏾💚 . Be sure to listen to the latest episode of #teawithqj #podcast for a recap of Dance Africa and more on #107 "Congratulations, You Played Yourself" CLICK THE LINK IN THE BIO TO LISTEN! . This week... What does it mean when Black folks blackball other Black folks, How top 20 universities have BEEN gentrifying the hood on some #getout sh!t, Rihanna & Lupita, DanceAfrica, and Is success yt? . #podsincolor #itunes #soundcloud #stitcher #googleplay #tuneinapp #supportpocpods #supportblackpodcasts #listentoblackwomen #womanism #blackfeminism #naturalhair #blackwomen #danceafrica2017 #danceafricabazaar #brooklyn #navy #blacknavy (at BAM)

#danceafricabazaar #107 #brooklyn #supportpocpods #navy #naturalhair #podsincolor #listentoblackwomen #danceafrica #danceafrica2017 #tuneinapp #womanism #blackjoy #itunes #podcast #blackwomen #stitcher #blackfeminism #teawithqj #getout #googleplay #blacknavy #supportblackpodcasts #soundcloud

[hightopsxheels]

Everything IS worthwhile knowing the impact and influence it has on this amazing young woman! I call it the radicalization of Jayla lol... she keeps me grounded, inspires and encourages me more than she knows! My brilliant and beautiful niece @hauntjayla Swipe left to see more of us at #danceafrica2017 #HTxH #HightopsandHeels #fuckyourprivilege #sisterhood #blackwomen #afrohair #curlyhair #creolas #cuties #streetart #danceafrica #streetstyle #lifestyleblog #familygoals #vintagestyle #customized #myhaircrush #naturalhair

#danceafrica #lifestyleblog #familygoals #customized #streetstyle #creolas #htxh #blackwomen #sisterhood #hightopsandheels #danceafrica2017 #cuties #streetart #myhaircrush #afrohair #vintagestyle #naturalhair #curlyhair #fuckyourprivilege

[marcia-e-wilson]

This Memorial weekend was the 40th anniversary of the DanceAfrica festival, and sadly it is also the year the founding artistic director of DanceAfrica, Dr. Charles "Chuck" Davis passed away at 80 years of age. http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/may/25/danceafrica-celebrate-40th-anniversary-chuck-davis/ For the thirty years I've been living in Brooklyn, I have been to the DanceAfrica festival at least 25 times. It is one of my absolute favorite annual Brooklyn tradition. With the passing of Dr. Chuck Davis, and with gentrification that is rapidly pushing out Brooklyn tradition as we know it, my heart drops wondering what the future will be for festivals that means so much to many of us. But rather than mope and complain, the best thing to do, is to enjoy the time being there, by blending in with the colorful fabrics of Africa donned by the people; reunite with folks you haven't seen in a long while, eat scrumptious food, dance, sing, double dutch, buy art, take a picture with brother(s) in the navy, hang out on the BAMS stoop and take in the vibes. I mean what else is there to do, but to be in the moment. I will never tire of DanceAfrica. #danceafrica2017 #brooklyn #bam #brooklynacademyofmusic #danceafricafestival

#brooklyn #brooklynacademyofmusic #danceafricafestival #danceafrica2017 #bam

[debralb1]

This also happened at #danceafrica2017-#kamekomarley and her bestie Paige jump right in! Had #proudmom @nadilowe and I cheering our girls on . Little girls who love to Jumprope or as we say in the #islands and in the #uk ...Skiprope . #jumprope #skiprope #skipropeskills #skippingrope #jumproping #skip #skipping #jumpingrope #girlswhojumprope #girlsandjumprope #jumpingropes #doubledutch #jumpropes #jumprope #sidewalksport #nycsidewalk #danceafricabazaar #danceafricastreetfestival #brooklyn #brooklynstreetfestival #girls (at Dance Africa)

#skippingrope #girlsandjumprope #kamekomarley #danceafrica2017 #danceafricastreetfestival #jumpingrope #brooklyn #brooklynstreetfestival #uk #jumprope #nycsidewalk #sidewalksport #skiprope #jumpropes #girls #skipropeskills #skipping #proudmom #doubledutch #skip #danceafricabazaar #islands #jumproping #jumpingropes #girlswhojumprope

[kiskeacity]

Daily concert in front of @lacayebk for @danceafrica17 🇭🇹Yesterday's band was @rivanyri and @monvelyno of @bohiomania_official. #haitianmusic #bamdanceafrica #danceafrica #danceafrica2017 #fromhaititoafrica #brooklyn #nyc #mizikrasin #rara (at BAM)

#nyc #mizikrasin #haitianmusic #bamdanceafrica #danceafrica2017 #fromhaititoafrica #brooklyn #danceafrica #rara

[fatouseckcreates]

May 2016 was the beginning of a change in my life. I was running around like a chicken without a head, trying to teach at 3 different schools, prepare my students at Ifetayo for their end of year performance, preparing myself for Kowteff’s Juneteenth and several gigs with Fusha, as well as preparing for BAM Dance Africa 2016, which was exciting for a multitude of reasons!

1- It’s Dance Africa. 2- I was reunited with friends I met during my first trip in Senegal in 2014. 3 - I got to perform with a super talented group of young artists. 4 - I made more friendships which made my second trip to Senegal even more meaningful.

I am a reserved, laid back person. I generally like to go with the flow, provided the flow is in line with my own interests and values, because my mother didn’t raise no follow fashion monkey! Jokes aside, I like to stay low key and work at my own pace, keeping personal information and goals largely to myself, but the past year has proved that if I want to reap the benefits of all my wonderful ideas, that I have to come out of my comfort zone and learn new approaches to getting these goals accomplished. For this reason, I am committed to improving not just my work habits but also my social habits in order to become a more impactful version of myself. I have written before about being named after a woman with a large legacy, Mame Fatou Seck, but I’m also named for my two biological grandmothers Ann Dubois and Alice Flossie Primus (my middle name is Annalice). The weight of all three of my names keeps me thinking about the woman I want to be. I think about how people will remember what I’ve done, I think about whether or not people will understand my intent. I think about how and who I’ll inspire, and if I already have at this point in my life.

Recently Dance Africa has changed so much from how I knew it growing up, and this weekend has been especially hard because of the recent loss in our African dance community. This year, within the past 2 months we lost Mr. Mamadou Dahoue, Baba Chuck Davis, Mama Katunge Mimy. Last year on the Saturday of Dance Africa Weekend, we also lost master drummer Cheikh Tairou M’baye, for whom a memorial celebration was held at Alvin Ailey this Saturday and Sunday.

I have been to Dance Africa nearly every year of my life. Five years I have performed on stage, three with my parents group, twice with Restoration. Some of those years I’ve performed outside, when they had “festival dancers”. Most of those years I’ve gleefully sat in the audience, which felt more like a family reunion because you literally see EVERYONE you know. All your dance family from people you haven’t seen in years to the people you dance with in class every week. People whose names or faces you don’t really know but they tell you they've known you since you were just a twinkle in your mom’s eye. And while change is inevitable, when you come to expect a particular experience it can be sobering to look around and take note of so many big changes at once.

All the change and transformation has been the constant reminder I need to keep building my own groundwork. So many great, important people have transitioned from 2016 to 2017, and it leaves me thinking, how will people remember me? What will my legacy say for me, when I can no longer speak for myself. I want people to remember me and not reduce me to having been a good dancer. I want them to connect with the spirit I carried and the work that was important to me. I’m still working on realizing all of that now, so I know I have a ways to go. By no means do I want to rush my time on earth. Still, I’m compelled to make my life meaningful not just to people who know me personally but to anyone who shares my philosophy, my love, any kindred spirt who’s ever found solace in the drums or the dance.  

The point of this, was not to say I want people to like me or to think of me as a good person when I die, but to remind myself that as long as I am here I have to make the most of my time, my energy and all things are important to me. I have to learn focus and fine tune my discipline. Share my ideas and then put actions behind my words because whats the point of having them if they stay locked away in my mind. How could any of our greats have been great if they’d kept their gifts to themselves? This weekend has been a reminder of just that. In 2017 and beyond, Fatouseck Primus will continue to work hard, work diligently, love honestly and she will not be afraid to share.

#dance africa #danceafrica2016 #danceafrica2017 #baba chuck #cheikh mbaye #fatouseck primus #mamadou dahoue #katunge mimy #rip #black dance #black dancers

[severe180]

#DanceAfrica2017 Downtown Brooklyn

#danceafrica2017

[rahndarize]

#DancingInTheStreets #MorningMotivation #MidDayMotivation #GETYOLIFE I haven't been able to come online much in some months, however as you can see I have been getting my life on these streets!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽Lol! 😆. This is me getting the spirit and getting free at Dance Africa 2017! Had such a great time in Brooklyn with my sistas!! The sista who was doing the demo/circle was from #Crunch Fitness Studio (which I think is located in BK) And that's my sista @jazsinger on the commentary!! Loving it all!! That circle ignited my fire!!! Dance is one of my greatest passions and my first love. Before I started singing, writing or acting, I was dancing (starting at the tender age of 7). I miss it! I need to pick it back up again! I have to get in a class! What do you think? Any class suggestions in Philly? Where's Cache's class these days? Any other classes you can recommend? NYC classes? Maybe I should check out Crunch!! Holla at a sista!! 🙋🏽💖 #rahndarize #thatdancelife #myfirstlove #dancininthestreets #dancer #africandance #DanceAfrica #DanceAfrica2017 #DanceAfricaFestival #BAM #BAM2017

#morningmotivation #dancinginthestreets #dancininthestreets #danceafrica2017 #middaymotivation #getyolife #rahndarize #bam #danceafrica #africandance #myfirstlove #dancer #bam2017 #thatdancelife #danceafricafestival #crunch