In 1977, visionary dancer and choreographer Charles Rudolph Davis—known to generations as Baba Chuck—created DanceAfrica at BAM with a bold mission: to celebrate, honor, and amplify the richness of African arts and culture. What began as a groundbreaking festival became a profound contribution to Pan-African movements around the globe. Baba Chuck assembled extraordinary artists from across Africa and the diaspora, together with African American companies dedicated to preserving, extending, and sharing powerful cultural traditions.
Now, 50 years later, DanceAfrica is still moving. This spring, BAM celebrates a half-century of music, dance, artistry, and community with America’s largest celebration of African and African American dance, music, and culture—and BAM’s longest-running program.
Led by artistic director Baba Abdel R. Salaam since 2015, DanceAfrica transforms Memorial Day weekend into an unmissable destination for audiences of all ages—and this year’s celebration will be bigger and bolder than ever before. Featuring electrifying performances, master classes, community events, the celebrated FilmAfrica series, visual art, a late-night dance party, and the legendary outdoor bazaar, as well as special surprises for this festive year, there’s never been a better time to experience DanceAfrica.
