![Final Draft: Writing Workshop [Online]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a32e048692ebe53525fa069/1700155425344-TWTQO54NHLPZDX5BBGCQ/Frm+The+Personal+to+the+pucblic+image.jpeg)
Final Draft: Writing Workshop [Online]
Over five weekly sessions you'll be given tools and exercises to help you trust your instinct and start writing in a style and a voice that only you can express (Tip #1 - You already know all that you're going to write because it's going to come from your life).
Haitian Dance Class w/ Laurie Fleurentine
Join Laurie’s Weekly Haitian Dance Class with Live Drumming at Destiny Arts Center
Dance Class Information:
Sundays | 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Location: Destiny Arts Center
Payment: $15 In person at the door (Cash, Venmo, Paypal)
More Information | IG
ABOUT
Welcome to the captivating world of Haitian Dance! Immerse yourself in the rhythmic beats of live drumming as it sets your spirit free and ignites your soul. In this vibrant and dynamic class, you will experience a symphony of sensations, moving to the pulse of the earth itself.
As you sway to the enchanting melodies, you'll unlock the ancient wisdom of Haitian culture, discovering a profound connection between body and spirit. Embrace the rich history and traditions that have been passed down through generations, feeling the power of each movement as it resonates with the essence of your being.
Our experienced instructors will guide you through the artistry of Haitian Dance, teaching you the art of storytelling through fluid gestures and captivating expressions. These good-feeling movements will infuse your body with joy and vitality, leaving you energized and empowered.
Step into a sacred space where the rhythms guide your every step, and you embark on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. Allow the drums to speak to your soul, awakening a sense of oneness with the universe, and unleashing a new level of self-expression and freedom.
Whether you are a seasoned dancer or a complete beginner, this class welcomes all who seek to explore the essence of Haitian culture and find joy in movement. Join us for an unforgettable experience that will leave you enchanted, transformed, and deeply connected to the rhythm of life. So come, let's dance, let's celebrate, and let's embrace the magic of Haitian Dance!
Laurie Fleurentin was born in Haiti and began dancing at the age of five at the Academy of Ballet and Arts under the direction of Miss Heileing Herzog. She studied traditional Haitian dance with Armande J. Piard and Vivianne Gauthier, and received a Diploma in Dance at L’ ENARTS (Ecole Nationale des Arts) School of Arts in Haiti and is a trained vocalist in Haitian Folkloric Traditional chants. Laurie became a professional dancer for Vivianne Gauthier Dance Company where she met Florencia Pierre and started dancing for Afoutayi Jaka. She has also performed at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival with Eloi Movement and the Haitian Festival in San Francisco with Afoutayi. Currently, Laurie Fleurentin is studying at Laney College and teaches master dance classes at Mahea Uchiyama Center International in Berkeley and Destiny Arts Center. She is a versatile Haitian dancer of our times and has dedicated herself to the research, development, and promotion of traditional Haitian dance, song, and storytelling.
Jeff Pierre born and raised in Port-au-Prince Haiti, grew up surrounded by traditional Haitian drumming, dance and song in his mother's company. This is where he first fell in love with music and learned to drum. Jeff has been traveling the world sharing the beauty, complexity and Funkyness of Haitian Drumming.
Listening to music on the radio, Jeff became curious and fascinated in how music is produced. This was what pushed him to explore the world of electronic music. Jeff's music is a blend of magical melodies, Fun, Nature, Haiti and Grooviness. When he plays and produces music he gets lost in the flow and the creativity.
Jeff's goal is to put out loving energy and inspire others so we can create a happier, simpler and more loving world
African Popular Dance w/ Philipp Agyapong
Join Philip Agyapong for Spring 2024 at UC Berkeley
Dance Class Information:
Theater 166 | Class # 22081 | 3 Units
Mon, Wed, Fri | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
January 16, 2024 - May 3, 2024
Location: UC Berkeley, 2401 Bancroft 10
NOTE: You do not have to be a student at UC Berkeley to register
For more information and questions: Email | IG
ABOUT
This course deals with the theory and practice of selected popular dances from Africa. Free Style dance phrases such as Azonto, Shorkie, Shaku Skaku, Gwara Gwara, Pilolo, Ekupe, Gborhe, Awna, Akaida, etc. from Ghana, Nigerian, South African, Togolese, etc. will serve as the foundation of our movement exploration, composition, and choreography. The class encompasses theories of both contemporary cultural and performance studies that emphasize the simultaneous confluence of global and African influences. Students will further study the transformation of selected traditional dance forms into contemporary constructs. We will trace the relationship of particular popular dance movements to existing traditional African dances such as Kpanlogo and Oge; and Azonto and Kpanlogo, all of the Ga people of Accra. The foundational elements, vocabulary, musical connection, culture, and history of the styles and their current popularity through social media will be explored.
Philip Agyapong is a dance teacher and researcher from Ghana who currently lives in California. At the University of Ghana, he earned his dance education by studying African dance forms from the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Ga-Adangbe, Ewe, Fon, Akan, and Dagomba in West Africa. Philip earned his first dance faculty position in 2014 at the University of Ghana, where taught for a few years before relocating to California. He currently teaches African traditional dance forms (both theory and practice), African popular dance, and contemporary African dance in tertiary institutions across the Bay Area. Philip’s knowledge in dance, choreography, and performance can further be attributed to his practice with dance companies such as Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Yameci Dance Company, African Music and Dance Ensemble, and Afro-Urban Society. He is also the founder of African Live Art, an online educational platform that connects instructors of African knowledge in art forms, history, architecture, technology, culture, and tradition to educational intuitions across the world.
Lit From the Black! Stage Design & Technical Production for Womxn & NB Folks of African Descent
Lit From the Black! is a training and fellowship in Stage Design and Technical production (stage lighting, sound, stage management and visual design) for Womxn & NB Folx of African Descent. The Lit From the Black! Fellow is trained and mentored by Stephanie Anne Johnson, a well-accomplished lighting designer, and other stage design and production professionals.
The Glow Up: An LFTB! Mixer & Showcase
Lit From the Black! is a training and fellowship in Stage Design and Technical production (stage lighting, sound, stage management and visual design) for Womxn & NB Folx of African Descent. The Lit From the Black! Fellow is trained and mentored by Stephanie Anne Johnson, a well-accomplished lighting designer, and other stage design and production professionals.
Youth Performance Residency - Summer 2024
Feline Finesse Youth Summer Residency with Chinyakare Ensemble. Summer 2023, Bayview, San Francisco
Gbedu Town Radio x Feline Finesse
Pan Afro-Urban Performance Intensive for Youth
The Youth Performance Intensive with GbeduTown Radio will offer young individuals a transformative journey into the world of performing arts. Led by experienced instructors, participants will engage in theater, singing, dancing, and many other workshops. All work will lead to an end-of-session showcase that will be open to the public.
Mondays - Thursdays | 3-6 PM
June 24 - July 11, 2024
Feline Finesse Dance Company House of Finesse
4430 3rd St., San Francisco
ABOUT
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances, and productions.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
Feline Finesse Dance Company, est 2014, is a youth sisterhood stemming from the origins of the Bayview-Hunters Point community, in San Francisco. Our mission is to create a haven for all young ladies to freely, creatively, and artistically express themselves through dance while empowering them to reach their full potential, goals, and dreams. We self-identify thru genres of Hip-hop and West African; but most importantly, we philosophize a sisterhood of love and self-respect. We not only teach choreography, but we educate our young ladies in dance fundamentals, technique and overall etiquette.
Afro Culture Kids Summer Camp Ssn 1
SUMMER 2024 DATES
Session 1: Jul 29—Aug 9, 2024
Session 2: Aug 12—23, 2024
Ndeewo unu! Hevoyi Vabereki! Sannu ku!
Anyị wu Afro Culture Kids Winter Camp (ACK)!, a community-based outdoor Pan-African arts & culture camp catered to kids ages 5—16 of African descent. Our camp is full of music, dance, art & crafts, healthy cooking, games, storytelling, languages, outdoor play, and nature/garden exploration. Kids enrolled in this camp are excited about learning new skills, being creative, making and keeping friends, and having lots of fun.
We keep camp small so that our offerings can reach deep! We offer a community-mutual aid sliding scale fee structure, so that in the spirit of our African cultures, all our children can receive the gift of our offering. Kids in our camp relatively independent and are comfortable in facilitated/focused creative/artistic spaces, and have at least one Black/African descent parent/caregiver present in their family.
Through our community our children get exposure and practice in Pan African cultures including Shona, Igbo, Zulu, Kinyarwanda, Hausa, African-American, Yoruba, Afro-Peruvian, and Congolese to name a few.
LOCATION
Camp Drop-Off & Pick Up will be in Oakland (Address sent after full registration). Campers also travel to other local venues for daily field trips and activities.
FEES
$0—$2000/Session. We operate on a community mutual financial pooling system aka sliding scale. We have spots in different payment tiers, and we hope that with the support of those who have, we can make it possible to cover our costs of operations, and have a dynamic camp experience for all involved.
Fee is PER CHILD if you are registering more than one child, then select the quantity to match the # of children you plan to register.
Please choose a sliding scale rate that best suits your family’s ability to pay. We have limited space at camp, and need everyone’s contribution to make camp happen. Be considerate of keeping lower rates for folks who need it more than you do. If you need to make a contribution that is different from the established sliding scale rates use the ‘Your Rate’ option.
Camp fees cover the cost of attending camp/camp activities. Camp t-shirt, and field trips are not included.
Camp Daily Flow & Expectations
Camp will run from Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM during that week.
Fridays from 3—5PM is Community Day (Camper families are invited to participate in a celebration and gathering)
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Be outside, deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Bring your own lunch/snack.
Afro Culture Kids Summer Camp Ssn 2
SUMMER 2024 DATES
Session 1: Jul 29—Aug 9, 2024
Session 2: Aug 12—23, 2024
Ndeewo unu! Hevoyi Vabereki! Sannu ku!
Anyị wu Afro Culture Kids Winter Camp (ACK)!, a community-based outdoor Pan-African arts & culture camp catered to kids ages 5—16 of African descent. Our camp is full of music, dance, art & crafts, healthy cooking, games, storytelling, languages, outdoor play, and nature/garden exploration. Kids enrolled in this camp are excited about learning new skills, being creative, making and keeping friends, and having lots of fun.
We keep camp small so that our offerings can reach deep! We offer a community-mutual aid sliding scale fee structure, so that in the spirit of our African cultures, all our children can receive the gift of our offering. Kids in our camp relatively independent and are comfortable in facilitated/focused creative/artistic spaces, and have at least one Black/African descent parent/caregiver present in their family.
Through our community our children get exposure and practice in Pan African cultures including Shona, Igbo, Zulu, Kinyarwanda, Hausa, African-American, Yoruba, Afro-Peruvian, and Congolese to name a few.
LOCATION
Camp Drop-Off & Pick Up will be in Oakland (Address sent after full registration). Campers also travel to other local venues for daily field trips and activities.
FEES
$0—$2000/Session. We operate on a community mutual financial pooling system aka sliding scale. We have spots in different payment tiers, and we hope that with the support of those who have, we can make it possible to cover our costs of operations, and have a dynamic camp experience for all involved.
Fee is PER CHILD if you are registering more than one child, then select the quantity to match the # of children you plan to register.
Please choose a sliding scale rate that best suits your family’s ability to pay. We have limited space at camp, and need everyone’s contribution to make camp happen. Be considerate of keeping lower rates for folks who need it more than you do. If you need to make a contribution that is different from the established sliding scale rates use the ‘Your Rate’ option.
Camp fees cover the cost of attending camp/camp activities. Camp t-shirt, and field trips are not included.
Camp Daily Flow & Expectations
Camp will run from Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM during that week.
Fridays from 3—5PM is Community Day (Camper families are invited to participate in a celebration and gathering)
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Be outside, deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Bring your own lunch/snack.
![From The Personal To The Public: Writing Workshop [Online]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a32e048692ebe53525fa069/1700154818095-2Y5IYNNKDY1EP1U6BK3G/Final+Draft+Writing+workshop+image.jpeg)
From The Personal To The Public: Writing Workshop [Online]
Over five weekly sessions you'll be given tools and exercises to help you trust your instinct and start writing in a style and a voice that only you can express (Tip #1 - You already know all that you're going to write because it's going to come from your life).
Afro Culture Kids Camp- Lagos, Nigeria
2024 info
Session 1: April 16 - 18, 2024 (Ikeja, Lagos)
(More address details will be sent upon Registration confirmation)
featuring
International Artists
Visual & Culinary Arts
Music & Dance
Languages & Culture [Yoruba, Igbo, Shona & more]
N30,000 for 3 days
Lunch & Snacks provided for registered participants
WATCH OUR CAMP VIDEOS
Matatu & Vibe, Mombasa
Images by Vanessa Mwingira
Afro Urban Society x Jukwaa Arts invite you to
Matatu & Vibe, Mombasa
A low-key mixer for creatives to Play, Connect, & Explore. Bites & Beverages, Games, Networking, Artist Showcase, Interactive Activities, Skill Sharing & whatever else we get into
Thurs Apr 4, 2024
2-6 PM (GMT+3) East Africa Time
Jukwaa Arts Space, Aryan Plaza, Mombasa, Kenya
FREE | Must RSVP to attend
The Notable, The Notorious -Women's Month Event- Lagos, Ng
The Notable, The Notorious, is an all-ages whimsical luncheon and trivia competition event in honor of trailblazing and change-making Nigerian Women.
Gbedu Town Radio- Nightlife @ The California Academy of Sciences
From bhangra to Pan Afro-Urban dance and samba, see how the dance floor becomes a canvas for self-expression. Featuring Afro Urban Society/Gbedu Town Radio, BrasArte, and Non Stop Bhangra.
Afro Culture Kids Camp - January 2024
AFRO URBAN SOCIETY PRESENTS:
Ndeewo unu! Hevoyi Vabereki! Sannu ku!
Anyị wu Afro Culture Kids Winter Camp (ACK)!, a community-based outdoor Pan-African arts & culture camp catered to kids ages 5-16of African descent. Our camp is full of music, dance, art & crafts, healthy cooking, games, storytelling, languages, outdoor play, and nature/garden exploration. Kids enrolled in this camp are excited about learning new skills, being creative, making and keeping friends, and having lots of fun.
We keep camp small so that our offerings can reach deep! We offer a community-mutual aid sliding scale fee structure, so that in the spirit of our African cultures, all our children can receive the gift of our offering. Kids in our camp relatively independent and are comfortable in facilitated/focused creative/artistic spaces, and have at least one Black/African descent parent/caregiver present in their family.
Through our community our children get exposure and practice in Pan African cultures including Shona, Igbo, Zulu, Kinyarwanda, Hausa, African-American, Yoruba, Afro-Peruvian, and Congolese to name a few.
WINTER 2023 DATES
Session 1: Dec 18 - 22 (Virtual)
Session 2: Jan 1 - 5, 2024 (In Person)
LOCATION
Camp Drop-Off & Pick Up will be at Dimond Park in Oakland. Campers also travel to other local venues for daily field trips and activities.
3860 Hanly Road
Oakland, California
FEES
$0- $600/ Session. We operate on a community mutual financial pooling system aka sliding scale. We have spots in different payment tiers, and we hope that with the support of those who have, we can make it possible to cover our costs of operations, and have a dynamic camp experience for all involved.
Please choose a sliding scale rate that best suits your family’s ability to pay. We have limited space at camp, and need everyone’s contribution to make camp happen. Be considerate of keeping lower rates for folks who need it more than you do. If you need to make a contribution that is different from the established sliding scale rates use the ‘Your Rate’ option.
Camp fees cover the cost of attending camp/camp activities. Camp t-shirt, and field trips are not included.
Camp Daily Flow & Expectations
Camp will run from Monday to Friday 9AM-3PM during that week.
Fridays from 3-5PM is Community Day (Camper families are invited to participate in a celebration and gathering)
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Be outside, deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Bring your own lunch/snack.
More details will be sent upon Registration confirmation
A community Winter camp to be in connection with Pan-African culture, creative expression and community. Facilitated by amazing Bay Area creatives and cultural workers.
COVID Protocols: Participants, teachers, and adults will be asked to keep mask on at all times when not eating outside.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT https://www.afrourbansociety.com/afroculturekids
ONLINE: Afro Culture Kids Camp- December 2023
Ndeewo unu! Hevoyi Vabereki! Sannu ku!
Anyị wu Afro Culture Kids Winter Camp (ACK)!, a community-based outdoor Pan-African arts & culture camp catered to kids ages 5-16 of African descent. Our camp is full of music, dance, art & crafts, healthy cooking, games, storytelling, languages, outdoor play, and nature/garden exploration. Kids enrolled in this camp are excited about learning new skills, being creative, making and keeping friends, and having lots of fun.
We keep camp small so that our offerings can reach deep! We offer a community-mutual aid sliding scale fee structure, so that in the spirit of our African cultures, all our children can receive the gift of our offering. Kids in our camp relatively independent and are comfortable in facilitated/focused creative/artistic spaces, and have at least one Black/African descent parent/caregiver present in their family.
Through our community our children get exposure and practice in Pan African cultures including Shona, Igbo, Zulu, Kinyarwanda, Hausa, African-American, Yoruba, Afro-Peruvian, and Congolese to name a few.
WINTER 2023 DATES
Session 1: Dec 18 - 22 (Virtual) 9AM -1PM PST
Session 2: Jan 1 - 5, 2024 9AM -3PM (In Person, Oakland, California)
LOCATION
Virtual online
FEES
$0- $600/ Session. We operate on a community mutual financial pooling system aka sliding scale. We have spots in different payment tiers, and we hope that with the support of those who have, we can make it possible to cover our costs of operations, and have a dynamic camp experience for all involved.
Please choose a sliding scale rate that best suits your family’s ability to pay. We have limited space at camp, and need everyone’s contribution to make camp happen. Be considerate of keeping lower rates for folks who need it more than you do. If you need to make a contribution that is different from the established sliding scale rates use the ‘Your Rate’ option.
Camp fees cover the cost of attending camp/camp activities. Camp t-shirt, and field trips are not included.
Camp Daily Flow & Expectations
Camp will run from Monday to Friday 9AM-1PM during that week.
Fridays are Community Day (Camper families are invited to participate in a celebration and gathering)
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Pack your own lunch/snack.
More details will be sent upon Registration confirmation
A community Winter camp to be in connection with Pan-African culture, creative expression and community. Facilitated by amazing Bay Area creatives and cultural workers..
FOR MORE INFO VISIT https://www.afrourbansociety.com/afroculturekids
Afrobeats with VibesByToba x MannLikeTJ
Toba’s creative motto is “Vibe With Purpose” and he aims to use the blessings God has given him to tell stories, celebrate African people and culture, bring people together, and ultimately bless others. This class series is made possible in part with support from the Dream Keepers Initiative.
We In There! Black Theater Night/Preshow Mixer @ Berkeley Rep
Afro Urban Society x Berkeley Rep
WE IN THERE! BLACK THEATER NIGHT
Join AUS outside for a pre-show mixer at Peet’s at Berkeley Rep, then go in & see Bulrusher show!
Friday, November 3, 2023 | 7:00 - 7:45pm
Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Narsai M. David Courtyard
2015 Addison St., Berkeley
Featuring
Spoken Word: Mahder Aklilu
Movement: Jamie Carter
Live Music: Cadence Myles
DJ + Dance: PlayCookie Selectah & Gbedu Town Steppaz
FREE for Pre-Show
The promo code for tickets is BTN50 which will gets folx 50% off tickets to the performance of BULRUSHER on FRIDAY 11/3 only.
Accessibility: www.berkeleyrep.org | customerservice@berkeleyrep.org
ABOUT
Step into the world of Bulrusher, a poignant coming of age tale by Berkeley Native Eisa Davis infused with rhythmic language, passion, and down-home humor. It’s 1955, and Bulrusher is 18 and restless, with a gift for clairvoyance that makes her feel like a stranger even amongst the eccentric, dialect speaking folks of her predominantly white enclave of Boonville. When a mysterious young Black woman from Birmingham comes to town, Bulrusher discovers new facets of her identity — and uncovers her place in the world.
Afrobeats with Toba Olorungbemi
Toba’s creative motto is “Vibe With Purpose” and he aims to use the blessings God has given him to tell stories, celebrate African people and culture, bring people together, and ultimately bless others. This class series is made possible in part with support from the Dream Keepers Initiative.
AFRO DANCE MEGA 2023!!!!! Dance Workshop & Jam
Afro Urban Society x BAMBDFEST x Fua Dia Congo
AFRO DANCE MEGA 2023!!!!! Dance Workshop & Jam
The Messengers That Move & Belong
Sat, Aug 19, 2023
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
1428 Alice Street, Oakland | 2nd flr Studio A
For accessibility info: info@afrourbansociety.com
Instructors
Tango Leadaz (Dancehall), Special Guest from L.A.
Toba (Afrobeats)
Jamie Carter (Hip Hop)
Kanukai Chigamba (Afro Dance)
ABOUT
BAMBDFEST BIENNIAL 2023 INTERNATIONAL is a multi-day, multi-venue festival in celebration of the Black Arts Movement Business District, Black Arts & Culture, and economics in Oakland, CA. Founded in February 2019, produced by the Lower Bottom Playaz, Inc. in collaboration with BAMBD, CDC, funded by a Creative California Communities grant from the California Arts Council the festival was an annual event through August of 2021.
AFRO URBAN SOCIETY is an incubator and presenter of Afro-Urban performing and visual arts, culture, media, and social discourse. Through original and curated arts & event production, popular arts education, and cultural engagement, we ignite our communities to make meaningful connections, be inspired, and live vibrantly.
FUA DIA CONGO, founded in 1977, is guided by a Kikongo proverb, Wa Dia Fua Yika Dio, meaning “What you inherit, you must add value to.” For forty years the organization has been resolute in its dedication to preserving and presenting the music, dance, cultural arts of the Kongo Kingdom (the peoples of the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and parts of Gabon) as well as the Central African Republic. Its founder, Malonga Casquelourd, left a pioneering legacy of artistic excellence for the African and African Diaspora arts community in the Bay Area.
Government Housing - In Development
The Lower Bottom Playaz presents
Government Housing
Collaboration by Ayodele Nzinga & Afro Urban Society
Mon. Aug 7th 2023, 8:30PM
1540 Broadway - 1540 Broadway, Oakland, Ca 94612
A work in development and interactive performance experience for Government Housing, a work that brings together visual art, poetry, dance, theatre, and music into a Black-centered no-holds-barred exploration of place, housing, race, and equity.
www.ayodelenzinga.com/
Afro Culture Kids Camp - Summer 2023
AFRO URBAN SOCIETY PRESENTS:
Ndeewo unu! Hevoyi Vabereki! Sannu ku!
Anyị wu Afro Culture Kids Summer Camp (ACK)!, a community-based outdoor Pan-African arts & culture camp catered to kids ages 5-16of African descent. Our camp is full of music, dance, art & crafts, healthy cooking, games, storytelling, languages, outdoor play, and nature/garden exploration. Kids enrolled in this camp are excited about learning new skills, being creative, making and keeping friends, and having lots of fun.
We keep camp small so that our offerings can reach deep! We offer a community-mutual aid sliding scale fee structure, so that in the spirit of our African cultures, all our children can receive the gift of our offering. Kids in our camp relatively independent and are comfortable in facilitated/focused creative/artistic spaces, and have at least one Black/African descent parent/caregiver present in their family.
Through our community our children get exposure and practice in Pan African cultures including Shona, Igbo, Zulu, Kinyarwanda, Hausa, African-American, Yoruba, Afro-Peruvian, and Congolese to name a few.
SUMMER 2023 DATES
Session 1: July 31 - Aug 11 (2 Weeks)
Session 2: Aug 14 - Aug 25 (2 Weeks)
LOCATION
Camp Drop-Off & Pick Up is at a community space in Fruitvale, Oakland, California. Campers also travel to the parks, playground, and other local venues for daily field trips and activities.
Fruitvale District, Oakland, California
FEES
$0- $2000/ Session. We operate on a community mutual financial pooling system aka sliding scale. We have spots in different payment tiers, and we hope that with the support of those who have, we can make it possible to cover our costs of operations, and have a dynamic camp experience for all involved.
Please choose a sliding scale rate that best suits your family’s ability to pay. We have limited space at camp, and need everyone’s contribution to make camp happen. Be considerate of keeping lower rates for folks who need it more than you do. If you need to make a contribution that is different from the established sliding scale rates use the ‘Your Rate’ option.
Camp fees cover the cost of attending camp/camp activities, camp t-shirt, and field trips.
Camp Daily Flow & Expectations
Camp Runs from Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM during weeks that it runs.
Fridays from 4-5pm is Community Day (Camper families are invited to participate in a celebration and gathering)
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Be outside, deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Bring your own lunch/snack.
More details will be sent upon Registration confirmation
A community summer camp to be in connection with Pan-African culture, creative expression and community. Facilitated by amazing Bay Area creatives and cultural workers.
COVID Protocols: Participants, teachers, and adults will be asked to keep mask on at all times when not eating outside.
FOR MORE INFO VISIT https://www.afrourbansociety.com/afroculturekids
Mo' Roots Fest 2023
Mo’ Roots Fest 2023
‘Dynamic, Daring, Delightful Dandelion’
Celebrating the Life, Love, & Legacy of Monica Hastings-Smith
In partnership with Black Cultural Zone, as part of Oakland Juneteenth Liberation Weekend
We invite you to gather as an intergenerational community to honor and celebrate Monica Hastings-Smith, our mentor, auntie, and musical director, who transitioned to the ancestor realm in June 2021.
This year’s theme ‘Dynamic, Daring, Delightful Dandelion’ is inspired by ‘The Dandelion Song’, which was co-created by Mo’ and her 4/5 year-old forest school music students in 2018. The song celebrates the beauty, richness, and resilience of the Dandelion. Although many in society view them as weeds to kill and get rid of, Dandelions have many medicinal and healing benefits and are experts of survival.
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2022
Time: 1:00–6:00 pm
Location: Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill, Oakland
FREE
FEATURING
Performances, Interactive Activities, & Art Installations by:KeidraOnstage
BoomShake
Chinyakare Ensemble
Feline Finesse
MJ's Brass Boppers
DíaPaSón
Asé Arts
Julia LaChica
Abundant Beginnings
Black Banjo Reclamations
Manzanita SEED
Maaso Medicina/Floripondio
& More
DANDELION SONG
By Monica Hastings-Smith, ZioraMmachi Bender-deMoll, Johnnie Mae Taylor, Akira Pearl Williams-Rawlings,
Come pick some dandelions in the forest with me
We’re making medicine
We’re making tea
We dig the roots
We pick the leaves
Come and pick some dandelions in the forest with me
VENUE + PARKING:
Liberation Park / Black Cultural Zone, 7101 Foothill, Oakland
Parking available off 73rd street near the McDonald’s
Food vendors on site (TBA)
Porta-potties and handwashing stations on site
ACCESSIBILITY:
Liberation Park is wheelchair accessible and close to the Eastmont Transit Center bus stop. The park terrain is flat but not completely smooth.
We will have designated ADA seating as well as ASL interpretation for the performances.
2 of the porta-potties are ADA-compliant.
Please email boomshakemusic@gmail.com if you have accessibility needs not addressed here.
WHAT TO BRING:
Bring an offering for the altar, and a drum if you have one.
Please wear your face mask for our collective safety.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mo-roots-fest-2023-tickets-595337158467
www.boomshakemusic.com for more info and to join us.
Theatre in Video: Mixtape of the Dead & Gone #1 + Artist Q & A
Afro Urban Society x Dance Mission present
Theatre in Video: Mixtape of the Dead & Gone #1- Egwu Ahamefula and
Nigeria Trip Report-back & Q & A with Gbedu Town Radio #510ToDa234
Sat March 11, 2023 | 7:30-9:30pm
Dance Mission Theater
3316 24th Street, San Francisco
For accessibility contact: info@afrourbansociety.com
Tickets are on a $0-$100 sliding scale. Your $ supports the continuous development of this project. Your generous contribution is greatly appreciated.
A one-night only Theatre in Video showing of ‘Mixtape of the Dead & Gone #1- egwu ọnwụ Ahamefula’, a shit-just-got-real Afro-dance-theater piece following Ahamefula moments after her death, in a tussle with Asa-#7, a Messenger called from ‘Onye Ozi’ Ancestor app, sent to collect them. This piece was initially staged and performed in June 2022 at CounterPulse. If you missed it then, you’ll want to make sure you’re there this time! If you’ve seen it before, then you know you want to see it again!
by Robbie Sweeney
After the showing, there will be a Q & A moderated by Michael French, with the creator/director Nkeiruka Oruche and some of the cast members to learn more about the process of creating the stage production, a report-back on their cultural exchange trip to Nigeria following the June 2022 performance, and what future plans lie ahead. You’ll also be invited into some interactive activities with song, movement and practices surrounding grief.
‘egwu ọnwụ Ahamefula’ is the first stage in the ‘Egwu Onwu: Mixtape for the Dead’ (MDG) series as part of the ‘Obi gbawara’m//My Heart Shattered or What happens after I die?’ (OGB) project. Created and facilitated by multimedium cultural artist and producer Nkeiruka Oruche, OGB is a multimedia performance, & cultural reclamation project reactivating the practice of death and grief performance from the Igbo Ọdịnanị & Ọmenala tradition. Drawing from pre-colonial Igbo traditional forms, as a point of departure, MDG will recreate & reimagine grief songs, dances, and poems remixed with Pan Afro-urban forms to explore the questions How do we hold pain, grief & joy for ourselves & as a community? How do we define & self-determine our liberatory practices? And how do we remember who we are in societies designed to make us forget?
This event is presented in partnership with Afro Urban Society, Dance Mission, Priority Africa Network, and World Arts West.
‘Obi gbawara’m//My Heart Shattered or What happens after I die?’ is supported in part by Afro Urban Society; Black Cultural Zone; the City of Oakland; Alliance for California Traditional Arts through the Sankofa Initiative of the San Francisco Arts Commission; the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Zellerbach Family Foundation; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts; The East Bay Community Foundation East Bay Fund for Artists; California Arts Council; CounterPulse; CA$H | Theatre, a grants program of Theatre Bay Area; and individual supporters
![Finding Your Voice: A Workshop for People of African Descent [Online]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a32e048692ebe53525fa069/1643832709051-8NE9TTH7BMZ4ZTCEBKL7/FindingYourVoice.jpeg)
Finding Your Voice: A Workshop for People of African Descent [Online]
Over five weekly sessions you'll be given tools and exercises to help you trust your instinct and start writing in a style and a voice that only you can express (Tip #1 - You already know all that you're going to write because it's going to come from your life). If you're thinking "I'd love to write, but I'm not a writer," or "I'm a writer, but I don't know what to write about, "Raw Writing is the perfect kick-off point for you.
Afro Dance Fest: Badagry - Performance Showcase
Join Gbedu Town Radio & Okachamma Dance Troupe International for the inaugural Afro Dance Fest: Badagry.
Two days of dance workshops, performances, and communing featuring a combo dance workshop by Gbedu Town Radio and Okachamma at the historic Badagry Theatre, and a curated showcase of performances based on the theme ‘Dancing Through Grief’
Afro Dance Workshop
Sun Dec 17, 2022 / 2-4 PM WAT / Free
Sycomore Hotel, Badagry, Lagos
Performance Showcase
Sun Dec 18, 2022 / 1-5 PM WAT / N1000
Badagry Theatre, Badagry, Lagos
FEATURING
Ijolomo Dance Company | Bariga, Lagos
Hilary Jackson Dance Academy | Mile 12, Lagos
Span Dance Crew | Lagos Island, Lagos
Ijotayor Arts Concept | Alimosho, Lagos
Alimosho Performing Troupe | Alimosho, Lagos
D M X. Dance Troupe | Badagry, Lagos
Flamesart Africa | Ikorodu , Lagos
Okachamma Dance Troupe | Badagry, Lagos
Gbedu Town Radio | Oakland, California
Afro Dance Fest: Badagry - Workshop & Jam
Hip Hop, Amapiano, Kuduro, Ogene - A workshop like no other, with some of the top dancers in the Badagry & the Bay Area! with Gbedu Town Radio & Okachamma Dance Troupe
Afro Urban Society x Gbedu Town Radio x Okachamma Dance Troupe
Join Gbedu Town Radio & Okachamma Dance Troupe International for the inaugural Afro Dance Fest: Badagry.
Workshop Details
Saturday, Dec 17, 2022
Time: 2pm - 4pm WAT
Sycomore Hotels Limited (Sege Road, 103242, Badagry, Nigeria)
Join Gbedu Town Radio for another round of our Afro Dance workshop. This month we are going in with Badagry, Lagos & Bay Area Vibes, with some of the BEST movers. Different styles in one … all coming together for an experience like no other.
Afro Urban Society. an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Gbedu Town Radio. Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
Okachamma An entertainment group in traditional dance, drama, folk song and many more, we teach traditional dances and collaborate in other theater productions. Okachamma is based in Badagry, Lagos.
Bay Area Afro Dance Workshops w. Gbedu Town Radio
Afro Urban Society x Dance Mission Theater presents:
Afro Dance Workshops w. Gbedu Town Radio
Join Gbedu Town Radio for our monthly Afro Dance workshop outdoors. Each month, The Gbedu Town Steppaz will lead the workshop focusing on different dance styles. Get the vibe!
Dance workshop open to all levels. Schedule details below:
Tues. September 27, 2022
6pm-7:30pm
Latham Square, Downtown Oakland
Masks Required
ABOUT
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater is a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theater is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
Bay Area Afro Dance Cyphers
Afro Urban Society x Dance Mission Theater presents:
Afro Dance Dance Cyphers w. Gbedu Town Radio
Join Gbedu Town Radio for our bi-monthly Afro Dance Cyphers outdoors. Directed by Nkeiruka Oruche, The dance cyphers will focus on different dance styles. Get the vibe!
Dance Cyphers open to all levels. Schedule details below:
2022 | Wednesdays & Saturdays
Apr 6, Jun 18, Aug 17, Oct 15, Dec 17
3-5pm | Outdoor Location TBA | SF & Oakland
Masks Required
ACCESS NEEDS: If you have questions, we're happy to discuss. Please send an email to afrourbansociety.dance@gmail.com if you have access needs that aren't included below.
COVID SAFETY:
We'll maintain COVID safety protocols appropriate to conditions in the community at the time of audition. Bring a well-fitted mask, hand sanitizer, and your own reusable bottle of water.
BATHROOMS:
Latham Square: we'll be outside the entire time, so that means no bathroom access, although there may be public bathrooms around the square.
ADA & WHEELCHAIRS:
Latham Square is centrally located in an ADA accessible space in downtown. Latham Square is wheelchair accessible
TRANSIT:
Latham Square is about 3 blocks from the 12th and 19th BART stations and right next to an AC Transit hub. There is no dedicated parking. Parking available is street parking.
SCENT FREE SPACE: To support our community needs for those who have fragrance sensitivities and allergies, we ask all attendees not to wear any scented products on days that you attend workshops/auditions-- lotions, shampoos, essential oils, etc. Natural scents like essential oils and incense can still have these effects. Here's a useful resource from East Bay Meditation Center on what products do and don't contain scents (it includes info around black/POC specific hair/body products): https://eastbaymeditation.org/res.../fragrance-free-at-ebmc/
If you have questions, we're happy to discuss. Please send an email to afrourbansociety.dance@gmail.com if you have access needs that aren't included above.
ABOUT
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater is a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theater is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
![Your Life, Your Story: A Workshop for People of African Descent [Online]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a32e048692ebe53525fa069/1643833395943-4BFZQKM2JQS1A424YXMF/YourLifeYourStory.jpeg)
Your Life, Your Story: A Workshop for People of African Descent [Online]
Over five weekly sessions you'll be given tools and exercises to help you trust your instinct and start writing in a style and a voice that only you can express (Tip #1 - You already know all that you're going to write because it's going to come from your life). If you're thinking "I'd love to write, but I'm not a writer," or "I'm a writer, but I don't know what to write about, "Raw Writing is the perfect kick-off point for you.
We In There! AUS Night Out/Preshow Mixer @ Berkeley Rep 2
Afro Urban Society x Berkeley Rep
WE IN THERE!
Join AUS outside for a pre-show mixer in Courtyard, then go in & see the ripple, the wave that carried me home show!
Tues October 11, 2022 | 6:45-7:30pm
Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Narsai M. David Courtyard
2015 Addison St., Berkeley
Featuring
Spoken Word: Reggie Edmonds, Meilani Clay
Live Painting: Olubori Babaoye
DJ + Dance: PlayCookie Selectah & Gbedu Town Steppaz
Free with October 11 ticket for the ripple, the wave that carried me home
Accessibility: www.berkeleyrep.org | customerservice@berkeleyrep.org
Mask\Vaccine required for attendance
ABOUT
Meilani Clay is a writer, mama, and educator from Oakland, CA. Her work has appeared in Nomadic Press’s Patrice Lumumba: An Anthology of Writers on Black Liberation and online literary journal The Ana. Her debut poetry collection, and the creek don’t rise, was the winner of the 2021 Michael Rubin Book Award from San Francisco State University’s Fourteen Hills Press. A graduate of Howard University, the University of San Francisco, and a current MFA Poetry candidate at SFSU, Meilani aspires to be in school forever, to bridge worlds with her words, and to one day build forts out of books written by Black folks. Twitter @meiclay | IG @meiclaysol
Olubori Babaoye is a Nigerian-American multifaceted artist from Oakland, CA. Over the years, I’ve continuously strived to perfect my craft and earn my titles as a classical painter, digital illustrator, Sip n Paint instructor, as well as a live performer. www.oluboribabaoye.com
Bay Area Edition- 90s | Turf | House. Afro Dance Workshop
90s Hip Hop, Turf Dancing, House- A workshop like no other, with some of THEE top dancers in the Bay: Ebonie Barnett, Carmu, Amber Julian!
Afro Urban Society x Gbedu Town Radio x Dance Mission
Afro Dance Workshop: Bay Area Vibes
Ebonie (90s Hip Hop), Amber (Afro-House), Carmu (Turf)
Join Gbedu Town Radio for another round of our Afro Dance workshop. This month we are going in with BAY AREA vibes, with some of the BEST Bay Area movers. 3 Different styles in one workshop 90s Hip Hop, Turf, & House… all coming together for an experience like no other.
Ebonie Barnett. One of Bay Area's most dynamic Afro-Diasporic dancers. Born in San Francisco and raised by her grandmother in Richmond, Ebonie developed her passion for dance at the age of 6. Studying multiple styles such as Guinea West African, Haitian, hip hop, Brazilian and Congolese with different Bay Area premier groups including Dimensions Dance Theater, Fua Dia Congo, Diamano Coura, to name a few. Ebonie continues to travel throughout the diaspora studying the Black experience through dance and returning to her community to mentor the youth. IG: e.bunnys
Carmu. A turfin/ freestyle dancer from San Francisco, ca who's been dancing for 12 years in various styles including turf dancing, tutting, contortion, pop locking, waving and footwork. IG: @wavymuu
Amber Julian. A professional dancer of over 20 years whose style is often described as fierce, strong, and groovy. Her background and primary training is in Hip Hop and House, and she considers herself a freestyle dancer with an emphasis on somatic healing. The experience: Vibe with groovy Afro-House steps while activating the root, core and crown. Explore range of expressions with fluidity, rigidness, and smoothness. IG: @create.elevate
Afro Urban Society. an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater. a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theater is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio. Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
This workshop is presented with support by San Francisco Dream Keeper Initiative and Dance Mission Theater @dancemissiontheater.
We Outside! AUS Night Out/Preshow Mixer @ Berkeley Rep
Afro Urban Society x Berkeley Rep
AUS Night Out/Preshow Mixer
Join AUS outside for a pre-show mixer in Courtyard, then go in & see the Goddess or the ripple, the wave that carried me home show!
Tues Sep 20, 2022 | 6:45-7:30pm
Berkeley Repertory Theatre | Narsai M. David Courtyard
2015 Addison St., Berkeley
Featuring
Live Painting with 2AM
Performance by Gbedu Town Radio
DJ & Interactive Dance Session
& vibes.
Free with 9/20 evening ticket for Goddess or the ripple, the wave that carried me home
ALSO Get 50% off tickets to see Goddess for our AUS Black/African Community use code AFROURBANSOCIETY (restrictions apply/read below for more details)
Accessibility: www.berkeleyrep.org | customerservice@berkeleyrep.org
Mask\Vaccine required for attendance
*50% off tickets for our Black AUS community members with discount code AFROURBANSOCIETY
*Please read offer details
Offer is good for a 50% discount on two (2) tickets for any ONE performance of Goddess between 9/16- 9/23 with the following restrictions:
applies to seating in sections A and B only
offer will expire if performances reach capacity or 11:59pm on September 23, whichever occurs first
Tickets must be booked online – enter the code AFROURBANSOCIETY manually:
Enter the promo code and click the “Submit” button at the top right before adding any seats to your cart
Select your own seats in the A or B sections, a discount of 50% off will be automatically reflected. Continue to finalize order. If you have not booked tickets before, you will need to create an account
If you do not see the 50% discount applied, the offer has reached capacity for that date/time
Your tickets will arrive via email shortly after the initial confirmation. Be sure to check your promotions/junk/clutter/spam folder if you don’t see an email with the subject: “your e-tickets have arrived” within 15 minutes of your order. Tickets can be printed or scanned directly from a smartphone at the door
The fine print: This offer is based on availability and may expire at any time. This offer is not available retroactively.
A reminder about Berkeley Rep COVID-19 health and safety policies:
Berkeley Rep is a vaccinated company, including staff, artists, and volunteers. All attendees and guests must present a vaccination card, a photo of your card, or a digital vaccine record with matching ID. First boosters are required for all eligible attendees.
Masks must be worn at all times in all indoor areas of the theatre
Check our website for additional COVID safety information
Afro Culture Kids Camp - Summer 2022
Afro Urban Society presents:
Afro Culture Kids Camp is an informal outdoor/roaming African- rooted arts & culture-based mixed-age camp for kids ages 5-11 of African descent.
Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00PM
Week 1: Aug 8 - 12, 2022
Week 2: Aug 15 - 19, 2022
Fruitvale, Oakland
More details will be sent upon Registration confirmation
A community summer camp to be in connection with Pan-African culture, creative expression and community. Facilitated by amazing Bay Area creatives and cultural workers; Kanukai Chigamba, Maymunah Muktari, Kevin Robinson, Nkeiruka Oruche, Pedro Rosales, Malaika Parker & More.
Camp will feature play, storytelling, games, music and dance instruction, cooking, nature/garden practice, & kid-led activities.
Be outside, deepen friendships and strengthen artistic practice.
Bring your own lunch/snack.
COVID Protocols: Participants, teachers, and adults will be asked to keep mask on at all times when not eating outside.
$450/week standard rate
$150-$1000 Sliding Scale/Week
* If you need to attend and can’t pay the full cost please indicate in Access section of form.
Feline Finesse Residency Closing Celebration : Akụkọ ịhụnanya maka ndi ichie
Afro Urban Society x Dance Mission Theater x Feline Finesse presents:
Akụkọ ịhụnanya maka ndi ichie/Stories of Love about the ancestors
Join Afro Urban Society’s Gbedu Town Radio and the youth from Feline Finesse Dance Company for a moment of remembering, sharing love stories, and celebrating our ancestors through spoken word, dance, songs, and ancestor offerings. The ceremony is open to people of African Descent only.
Thurs. July 28, 2022
7-8 pm
Bayview, San Francisco
Free
Masks Required
Dress Code:
Solid Orange/Coral & White
Black or White T-shirt or Top that commemorates someone that you’ve lost or anyone who is dead
NO VISIBLE Logos or Brands (independent/small/local Black-owned is fine)
Bring framed photos or 1-2 artifacts that memorialize a loved one who is dead.
ABOUT
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater is a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theater is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
Feline Finesse Dance Company, est 2014, is a youth sisterhood stemming from the origins of the Bayview-Hunters Point community, San Francisco. Our mission is to create a safe haven for all young ladies to freely, creatively, and artistically express themselves through dance while empowering them to reach their full potential, goals and dreams. We self-identify thru genres of Hip-hop and West African; but most importantly, we philosophize a sisterhood of love and self-respect. We not only teach choreography, but we educate our young ladies in dance fundamentals, technique and overall etiquette.
This workshop is presented with support by San Francisco Dream Keeper Initiative and Dance Mission Theater @dancemissiontheater.
Finding Your Voice: A Workshop for People of African Descent [Online]
Over five weekly sessions you'll be given tools and exercises to help you trust your instinct and start writing in a style and a voice that only you can express (Tip #1 - You already know all that you're going to write because it's going to come from your life). If you're thinking "I'd love to write, but I'm not a writer," or "I'm a writer, but I don't know what to write about, "Raw Writing is the perfect kick-off point for you.
Afro Dance Workshop w. Gbedu Town Radio x Feline Finesse
Afro Urban Society x Feline Finesse x Dance Mission Theater presents:
Afro Dance Workshop w. Gbedu Town Radio
Join Gbedu Town Radio for our monthly Afro Dance workshop outdoors. Each month, The Gbedu Town Steppaz will lead the workshop focusing on different dance styles. Get the vibe!
Dance workshop open to all levels. Schedule details below:
2022 | Tuesdays
Apr 26, May 24, Jun 28, Jul 26, Aug 23,
Sept 27, Oct 25, Nov 22
6-7:30pm | Location TBA | SF & Oakland
Masks Required
ABOUT
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater is a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theater is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop.
ACCESS NEEDS: If you have questions, we're happy to discuss. Please send an email to afrourbansociety.dance@gmail.com if you have access needs that aren't included below.
COVID SAFETY:
We'll maintain COVID safety protocols appropriate to conditions in the community at the time of audition. Bring a well-fitted mask, hand sanitizer, and your own reusable bottle of water.
BATHROOMS:
Latham Square: we'll be outside the entire time, so that means no bathroom access, although there may be public bathrooms around the square.
ADA & WHEELCHAIRS:
Latham Square is centrally located in an ADA accessible space in downtown. Latham Square is wheelchair accessible
TRANSIT:
Latham Square is about 3 blocks from the 12th and 19th BART stations and right next to an AC Transit hub. There is no dedicated parking. Parking available is street parking.
SCENT FREE SPACE: To support our community needs for those who have fragrance sensitivities and allergies, we ask all attendees not to wear any scented products on days that you attend workshops/auditions-- lotions, shampoos, essential oils, etc. Natural scents like essential oils and incense can still have these effects. Here's a useful resource from East Bay Meditation Center on what products do and don't contain scents (it includes info around black/POC specific hair/body products): https://eastbaymeditation.org/res.../fragrance-free-at-ebmc/
If you have questions, we're happy to discuss. Please send an email to afrourbansociety.dance@gmail.com if you have access needs that aren't included above.
Mo' Roots Fest
Celebrating the Life, Love, and Legacy of Monica Hastings-Smith
We invite you to gather as an intergenerational community to honor and celebrate Monica Hastings-Smith, our mentor, auntie, and musical director, who transitioned to the ancestor realm in June 2021.
OFFERINGS / TIMES
PERFORMANCES:
Afro Peruvian Coalition 3:00PM
Gbedu Town Radio 3:30PM
MJ's Brass Boppers 4:00PM
BoomShake 5:00PM
INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES + WORKSHOPS:
Hella Healed 11:30AM-12:30PM — Kicking off a day of festivities, Hella Healed: Roots of Prosperity will focus on the root and foundation. From setting intentions and grounding energy, we will plant, nurture, and enjoy many seeds. We strongly encourage family attendance. We must heal and build together to get where we wish to go as a people. (This is a closed space for the Afrikan Black community.)
Rosesharon Oates 11:00AM-6:00PM — Healing modalities
Ietef "DJ Cavem" Vita 1:00PM-2:00PM — Plant based record music workshop
Abundant Beginnings + Mitali Purkayastha 1:00PM-5:00PM — The Dandelion Song
BoomShake Community 1:00PM-5:00PM — "Everybody Wants To Be In Oakland"
House/full of BlackWomen 1:00PM-5:00PM — Holding space for BIPOC women and non-binary folk to rest and engage in conversation on how insisting on our rest is a necessary strategy for our collective liberation and healing. Bring headphones and your phone to access suggested sound options for resting.
Girls Rock Camp 2:00PM-3:00PM — Drumming + make-your-own-chant workshop for Black and Brown youth (plus open jamming time)
ART + ALTAR INSTALLATIONS:
Afro Urban Society 1:00PM-6:00PM — Black Space: Interactive Black Ancestor Shrine + Photo Booth for Black/People of African Descent. Bring a printed photo paper of your Black ancestors to add to our shrine installation.
Christopher Burch 10:00AM-7:00PM — Live mural painting
Julia LaChica
Lola Caballero
Vivian Adriana Renteria
DANCING
DRUMMING
FOOD VENDORS
Drawing on Monica's life, love, and creativity, we will gather to celebrate their legacy and carry it forward. As we continue to learn and grow with Teacher Auntie Monica as our ancestor, BoomShake members, collaborating artists, and community participants will showcase songs, stories, musical compositions, performance pieces, visual art, and poetry.
Bring your drum + love offerings for the altar!
Mixtape of the Dead & Gone #1’- Egwu Onwu Ahamefula
Afro Urban Society presents ‘Mixtape of the Dead & Gone #1’, a shit-just-got-real Afro-Urban dance-theater performance exploring the limits of stunting and reality, vibes and inshallah, legacy, heartbreak, and acceptance.
The Art of Performance Afro Dance Tour w/ SayRah - Bay Area
Afro Urban Society's Gbedu Town Radio x Dance Mission Theater x CounterPulse:
The Art of Performance Afro Dance Tour with SayRah
Tues. April 26, 2022
6pm-8pm
CounterPulse
80 Turk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
MASKS REQUIRED
SayRah‘s The Art of Performance Afro Dance Workshop will allow you to delve deep in movements from the motherland. Exploring African street/social dances (mainly West African Street/social movements). These dances are then married in choreography! For this specific class series, SayRah will be focusing on the art of performance! Exploring the various components that make a great performer as if you were on stage or on screen, not just learning moves.
ABOUT
Sarah (SayRah) Olaniran, a Nigerian native has been dancing since a very young age. Well-versed in various styles including Latin, Ballroom, Ballet, Nigerian traditional dance, Jazz, HipHop, Salsa and, Contemporary, she also has Modern, Ballet en pointe, improv and Traditional West African in her vocabularty
Currently a top Afrobeats dancer and choreographer she has worked with prominent African artists including DavidO, Olamide, 2face, Timaya,Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Flavor, Tekno, Kcee, Wande Coal, Awilo Logomba, PSquare, Waje, JMartins, Omawunmi, Darey Art Alade, Efiya, CDQ, Orezi, Falz, Dammy Krane, Dbanj, and more
In between touring the world performing, she teaches Afro-fusion dance classes around the United States exploring African street/social dances (mainly West African Street/social movements) with a focus on Nigeria and Ghana.
IG @sayrahchips
Afro Urban Society is an exuberant network of brilliant artists and culture workers dedicated to celebrating the unique expressions of Urban Africans through programs, performances and productions.
Dance Mission Theater is a nonprofit performance venue and dance school located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. The theatre is operated by Dance Brigade, a female dance troupe with a focus on social change.
Gbedu Town Radio Over-articulated and barely translated, Gbedu Town Radio tells dynamic stories for the culture. Led by Artistic Director, Nkeiruka Oruche, and featuring a dynamic group of performers, GTR explores social and political themes through Pan Afro-Urban music and dance including Afrobeats, Dancehall, Coupé-Décalé & varieties of Hip hop. Gbedu Town Radio performances and workshops have graced many venues including Zellerbach Hall, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Stern Grove Festival, Oakland Museum of California, Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, UC Davis, The Umoja Festival, Yoshi’s SF, Dance Mission Theater, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, the Independent, the California Academy of Sciences, and more. And our performers have shared stages with Onyeka Owenu, Magic System, Seun Kuti, Yemi Alade, Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Mokoomba, Tribu Baharú, Les Twins to name a few.
To learn more afrourbansociety.com | IG: @afrourbansociety | FB: Afro Urban Society
This workshop is presented with support by San Francisco Dream Keeper Initiative and Dance Mission Theater @dancemissiontheater.