Each November, Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theater’s annual Dance & Drum Festival puts traditional West African dance, music and song at center stage. Twenty-two years strong, this celebration of rhythm and motion draws renowned artists from Guinea, Senegal, Mali and the Ivory Coast for a foot-stomping weekend of classes, workshops and performances. This year, several festival events aim to direct attention to the Black Lives Matter movement: A ballet focuses on themes of oppression and organized revolt, and the speakers at Sunday’s panel discussion reflect on the movement in relation to West African history. Visit jehkulu.org for a full schedule of beat-driven happenings.
