Houston Black Dance Festival is a Treasure of African Diasporic Dance Luminaries Right in Our Well-tended Back Yard

Houston is a Black arts city. Black artists who were born and/or bred and/or artistically arrived in Houston have been seismic culture-makers on the national and international stage for the last century, and, here in Houston, Black dance lives, thrives, and innovates. It does so because it is – historically and currently – nurtured by thoughtful and hardworking teaching artists who develop young and professional black dancers holistically, centering Black people, artists, and histories in their training while placing them in the larger history and artistic possibilities of dance. 

One such artist and educator is Dr Lindsay Gary, artistic and executive director of Dance Afrikana, teacher and historian of Afro-diasporic dance and memory-keeper of Black Dance in Houston. The last time Dance Source Houston spoke with Dr Gary (Dr. Lindsay Gary Connects Places of Home in Space Taking Residency) she was participating in a Fresh Arts Space Taking artist’s residency, and many of the productions she was developing at that time have come full grown. They can be found on The Dance Afrikana website, which in itself is an education in Black dance in Houston.

Now, Dr Gary is producing the Houston Black Dance Festival, a feast of African and diasporic dance.

Held Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1, the Houston Black Dance Festival features African American, African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latin dance traditions. The bulk of the festival is the embarrassment of riches that are the presenters. They are, without exception, outstanding in their field and not to be missed. Dr Gary has called on her roster of fellow performers and educators from around the world to teach workshops at the festival. Many are familiar Houstonians, and many are from the University of Arts in Philidelphia, where Dr Gary received an MFA in Dance. We all hope that artists displaced by the closing of that institution will find support and resources wherever they go, and we are delighted to spend time learning from them while they are with us in Houston. A more inclusive and edifying black dance experience will not be found in this city until the next HBDF. 

Tickets are available here: https://danceafrikana.com/store/

Friday, August 30th
LOCATION: This Is It Soul Food Houston – 2712 Blodgett St, Houston TX 77004 
Houston Met Dance Center (HMDC) – 4916 Main St Ste 100, Houston TX 77002 

• Houston Black Art Bus Tour with Sawari Tours! 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Off-site, Pick-up & Drop-off: This Is It Soul Food ) 
• African American Dance Workshops 4-10:30 p.m. (HMDC) 
  • 4-4:55 p.m. Zydeco with Dr. Lindsay Gary  
  • 5-5:55 p.m. Jazz with Monica Josette  
  • 6-6:55 p.m. Tap with Venishia Marthrel  
  • 7-7:55 p.m. Hip Hop with Sheldon Williams  
  • 8-8:55 p.m. Vogue/Ballroom with LaShay  
  • 9-10:30 p.m. Waacking & House with Dinita & Kyle Clark   

Saturday, August 31st
LOCATIONS: Houston Met Dance Center (HMDC) – 4916 Main St Ste 100, Houston TX 77002 
Society for Africans in the Diaspora (SAiD) – 12126 Westheimer Rd #118, Houston TX 77077 

• Traditional and Contemporary African Dance Workshops 10 a.m.-5:55 p.m. (HMDC) 
  • 10-10:55 a.m. Kemetic Yoga with Diamond Simone  
  • 11-11:55 a.m. Umfundalai with Dr. Lindsay Gary  
  • 12-12:55 p.m. South African Zulu Indlamu Mama with Lindi Yeni  
  • 1:15-2:45 p.m. Lunch & Learn: Business of Black Dance with Dr. Lindsay Gary  
    • Social Media Marketing 
    • Business Structure  
    • Grant Writing 
  • 3-3:55 p.m. Senegalese Sabar with Wali Ndiaye  
  • 4-4:55 p.m. Haitian Folkloric Dance with Kimberly Phillips  
  • 5-5:55 p.m. Angolan Kizomba with Lelis “Mr. Angola” Manuel (book via DJ Ross)  
• Vendor Market 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Upstairs Hallway) (HMDC) 
• Contemporary African & Afro-Caribbean Dance Party 9 p.m.-12 a.m. (SAiD)  
  • DJ Ross 

Sunday, September 1st  
LOCATIONS: Houston Met Dance Center (HMDC) – 4916 Main St Ste 100, Houston TX 77002  
Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH) – 3400 Main St, Houston TX 77002 

• Afro-Latin Dance Workshops 10 a.m.-2:55 p.m. Partner for Sunday: Strictly Street Salsa (HMDC) 
  • 10-10:55 a.m. Afro-Venezuelan with Karla Blanco  
  • 11-11:55 a.m. Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance (Yemaya) with Reinaldo Costa  
  • 12-12:55 p.m. Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance (Oshun) with Nel Lopez  
  • 1-1:55 p.m. Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance (Eleggua) with Reinaldo Costa  
  • 2-2:55 p.m. Afro-Latin Salsa with Raul Orlando Edwards FREE CLASS  
• Vendor Market 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Upstairs Hallway) (HMDC) 
• Performance 5-8 p.m. (MATCH)  
  • Host: Antrechelle Nova