We fundraise to make the program accessible for all youth who want to attend. The program costs are what you can afford to pay!“It was amazing and I will miss you guys.”
“I loved the dancing, drumming and meeting new people.” Past participants
Do you love to dance? Want to connect with your cultural roots? Join other Black and African- descent youth from around the Maritimes on a weekend dance journey!You will work with professional dancers and drummers, practice traditional and urban-influenced African dances, and connect with the powerful stories told through dance. Over the weekend you will create and perform your own dance piece, learn new rhythms and moves, share your stories, and dance with new friends.Toronto’s celebrated Collective of Black Artists (COBA) will encourage you in this energetic exploration of your ancestry rooted in the Sankofa values of wisdom, knowledge, and heritage.
No previous dance experience necessary!
Program Cost: $285 ($130 tuition + $155 meals/accommodations)
We fundraise to make the program accessible for all youth who want to attend. The program costs are what you can afford to pay!
Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your place in this program
Leadership
D’Dere Headley-Lindsay
N’Dere Headley-Lindsay was born in Toronto as the only child of two artists. He is said to have been drumming and dancing in the womb and has studied drumming with various Griots (keepers of African history) and drummers from Senegal, Guinea, the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. His talent as musician has shone through in many works presented by COBA, including having arranged and played the original score for the children’s production, Legend of the Pitch Lake. N’dere is one of the founding members of the Toronto drum ensemble, Beyond Sound Empijah, whose motto is “Youth Who Engage Youth”.
BaKari Ifasegun Lindsay
BaKari Ifasegun Lindsay was born on the sunny isle of Trinidad, West Indies. Perfecting his crafts for the past 25 years, BaKari is a dancer choreographer, researcher, singer, musician, costume designer/maker and father. He studied at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the School of Toronto Dance Theatre on scholarship and with various teachers from the Caribbean and the African continent, and holds a Masters Degree in Dance Ethnology and Bachelors of Education degree from York University. Co-founding Artistic Director of COBA (Collective of Black Artists), BaKari has also developed a physical language training in West African and Diasporic African dance culture entitled A-Feeree – The Physical Language.
Shauntay Grant
Shauntay Grant, Program Resource Group (PRG) facilitator. Shauntay is a writer, spoken word performer, musician, and creative arts facilitator.