BALTIMORE, MD – The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) is proud to host two weekends of free workshops and ticketed performances by the acclaimed Sankofa Dance Theater on Sunday, November 17 and Sunday, November 24. These events are presented in conjunction with the release of Sankofa Dance Theater: 30 Years of Music Movement and Folkways, a limited-edition hardcover book that chronicles the troupe’s powerful history as a cultural ambassador in Baltimore and West Africa.
Sankofa Dance Theater has not performed together as a full ensemble since 2010, making this an incredibly rare and special event. Both performances will feature an intergenerational ensemble of performers, many of whom have danced with the company since the 1990s when they were teenagers. The shows will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the BMA’s Meyerhoff Auditorium and tickets are available online through Eventbrite for $28.52 per person (including fees). A performance and signed book ticket is also available for $108.55. Free drum workshops will be led by Sankofa artistic directors King Salim Ajanku and Jumoke Ajanku at 10 a.m. and free dance workshops will be led by Sankofa founder Kibibi Ajanku and other veteran dancers from the troupe at 11 a.m. These will also be held in the BMA’s auditorium and prior drumming or dance experience is not required to participate. All ages are welcome and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Drums will be provided.
The 200-page Sankofa Dance Theater: 30 Years of Music Movement and Folkways coffee table book, co-authored by Sankofa founder Kibibi Ajanku and art historian Angela N. Carroll with contributions from Dr. Leslie King Hammond and Dr. Kokahvah Zauditu-Selassie, explores the artistic journey of the company over three decades and captures the essence of Sankofa’s performances, workshops, and community engagements through rare archival photographs, personal narratives, and ephemera. Copies of the book will be available through the BMA Shop in November for $75, and can be pre-ordered online.
More information: https://artbma.org
