This two-day experience interweaves interactive classes and workshops from expert instructors ranging from regional West African dances and drum circles to movements of the diaspora such as Samba and Haitian Shadow Dance.
The 2025 Temate Institute Convening for Dance and Culture presents Ritual: Rhythms of Life and Legacy, a transformative exploration of the deep, spiritual connection between humanity and the natural world. This year’s concert embraces the sacred relationship between movement, ritual, and the environment, illuminating how dance serves as a bridge between the physical and the divine.
Inspired by African traditions, ancestral wisdom, and the natural world, this immersive performance celebrates the deep connection between people and nature. Through dance, music, and storytelling, artists will embody the elements earth, water, fire, and air, bringing to life ancestral myths, ceremonial practices, and spiritual ties to the land and sky. The performance draws on knowledge passed down through generations, shaped by close observation of nature, and shared through stories, songs, and dance. It reflects the understanding that life is interconnected, balancing the physical, social, cultural, and spiritual. Just as traditions evolve, this experience brings ancient practices into the present, offering a dynamic and powerful expression of movement and meaning.
