Year: 2025-2026
DanceForce Member: Jenise Anthony
Artist: Quenia Ribeiro
Community Partners: Monroe County Community Volunteers; SUNY Brockport; SUNY Brockport Department of Dance; SUNY Brockport EDI Office
Audience: 1,000
County: Monroe

Western New York has been a hub for African Diasporic dance and performance for decades. We have been honored to host some of the biggest and brightest names in African dance through residencies and performance. Most recently, native West African master teachers and choreographers have been dominant guest artists in our region. Judging from the outpouring of support and participation, the strong presence of this style continues to be in high demand. This vivid hunger has shaped my project proposal for 2025- 2026.

This year, in a compelling twist of diasporic offerings, Brazilian Master Artist, Quenia Ribeiro, would partner with SUNY Brockport’s Department of Dance to present a 10-day Afro-Brazilian choreographic residency. The project aims to expand the scope of African Diasporic movement and ethnographic content presented in our community. In this residency, the artist would take the community on an embodied journey of the history to the evolution of Samba dance and traditional music. The residency would explore the integration of movement and traditional music in this style.

There are 2 components to the fulfillment of this project:

Part 1: A Brazilian Residency:
September 26- October 5 the guest artist Quenia Ribeiro would be in residence with members of the Monroe County Community. The artist would be accompanied by a traditional Brazilian drummer who mainly provides music for all sessions. More specifically. the residency would include:

a. 8-10 master classes throughout the region. The artist would conduct classes and informal workshops in Brockport, Rochester, and Alfred.

b. A 10–15-minute choreographic work in collaboration with SUNY Brockport’s elite Sankofa African Dance & Drum Ensemble.

Part 2: May 1-3, 2026, Guest Artist Quenia Ribeiro’s choreography would be featured in the department’s Sankofa production. During this time the guest artist and musician would return to conduct a final rehearsal and tentative community classes. The musician would also be offering live accompaniment for the 3 days of performance.

African Drumming specialist Mohamed Diaby wil support the live Brazilian musician for the classes and choreographic work. He is on faculty at SUNY Brockport and is thrilled to be a part of the process. Other student and community drummers would also assist these drummers.