Year: 2025-2026
DanceForce Member: Jenise Anthony
Artist: Quênia Ribeiro
Community Partners: Monroe County Community Volunteers; SUNY Brockport; SUNY Brockport Department of Dance; SUNY Brockport EDI Office
Audience: 750
County: Monroe
Western New York has long been a thriving center for African Diasporic dance and cultural expression. Building upon this rich artistic landscape, New York State DanceForce partnered with SUNY Brockport’s Department of Dance to present the Afro-Brazilian Residency with Quênia Ribeiro & Grupo Ribeiro – an initiative designed to expand access to Afro-Brazilian dance and music traditions through education, community engagement, and performance.
This project sought to increase regional exposure to Afro-Brazilian cultural practices, provide meaningful learning opportunities with internationally recognized artists, strengthen connections between higher education and community artists, and enrich the artistic development of SUNY Brockport students through intensive choreographic and performance experiences.
The residency featured renowned Brazilian dancer, choreographer, and educator Quênia Ribeiro, founder of Grupo Ribeiro, alongside master drummer Everton Isidora Santos Silva. Silva was supported during workshops and rehearsals by djembefola Mohamed Diaby. With more than three decades of professional experience, Ribeiro brought extensive expertise in Afro-Brazilian dance, samba, capoeira, and ballet, offering participants an authentic and deeply informed artistic experience. The project was coordinated by Jenise Akilah Anthony, New York State DanceForce member and Associate Professor of Dance at SUNY Brockport’s Dance Department.
Planning began in summer 2025 following Anthony’s connection with Ribeiro through the Wula Drum and Dance Retreat. Recognizing an opportunity to broaden representation of African Diasporic forms in Western New York, the collaborators developed a project that would serve university students, professional artists, and community members alike.
The residency unfolded in two phases. During September and October 2025, Ribeiro and Silva led approximately ten master classes throughout Brockport, Rochester, and Alfred. These workshops introduced participants to Afro-Brazilian movement and musical traditions while emphasizing cultural context, rhythmic literacy, and embodied learning. Students, dancers, musicians, and community members participated in an atmosphere of cultural exchange and artistic discovery.
The second phase focused on performance in the Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble’s fully produced annual concert at SUNY Brockport. Ribeiro choreographed an original Afro-Brazilian work and led five intensive rehearsal sessions, each lasting four hours. Through this process, students deepened their understanding of Afro-Brazilian history and aesthetics while expanding their technical versatility and performance skills. Silva collaborated closely with faculty and student musicians to provide authentic Brazilian musical accompaniment, creating a fully integrated artistic experience.
The residency’s performance culminated in the Sankofa 2026 concert series, presented May 1–3, 2026. Ribeiro’s choreography was featured before enthusiastic audiences, showcasing both the students’ artistic growth and the richness of Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions.
Through Dance Force promotion, SUNY Brockport marketing, social media outreach, and community partnerships, the project reached a broad audience of students, artists, educators, and arts patrons. The residency strengthened relationships among Dance Force, SUNY Brockport, regional artists, and local communities while affirming the value of culturally responsive arts programming. Its success demonstrated a strong regional appetite for African Diasporic dance experiences and reinforced the importance of continued investment in diverse artistic voices across New York State.