Year: 2025-2026
DanceForce Member: D. Chase Angier
Artists: Jenise Anthony; Mohamed Diaby
Community Partner: Alfred University
Audience: 1,200
Counties: Allegany, Steuben

The Echoes of Africa project brought the energy, rhythm, and joy of African culture to communities across the upper western New York region. Led by Artistic Directors Jenise Anthony and Mohamed Diaby, the project’s goal was to share the living traditions of African drum and dance—specifically from Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria—with students and community members of all ages, while building new partnerships among schools, artists, and audiences.

From March through September 2025, Anthony and Diaby guided a collaborative creative process with professional company members. Rehearsals were held separately in multiple locations and later brought together to create a one-hour, high-energy concert blending traditional and contemporary African dance forms. The process was deeply educational, rooted in rhythm, storytelling, and the communal spirit that defines African performance.

In the week leading up to the public concert, Echoes of Africa reached younger audiences through two high school assemblies: Hornell High School (September 15 at 9 a.m.) and Alfred-Almond Central School (September 19 at 2:30 p.m.). These interactive performances introduced hundreds of students to West African music and dance. Many students remarked afterward that it was the first time they had ever seen live African drumming. Teachers commented on the “joyful engagement” and “transformative energy” the artists brought to their schools.

The culminating public performance took place on September 20, 2025, at Alfred University, as part of the Echoes of Africa event series. The one-hour show featured dynamic dance and drumming by professional company members, joined by local collaborators, and celebrated the diversity of African diasporic cultures through movement, song, and rhythm. The free, all-ages event drew an intergenerational audience from Alfred and surrounding areas, creating a rare opportunity for shared cultural experience and dialogue.

To promote the performances, posters and digital materials were distributed widely across Alfred University, Hornell, Alfred-Almond, and in regional communities including Corning, Jamestown, Buffalo, Wellsville, and Rochester. Social media, word of mouth, and university channels amplified the event’s reach, helping attract both new and returning audiences. The project’s community partners included Alfred University’s Division of Performing Arts, the participating high schools, and regional educators who helped facilitate workshops and student engagement.

By combining education, performance, and outreach, Echoes of Africa fulfilled its goal to spread awareness and appreciation of African culture through the arts. It connected people across generations and backgrounds, fostering understanding through rhythm and dance. The project also created new opportunities for colla