Cornish College of the Arts recently hosted the PNW Afro Dance Camp, an immersive experience focusing on African diasporic dance, cultural education, and community. The two-and-a-half-day camp was led by Kiné Camara, director of Afro Dance Seattle, and featured teachers who traveled from various countries including the US, Canada, France, Switzerland, and South Africa. Participants had the opportunity to take classes in many Afro Dance genres, including Afrohouse, Amapiano, Ndombolo, Afro Dancehall, and Afro Fusion.

The camp, which offers classes for all skill levels from beginner to advanced, provides holistic programming that includes vocabulary, technique, choreography, freestyle, and performance. The day culminated in a participant showcase, including a highlight of the teachers performing the dances they taught, and then bringing the students up to join in.

Afro Dance Seattle, the hub for Afro-dance education in Seattle, addresses a critical gap in culturally authentic arts programming and prioritizes BIPOC artists and underserved communities through intentional programming, competitive compensation, and scholarships for African and Black attendees and professionals. Afro Dance Seattle continues to offer weekly classes and is planning an even larger camp for next summer.

Visit afrodanceseattle.com for more information on PNW Afrodance Camp and more events to come.

Catch Back2Besa with Besa Gordon every Saturday at 10:30 pm on FOX13 Seattle, Sunday at 10 am on FOX13+, and free nationwide on the FOX Local App.

#Back2Besa #WWConverge #BlackMediaMatters #FOX13Seattle #AfroDance #PNWArts #Arts&Culture