Balafon Presents: Black River African Dance Fest
KST Partner
Living the Legacy
Friday, October 17, 2025
6:00 pm – African Marketplace
7:30 pm – Concert Performance
9:00 pm – Post-Show Reception
Kelly Strayhorn Theater | 5941 Penn Ave.
Pay What Moves You: $15 – $40
Witness cultural history in the making as master artists who shaped global African dance theater perform alongside Pittsburgh’s own Balafon West African Dance Ensemble. Born in the first years of African independence, Mouminatou Camara, Famoro Dioubate, and Tacko Sissoko were among the pioneering generation who brought traditional village rhythms to international concert stages – creating the theatrical language that African dance companies worldwide still follow today.
This collaboration with Balafon master musicians will showcase the orchestral complexity of West Africa through the spirited drums and the haunting melodies of the ancient balafon. Experience classic and newly-choreographed pieces spanning Guinea, Senegal, and Liberian traditions as these legendary artists dance alongside Balafon’s performance company – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see masters and students sharing the same stage.
Photo Credit: Eric Smith, Hill Dance Academy Theater