Balafon Presents: Black River Market & Workshops
KST Partner
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9:00am – 7:00pm – African Market
10:00am – 12:00pm – Dance Workshop with Tacko Sissoko
1:30pm – 3:30pm – Dance Workshop with Mouminatou Camara
3:30pm – 5:00pm – Balafon Workshop with Famoro Dioubate
KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.
Pay What Moves You: $10 – $20 (Single Workshop) / $30 – $60 ( Day Pass)
African Cultural Market: FREE
Extend your Black River experience with immersive learning alongside a vibrant pop-up African marketplace. Saturday offers intimate access to the same legendary artists from Friday’s concert – now in teaching mode, sharing techniques and cultural knowledge typically reserved for their most advanced students.
To learn more about Balafon’s Black River African Dance Fest, please visit here.
African Cultural Market
Discover authentic textiles, jewelry, instruments, and artisanal crafts while connecting with Pittsburgh’s African diaspora community. From traditional fabrics to handcrafted percussion instruments, find cultural treasures that connect you to the artistic heritage celebrated on stage.
Master Class Series – All Experience Levels Welcome
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Traditional Senegalese Dance with Tacko Sissoko Learn foundational movements from the master who led Ballet Nationale du Senegal for 25 years. Perfect for beginners seeking authentic technique or experienced dancers wanting to refine their practice.
1:30 – 3:30 PM: Guinean Dance Traditions with Mouminatou Camara Study with the former principal of Les Ballets Africains as she breaks down the cultural context and precise technique behind Guinea’s most celebrated rhythms.
3:30 – 5:00 PM: Balafon Workshop with Famoro Dioubate Experience the wooden ancestor of the xylophone with a master from a 700-year musical lineage – an extraordinary opportunity for musicians and curious beginners alike.
These intergenerational classes welcome everyone from first-timers to seasoned performers – come ready to learn from living legends.
This emphasizes the rare intimacy, cultural shopping experience, and accessibility for all levels!
Photo Credit: Eric Smith, Hill Dance Academy Theater