Black Dance Stories

Home
United States
Atlanta, GA
Black Dance Stories

We are a community working together to support, uphold, highlight and celebrate Black Creatives.

04/02/2026

The April newsletter is live on Substack. Link in bio.

Charmaine Warren being honored at the Danspace Gala. Episode 49 with Okwui Okpokwasili and Soa Ratsifandrihana. April dance listings. What the BDS team is reading, watching, and listening to. Opportunities for artists.

Black dance. Documented.

03/10/2026

Episode 49 is live.

Okwui Okpokwasili () and Soa Ratsifandrihana () in conversation about movement, memory, and what it means to carry culture through dance.

Two artists. Two worlds. One dialogue.
Both are performing in New York this week.

Okwui brings day pulls down the sky to Danspace Project on March 12. Soa’s g r oo v e makes its North American premiere at New York Live Arts on March 11 and 12.

Watch the full conversation. Link in bio.

03/03/2026

BDS Celebrates 40 Years of ✨

Saturday night we had the pleasure of seeing Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE as they celebrated their 40th anniversary at . It was a beautiful program that gave honor to Wunmi Olaiya and the late Toni Pierce-Sands.

The evening featured “Ebony Magazine: To A Village”, “Gatekeepers”, and “Upside Down”, all performed in Wunmi’s original designs with the later accompanied by Wunmi herself on vocals; and “Clear As Tear Water” a solo choreographed for Toni Pierce-Sands and, on this night, performed by Annique Roberts ().

Congratulations Ron, Arcell, and all the dancers on a lovely run! ♥️🖤💚

02/26/2026

Love was all around and we got to love on a dear friend to Black Dance Stories, Stephanie S Hughley, as she received the Joan Myers Brown “Keeper of the Flame” Legacy Award at this years awards ceremony 🏆

The Keeper of the Flame Award honors individuals whose sustained leadership and vision have shaped and strengthened the field of Black dance. Stephanie’s career reflects decades of cultural stewardship and institutional impact across the performing arts.

Her work with organizations including Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Urban Bush Women, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJACP), and the National Black Arts Festival has helped advance artists, expand access, and strengthen the infrastructure that supports Black dance and Black cultural expression.

It was an honor to be present and to witness this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations, Stephanie! ♥️🖤💚

photography by

02/22/2026

BDS wants to again extend our sincere thanks for your support in getting us to 2026! It was a time spent learning, reconnecting, honoring and imagining new ways to keep the dance alive. Now we’re back in NYC and ready to kickoff our IABD recap 💃🏽

Check out day one of our time at the conference and festival, where we got checked in and settled, gathered for a lunch time check in, enjoyed the first night of performances by such talented youth, and ended our full day with midnight bantaba hosted and taught by Baba Assane Konte ()!

02/01/2026

Today marks 100 YEARS of Black History Month ✊🏾 May we continue to honor our storied past, and let it inform our boundless future!

And what better way to kick off this month than with a huge THANK YOU for the support of our mission to do just that. We reached our goal...and then some.

Endless gratitude to everyone who donated, shared, and supported Black Dance Stories. Because of you, we’ll be showing up at IABD in community and with care. We can’t wait to share this experience with you. Much love and Happy Black History Month! ♥️🖤💚

01/09/2026

Hello and happy new year BDS fam! 🎉

The Black Dance Stories team needs your 🫵🏾 help. We’re raising $9,000 to support three members of Black Dance Stories to attend the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference (IABD) this February.

This work requires presence, care, and commitment. If you’re a part of the BDS community, then you believe in documenting and sustaining Black dance stories, and we invite you to support our continued mission.

Hit the link in our bio to donate today! ♥️

10/28/2025

✨ Hello BDS family! ✨

Black Dance Stories is stepping into something new and we want YOU to join us!

BDS is teaming up with at for a special evening celebrating movement, connection and global Black artistry. See the brilliant Soa Ratsifanddrihana’s () “Fampitaha, fampita, fampitàna”, and stay after to dance the night away with a set by Run P. ()! RSVP at the link below to secure your spot, we hope to see you there! 💃🏽

https://bit.ly/BDSxMoCADA25

05/21/2025

BDS Recap: "Curriculum III: People, Places, & Things"

This past Friday, Black Dance Stories had the joy of attending "Curriculum III: People, Places, & Things" by . The piece investigates the complexities of being an American, and becoming one, through the stories of the BTJ/AZ company members. The program was urgent and refreshing, and it's message more relevant now than ever.

Check out shots of us catching up with Bill, company member Barrington Hinds, and each other! And before their home season comes to an end, see Bill T. Jones in "Memory Piece: Mr. Ailey, Alvin... the Un-Ailey?" Thursday May 22nd at

04/17/2025

What’s up BDS fam! Long time no see we know, but we are back with happenings in our community 💃🏽

Tomorrow April 18th, is Melanated Macbeth Night at BAM! Catch Macbeth In Stride, a soulful and powerful retelling of the Shakespeare classic, at 7:30PM, followed by music, refreshments, and a chance to mix and mingle with the cast. This night is curated for US, and you don’t wanna miss it!

Visit the BAM website to purchase tickets, and make sure you use the promo code above for a special discount ✨

01/01/2025

Habari Gani family? Happy New Year!

As we close Kwanzaa, we reflect on:

☀️ Imani (Faith)—faith in ourselves, our people, and our collective future ☀️

Let’s carry this principle into the new year, uplifting Black excellence every step of the way. Who inspires your faith in a brighter tomorrow? Tag them and celebrate! 🌟

From your friends and family at Black Dance Stories, have a prosperous and fulfilling year! ❤️🖤💚

12/31/2024

It’s Day 6 AND New Year’s Eve, the perfect time to get creative in our approach to new beginnings!

We are celebrating:
 ☀️ Kuumba (Creativity) - a reminder for us to use our talents to make our communities more vibrant and meaningful ☀️

Today, we’re inspired by Raja Feather Kelly, whose unyielding pursuit of imaginative artistry, is a celebration of Black creativity in all its forms. Check out this clip from BDS Episode #7, where Raja discusses creativity as a means of survival.

How are you celebrating creativity today dancers? Share in the comments below! ❤️🖤💚

Clip: Black Dance Stories Episode #7 featuring Sydnie L. Mosley () & Raja Feather Kelly (). Available on Youtube

Address

Atlanta, GA
30307

Website

https://linktr.ee/blackdancestories

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Black Dance Stories posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Black Dance Stories:

Shortcuts

Featured

The Maale Foundation
Rock City, Juba

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Atlanta?