Balafon West African Dance Ensemble

06/13/2026

A big thank you🙏🏽 to the City of Pittsburgh's Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs for hosting this celebration of culture. We hope to continue to share our love of West African music and dance with the city that we call home.

Inuwali
Je**ed

06/11/2026

👋🏽☺️Tomorrow (Friday, June 12) is a busy day for the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble family... If you're in or around the city of Pittsburgh, we hope to see you.

1st - Join us at 12pm in the 🏛️City County Building Portico as we celebrate the cultural fabric that binds our communities.

2nd - Head over to Rankin, for the Rankin Christian Center's 3rd Annual ❤️💙Juneteenth💙❤️ Celebration from 4-8pm.

05/11/2026

How about a class or two???

Learn traditional African drumming with Balafon's community music classes at KST's Alloy Studios! ⁠
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Led by master musicians, percussion classes authentically access ‌the diverse sounds and polyrhythms of West Africa. Sessions will introduce a number of instruments from a range of rhythmic families– such as the djembe, doundouns, kutiro, and sabar drums, as well as the melodic balafon. All levels welcome.⁠
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Mondays, January – June, 2026⁠
6:15pm – 7:00pm⁠
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KST’s Alloy Studios | 5530 Penn Ave.⁠
Pay What Moves You: $5 – $15 (Drop-In) / $50 – $100 (Full Session)⁠
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Learn more and register for classes here: https://kelly-strayhorn.org/classes-workshops/ws26-balafon-music-class/
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Photo Credit: Daniel Abusuampeh⁠
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05/06/2026

Get your Pittonkatonk on this weekend Friday & Saturday May 8 - 9!

Balafon is back and takes the stage Friday at 8 PM.

01/26/2026

Hey Family!!!
No classes tonight, Monday 1/26/26, at
KST's Alloy Studios...
Stay safe, stay warm.

12/15/2025

👋🏽Hey Fam!!!👋🏽
Tonight is the last class in our All Things Kutiro series🇸🇳... Get your dance on before our winter break...

We will see you in January for a unique experience.
Stay tuned😊

12/14/2025

Every year, members of our Balafon family go back home to Guinea, and other parts of West Africa. This year is extra special...

Join us in supporting our Brother and Music Director, Fode Moussa Camara, and members of the Pittsburgh African Dance community as they present in celebration of our ancestors... His father, Badjiby Camara, our Uncle Oscar and our Mama K.

We do what we do in honor and memory of them and others who have gone to be with the ancestors.

Consider lending support to the artists in Guinea, whose music and dance traditions continue to cross the ocean and return again.

The heartbeat of Guinea is calling the world to Conakry. On Janu… Fode Camara needs your support for Support Namugni Faré: Celebrate some of Guinea's Legends

12/14/2025

Hey Family!👋
It's that time of year again for the Shona Sharif African Drum and Dance Ensemble's presentation of ✨Black Nativity✨. This year in collaboration with the Redwood Media Group, Black Nativity offers original music🎤, new choreography💃🕺, classic songs and familiar faces.

Our Balafon Sister, Chrisala, celebrates her 15th year as performer and choreographic support for the cast.

Congratulations to producers, Oronde Sharif and Maurice Redwood, and the cast and crew of Black Nativity Pittsburgh 2025.

12/12/2025

If you're in the Philadelphia area this weekend, get ready for an inspiring opportunity! Our Sister Angelo-Sadio will be sharing her expertise at the Community Education Center, empowering you to make a positive impact. Check the flyer for details.

12/08/2025

We're back in the studio tonight! 2 more classes until we take a break... See you on the Floor!