CARRYING TRADITION TO THE STAGE
CARRYING TRADITION TO THE STAGE
A unique intergenerational performance rooted in West African dance, drum, and community.
SAVE THE DATE
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SAVE THE DATE 〰️
The Annual Performance
Each year, Sebé Kan brings together youth, adult dancers, and guest artists for a vibrant, full-length performance grounded in the traditions of West African dance and drum.
This is not a recital. It is a cultural event—where rhythm, movement, and community come together on stage.
2026 ANNUAL CONCERT
NANKAMA
October 1, 2026
Newmark Theater
A Living Tradition
The performance reflects the full arc of the Sebé Kan experience.
Throughout the season, dancers study with Derrell Sekou - the rhythms, cultural context, and movement - in weekly rehearsals.
On stage, that work is shaped and shared —woven together into a cohesive, dynamic performance.
Live music drives the energy.
Each piece is rooted in tradition, alive with fresh energy.
See Sebé Kan In Action
Enjoy this one-minute excerpt from the annual concert, filled with vibrant, non-stop energy!
What Makes It Unique
LIVE DRUMMING
at the center of every performance.
ROOTED IN TRADITION
Rhythms and storytelling drawn from West African traditions.
WORLD-CLASS GUEST ARTISTS
Featured singers, dancers, and drummers bring depth and richness.
INTERGENERATIONAL
Youth, Sebé Kan college alumni, and adult dancers share the stage
Siblings, Mothers, Daughters.
Family on Stage.
One of the most powerful elements of the performance is its intergenerational nature.
Adult dancers—including original company members, former students, and parents—join the youth on stage. Some danced with Sebé Kan at its founding. Others return after years away. Some are watching their own children step into the same space.
For the younger dancers, this is transformative.
They see themselves.
They see their future.
They see what it means to carry this work forward.
An Experience for the Community
Hundreds of community members gather each year to witness the performance.
They celebrate the youngest dancers as they take the stage.
They feel the growth and power of the teens.
They are moved by the presence and depth of the adult dancers.
Families, friends, and community members come together—not just to watch, but to be part of something shared.
World-Class Guest Artists
Award-winning, world-class guest artists arrive each year to bring additional depth and richness to the performance.
These drummers, singers, balafonists, and dancers join Sebé Kan for the annual concert—expanding the sound, energizing the movement, and deepening the cultural experience on stage.
World-Class Guest Artists
Boka Kouyaté - Griot - Vocalist & Balafonist
Farafina Kan Youth Dancers -
Salam & Minata
Kahlil Cummings, Percussionist &
DiAndree Dukes, Guitarist
Lesina Martin, Vocalist &
Farafina Kan principal dancer
Join Us
Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning year after year, the Sebé Kan performance is an experience rooted in rhythm, culture, and community.
