The National Black Arts Festival just announced its season lineup for the summer and fall of 2015, and the festival is going deep into dance.
Almost every one of the 16-plus events explores the deep roots of African-American dance, through performances, workshops, music, film and the visual arts.
The season begins July 11 with the festival’s traditional fundraising gala, this one to be staged at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta and titled “For the Love of Dance.”
It concludes Sept. 18 and 19 with a workshop, discussion and performance by a Cuban ensemble, the Malpaso Dance Company, at the Ferst Center for the Arts on the Georgia Tech campus.
Here are some of the highlights of the festival, now in its 27th year:
"Intersecting Disciplines: Visual/Art/Dance." 6 p.m. July 17. This "gallery hop" will bus visitors to three art galleries, the Bill Lowe Gallery, Alan Avery Art Company and ZuCot Gallery, where they will tour the exhibits and see dance performances. Tickets: $30.
"Dance Across the Diaspora: A Historical Lens on a Black Cultural Movement." 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 18. Dance experts, scholars and performers will present a daylong examination of the global impact, history and traditions of black dance from the 18th century to the present. $75; $20 students. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta.
Master class with Savion Glover. Noon July 18. Instruction from a trailblazer who sparked the modern revival of tap. $20. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta.
Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Final Competition. 8-10 p.m. July 18. In partnership with Youth Speaks, the nation's leading spoken word organization for youths, the NBAF hosts the 18th annual festival featuring 500 young poets from 73 cities in and out of the U.S. $5 youths; $15 adults. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta.
"SoLe Sanctuary," performance and conversation with Savion Glover. 6 p.m. July 19. $30 and up; $20 students. Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta.
Step Afrika, "Symphony in Step." 6 p.m. Aug. 29. A Washington, D.C.-based company, Step Afrika, specializes in this tradition popularized in "Drumline." $30 and up; $20 students. Center Stage Theater, 1374 W. Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta.
Conversation with and performance by Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, A Dance Company. 5 p.m. Sept. 13. $30 and up; $20 students. Ferst Center for the Arts, Georgia Tech, 349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta.
Gallery Hop II: "Intersecting Disciplines: Visual/Art/Dance," a second tour of two Atlanta art galleries, the Hammonds House Museum and Arnika Dawkins Gallery, with dance performances and a tour of gallery exhibits. 6 p.m. Sept. 18. $30.
Malpaso Dance Company, conversation about the "State of Dance in Cuba Today" and performance. 8 p.m. Sept. 19. $30 and up; $20 students. Ferst Center for the Arts, Georgia Tech, 349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta.
Film Screenings and Conversations: "Representing Us: Black Dance in Film," a curated free film series in several locations with conversations about the representation of black dance in films.
For information: www.nbaf.org
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