After many delays, Cumbe is set to celebrate its long-awaited return with a Community Dance Day, boasting a new program with classes for everyone
Brooklyn's beloved Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance is finally opening its doors again! After having been forced out of its old Fort Greene location, Cumbe found a new home at RestorationART in Bedford-Stuyvesant and is ready to welcome the community this Saturday, November 11.
"We're excited to offer our classes as the newest arts organization-in-residence at RestorationART, a creative complex committed to world-class dance, music, theater, visual arts and conversation in the epicenter of Black culture," announced Cumbe Co-Founder and Executive Director Jimena Martinez on Cumbe's homepage. "Our partners at RestorationART have been working non-stop to finalize the renovation of our new dance studios and we're grateful to them for their strong support."
After many delays, Cumbe is set to celebrate its long-awaited return this Saturday with a Community Dance Day and a sampling of $5 classes, introducing a packed program of both traditional and contemporary African dance, as well as dance fitness classes. The studio's wide range of classes covers West African dance with world-renowned dancer and choreographer Lamine Thiam, Samba, Rumba, Afro-Haitian and Afro Cuban classics. For new dancers who are just starting out, Cumbe also offers a Beginner Series which features a rotation of different class types and dance styles including Dancehall, Soca and more. And for those who want to break some serious sweat while dancing, the studio offers Cardio Jam and Soca 'N' Wet.
Adult classes are set to resume on November 12, while Cumbe Kidz classes are already in effect. Suitable for young dancers ages 1 to 4, Cumbe Kidz includes introduction classes such as Capoeira and Playtime with Mrs. Red Fox, or Journey Through the Diaspora which will take the little dancers on an imaginary journey to Haiti, Cuba, Guinea, the Congo and beyond.
Cumbe first opened in Fort Greene in January 2012 and is one of a small handful of studios in Central Brooklyn to focus solely on the practice of Diaspora-inspired recreational dance. Through classes and cultural programs, Cumbe shares the joy and vitality of rhythms rooted in Africa and celebrates African and Diaspora culture as a vibrant legacy for people of African descent and as an exuberant source of spirit and knowledge for all.
"We are thrilled to be back in Brooklyn and cannot wait to dance with you," said Martinez.
Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance Community Dance Day
When: Saturday, November 11, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm ($5 per class)
Where: RestorationART, 1368 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216, USA
