Dance Forever! 2026

Tekrema Center for Art and Culture will present Dance Forever! 2026 Conference/ Our Arts, Our Resiliency, Our Joy! on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Tekrema invites local choreographers, literary and visual artists to present their works in performance and exhibition at Dance Forever! 2026. The program goal is to present six artists, representing a range of artistic disciplines, whose works embody resiliency and joy. We know the legacies of our cultural history, the struggles and the joy of that history. Our arts are our cultural repositories. Holding their truths for presentation in performance and in our ritual offerings is our responsibility.

Professional, creative, and technical support will be offered to selected artists.  These artists will assemble under the "Something To Say" cohort title. The topics of creative development and research fall under Tekrema's theme, "Born in Blackness - Born In Love," and importantly, the development of art based on principles of excellence, truth, and courage. Selected artists will also have the opportunity to perform in an evening-length work entitled Mieux Vivre Aujourd’hui, under the direction of Greer E. Mendy, for presentation in June.

To help artists envision their journey in Dance Forever! 2026, the process will follow these key milestones: application submission deadline is March 18, 2026, first cohort formation in March 27, 2026, artist workshops and masterclasses fromApril 13-16 (One workshop is required). Rehearsals beginning in May, 3 times per week, and culminating in the premiere of Mieux Vivre Aujourd’hui in June. Please note that artists will be paid for the June performance.

We will recognize and honor our histories, communities, and you.