Image: Kwanzaa Celebration at the Apollo in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Apollo.
On Sunday, December 26 at 7:00 pm EST, the Apollo will celebrate its annual Kwanzaa celebration, Kwanzaa: A Regeneration Celebration, featuring a world premiere from renowned New York-based dance company Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and performances from Apollo New Work artists Soul Science Lab with Chen Lo and Asante Amin. For more than 15 years, the Apollo has presented an annual Kwanzaa festival performance during the seven-day celebration of African American culture. This year, Forces of Nature Dance Theatre will produce a unique digital event of dance and music honoring the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba. The event, hosted by award-winning radio host and annual Apollo Kwanzaa emcee Imhotep Gary Byrd, will be streamed on the Apollo Digital Stage. The program is pay what you wish and will be on demand through January 3.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate Kwanzaa virtually and provide a space to unite our Apollo community for a time of celebration and reflection,” said Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes. “We look forward to premiering new work by the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Forces of Nature, bringing an invigorating and multi-generational experience of contemporary dance to our audiences.”
Bringing together dance, music, and poetry to honor the seven core principles of Kwanzaa through special performances, participants will reflect on the seven basic principles that focus on recommitting to the collective achievement of a better life for families, community, and Black people overall. The Kwanzaa Celebration will be anchored by Abdel R. Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, who blend contemporary modern, West African, house, and hip-hop dance styles, and will feature two works, the world premiere of “Spirit: Nguzo Saba” and “Earth Born,” both choreographed by company co-founder and artistic director Abdel R. Salaam.
Image: Kwanzaa Celebration at the Apollo in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Apollo.
The new dance piece, “Spirit: Nguzo Saba” was created especially for this celebration of Kwanzaa and includes special guests: spoken word performer Javier Gooden, percussionist Michael Wimberly, balafonist Famoro Dioubate, and Louise Robinson and Carol Maillard, members of a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock, along with a musical performance from Soul Science Lab, a music and multimedia duo powered by emcee/songwriter Chen Lo and composer/producer Asante Amin.
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a response to the commercialism of Christmas and a way to focus on building community. Kwanzaa is observed from December 26 to January 1, during which time participants reflect on seven basic principles-Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
Image: Kwanzaa Celebration at the Apollo in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Apollo.
Since 2006, the Apollo has presented an annual event to celebrate this holiday tradition during Kwanzaa with families and communities from across New York’s five boroughs and the tri-state area. As it did in 2020, the Apollo will offer the event virtually, connecting African American communities across the country.
Take a walk down the block to see the new Apollo Theater Expansion in the Victoria Theatre.