Black History Future Folk Symposium: Dunham & the Diaspora

Old Town School of Folk Music is hosting its 3rd annual Black History Future Folk Symposium. Produced by our Community Ventures Department, each year this symposium draws inspiration from the definition of folk music provided by Folk Alliance International: “Folk is the music of the people, reflective of any community where they are from.” The theme for 2026 is Katherine Dunham and the African Diaspora.

Focusing on the prolific Chicago legacy of Katherine Dunham, this free two-day Symposium will invite participants of all ages to participate in open, accessible, and rigorous discussions about the intersections of Black history, liberated futures, and folk practices. Through presentations, panel discussions, participatory workshops, and performances, 2026’s Symposium will cultivate fertile ground for deep theoretical and embodied understandings of afro-diasporic dance and music.

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There are TWO Locations for this event:

Friday, April 17, 2026 • 4545 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625

Saturday, April 18, 2026 • 329 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637

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Friday, April 17, 2026 • 6:00 - 8:30 PM

📍 Old Town School Lincoln Square Campus – Myron R. Szold Concert Hall | 4545 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625

6:00–7:15 PM • Opening Keynote Speaker: Heather Beal

7:30–8:30 PM • Dunham from Haiti to New Orleans Opening Performance: Featuring Tamboula & the Windy City Ramblers with choreography by Stacy “Jukeboxx” Letrice & Daniel Desir

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Saturday, April 18, 2026 • 12:00 - 7:00 PM

📍 Arts + Public Life - Green Line Performing Arts Center & The Arts Incubator | 329 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637

12:00–1:00 PM • Opening Keynote Conversation: Dunham as Archivist with Hope Houston & Ruby Streate

Breakout Sessions

1:15–2:30 PM

• Dunham & the Afro-Latin Diaspora Dance Workshop with Ysaÿe Alma
• Dunham as Pedagogy & Praxis Conversation with Heather Beal, Amansu Eason, Keishonda Simms, & Sadira Muhammad
• Haitian Folkloric Dance Workshop with Daniel Desir

2:45–4:00 PM

• Dunham Fusion & the Djembe Orchestra Dance Workshop with Amansu Eason
• Haitian Folkloric Music Lecture Demo with Donald Dorcilus
• Afro–Puerto Rican Bomba Workshop with Lauren Brooks

4:15–5:15 PM • Dunham as Marronage Conversation with Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, Ysaÿe Alma, Jennifer Ligaya, & Ayesha Jaco

5:30–6:00 PM • Dunham Technique Demonstration with Heather Beal, Amansu Eason, & Ysaÿe Alma

6:00–7:00 PM • Closing Reception

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