Kwanzaa Celebration at the Gantt Center Dec. 28

Enjoy engaging programming from the following creative community partners:

• A signature Kwanzaa theater performance, titled “AKWABAA,” from the Charlotte-based theater company BNS Productions
• Ancestral honoring workshop with the media group Melanotion
• Diaspora dance workshops from the Dance With the Gantt series, curated by LaTanya Johnson
• Education on the foundation and traditions of Kwanzaa with Kwanzaa Charlotte

Dance with the Gantt: Sacred Dundun Dance
11 am – 1:45 pm (2nd Floor Lobby)

Get moving with the Dance with the Gantt: Sacred Dundun workshop, created and led by internationally trained dancer and instructor Amina Heckstall-Soumah, for a fun, energetic, and spiritually uplifting experience for all ages and experience levels.

Kwanzaa Table with Kwanzaa Charlotte
12 noon – 2 pm (Performance Suite, 2nd Floor)

Do you know all of the elements and intentions of the traditional Kwanzaa table? Learn about the foundation and traditions of Kwanzaa with the premier Kwanzaa event organization in the city, Kwanzaa Charlotte. The drop-in informational will also include visuals related to the African diaspora and the Kwanzaa holiday.

Roots in Reflection: A Legacy Experience
1 pm – 3 pm (4th Floor)

Celebrate Kwanzaa with an interactive, drop-in experience honoring heritage, legacy, and reflection. Guests are invited to engage in hands-on activities inspired by the cultural significance of home:

• Build a personal family photo wall at The Living Room.
• Reflect on food memories and share recipes at The Kitchen Table.
• Plant a symbol of personal growth at The Backyard.
• Explore the winter publication release Preserving Legacy at The Library/Study and more.

AKWAABA: A Kwanzaa Musical Short Play
2:30 pm – 4 pm (2nd Floor Lobby)

Created and directed by BNS Productions artistic director Rory D. Sheriff , AKWAABA takes audiences on an ancestral journey to West Africa in the mid 1600’s with drumming, song, dance and a story of triumph overcoming tragedy.

Princess Akuba’s love for her people ignites a courageous journey against the cruel grip of the transatlantic slave trade. As her tribe is brutally torn from their homeland, Princess Akuba embarks on a daring mission to reclaim her people and restore them to their rightful place. Set against the backdrop of vibrant West African drumming, dancing and storytelling, intertwined with the soul-stirring melodies of Negro spirituals, Rory D. Sheriff’s musical short play immerses audiences in a tale of resilience, hope and the enduring power of love.