YENSA Festival, produced by Lua Shayenne Dance Company (LSDC), is an international biennial festival that celebrates the work of women in dance, from African and Afro-diasporic culture.
YENSA Festival invites audiences to engage and celebrate with us the incredible evolution of Black dance and have conversations about the diversity of African Diasporic aesthetics, its histories and politics from a female perspective.
HAPPY FALL !
Sign up for our NEW YENSA WORKSHOP SERIES every other Sunday starting at noon, from October 15 to December 10!
Take a look back at our social media projects:
Our Time Capsules series highlights the recorded dance histories of Black dancers Ola Skanks and Ethel Bruneau in the 60s and 70s.
Phenomenal Black Women in Dance celebrates International Women’s Day 2023 with an activation campaign on gender equity.
I GOT MOVES is a series led by five talented Black female dancers who teach easy dance steps from a variety of dance styles. Dance from the comfort of your home on our Instagram and Facebook channels! Stay warm, keep your community close and be kind to all!
Follow us on IG & FB @yensafestival!
REMEMBER the next edition of YENSA Festival is in 2024! #YENSAFestival
Are you ready for YENSA Festival 2024 ?!
Our inaugural YENSA Festival was in 2022 and began with a series of workshops followed by a public talk and conversation. The closing weekend featured two different program performances at Daniels Spectrum’s Ada Slaight Hall on August 26 and 27; and August 28 closed the festival with an ATSIA CIRCLE – a dance and drum celebration for all to join in!
A special thanks to our administrator Monica Pain, Festival coordinator Samara DeSantos, Production manager and lighting designer Arun Srinivasan, Stage manager Tara Mohan, Assistant stage manager Tanvi Vyas, LSDC’s board of directors, our volunteers, support staff, partners, sponsors, audience and workshops participants.