Community and Creative Hub @ DX: KanKouran West African Dance Company

We’re restarting a series on our blog that will highlight some of the remarkable artists, educators, entrepreneurs, and community members who move and make in our studios. These individuals and groups help make the Community and Creative Hub @ DX the vibrant, multi-disciplinary, creative space that it is—even when social distancing measures are still in place to keep our communities safe. 

This week, meet KanKouran West African Dance Company. Read on to hear the Community and Creative Hub @ DX is making it possible for KanKouran to continue providing classes for movers of all ages during the pandemic. 

How long have you been engaged in the Dance Exchange community?
We’ve been here for about 15 years.

What surprising opportunities or challenges have you encountered while adapting your class/program/creative process in response to COVID-related social distancing?
By having to go virtual, we have actually broadened our audience base to include participants from outside of the DC area.

How has being part of Dance Exchange’s Community and Creative Hub supported your growth as an artist, mover, or facilitator?
DX is our home. It allows us to maintain programming and provides a communal base for our participants and members to convene. In addition, all of the staff at DX are very supportive of our organization, our mission, and our members. There's no place we would rather be.

How can our Dance Exchange community connect with you and your work right now?
We offer classes for adults on Tuesdays at 7:30pm EST and Saturdays at 1:00pm EST. Our children's classes are on Saturdays at 12:00pm EST. All classes are held online until future notice. Our company rehearses on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30pm EST.

Photos by Vinny and Beth Mwano.