Company Bio
Benkadi (which means « Coming Together Sweetly » in the Bamanankan language of Mali) is an eclectic group of artists and educators dedicated to performing, teaching and researching African dance and musical forms. Benkadi emerged in 2008 under the direction of Sory Diabate, a professional drummer from Bamako, Mali. The company is based in the Boston area and has performed at schools, camps, colleges, festivals, corporate events, hospitals, parks, churches, and community centers.
Dedicated to community-based education and performance, the artists of Benkadi provide a wide range of programming for diverse audiences. Our mission is to provide quality performance and education in African and African-rooted dance and music.
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Benkadi Drum & Dance has performed at:
Boston University
Wellesley College - Ancestors Moving Through Us: a Celebration of Black Women Artists
Dance Complex: Memorial Concert for Daniel Soumah
Dance for World Community Festivals 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Shady Hill School Black History Program 2010, International Fair 2011, Lower School 2016
Cambridge River Festivals 2010, 2011, 2015
Dance Complex Faculty Concert, 2010
Children's Hospital International Day
Winchester Next Door Theatre
MIT FAST Festival
Boston Harbor Islands George's Island
Cambridge Boys & Girls Club
Boston City Singers Gala Event
Jubilee Reception, Church of the Redeemer, Lexington, Ma
Benefit for ANZU Global
Tribute to Ibrahima Camara, Boston African Dance Pioneer
Malden YWCA
John M. Tobin School
Mali Live - Arts at the Armory
Cambridge YMCA - Fundraiser for Kids in Ghana
NERD - Fundraiser for Microloan Foundation USA
Boston Children's Museum 2018, 2019
Green Street Studios
Outside the Box Festival 2013, 2015
MIT Kresge Auditorium
John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Celebrate Series, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
N. Andover Middle School - Geography Night 2014, 2015, 2018
McCall Middle School - International Night, 2015, 2016, 2017
Simmons College Black Student Organization Kwanzaa Dinner 2016, 2017
Danehey Park Family Day 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Massasoit Community College 2016, 2017
Lowell Folk Festival National Dance Day 2016, 2017
Kids Are People School 2017, 2018, 2019
Lincoln After School, Brookline 2015, 2017, 2019
Cambridge Montessori School 2017
First Night Boston Parade 2019
Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre Dance Saturdays 2019
Takeda Black History Event 2020
Dedham Middle School MLK Day Celebration 2020
