Passport 2022 Student/ Youth Expenses

Since our inception in 2016, Djoli Kelen has provided arts and culture services in over 10 states, 4 countries, and 3 continents, with in-person and virtual programs. After the onslaught of Covid, Djoli Kelen was among the first providers of Traditional West African Dance in the Atlanta, GA region to offer live streamed virtual dance activities to help its audiences and practitioners remain engaged during uncertain times, while also attracting new people. We offered classes as well as "dance challenges," in which we would post West African dance sequences on social media and challenge people to learn them, video themselves doing the movement, and post on their own social media accounts.

 Djoli Kelen openly and lovingly serves our community. Our core audience are those who are already connected with African and Diaspora Dance & Drum practices, including dancers, drummers, teachers, choreographers, etc. However, the range and variety of events and services provided, our extensive cross-marketing among like-minded local, national, and international organizations, and the easy accessibility online and with low cost barriers, consistently draw new people into our circle. Our programming is inclusive and family oriented, welcoming babes-in-arms as well as elders. We also accommodate people with disabilities and special needs.

Passport To Our Community 2022 will be the seventh such annual festival produced by Djoli Kelen in honor of US Black History Month. Over the years, Djoli Kelen has partnered with various schools, students, and dance programs throughout metro Atlanta to target dancers and artists during early stages of life in order to foster intergenerational exchanges which imitate traditional village life. This practice will continue this coming year. The festival will start out with a Black History Kick Off Class on January 30, 2022 which will be open to all and incorporate dance and drum practice. Also there will be an opening circle that gives participants a space to share who their Black History Icon is, as a prompt for continued group discussion after the dance-and-drum portion of the class. Additionally we will continue the community reading and discussion of the book "Hot Feet and Social Change: African Dance and Diaspora Communities" augmented by panel discussions with master artists and scholars throughout the month, and incorporate many opportunities for community engagement through dance classes and workshops, performances, and a live concert. Our 2022 events will culminate with a Black History class on February 28, similar to the opening class, and open to all levels and ages of practitioners.

The Passport festival is an anticipated annual gathering of our local and national Traditional West African Dance & Drum community. This year, Souleymane "Solo" Sana, who is a Master Malian Artist and guiding mentor that had an important role in Djoli Kelen's inception (he gave the Co-Founders his blessing and provided the company name, which means One Blood in the Bamana dialect), is our featured artist. Gathering together around Solo's and Djoli Kelen's artistry will bring the community closer together in its understanding, practice, and inspiration for continued community expression. 

Our main goal is to keep the dreams and aspirations of African ancestors alive and evolving into our contemporary moment here in the US, repairing the rupture in the handing-down of ancestral knowledge that was brought about by slavery. The art forms that we steward are healing and connecting in and of themselves, providing healthful physical activity, and joyful and supportive community. African-American self esteem and pride is enhanced by creating space for expressions of African diasporic culture that provide time-honored wisdom for our daily lives. This is especially important for young people, the target of this fundraiser.

Funds raised will help to cover the fees for 35 student/ youth participants during Djoli Kelen's month-long Black History Month programs and events.