The Metro: Annual African dance conference uses dance as a tool for justice and equity

By: Cary Junior II

7 October 2025 at 18:59

Dance is typically understood as a physical artform. A non-verbal expression of creativity, emotions and narratives. Dance is a cultural pillar that brings communities together under shared goals: to create and perform.

Ajara Alghali is a cultural organizer and connector, who believes that dance can also be a tool for transformation and equity and a connection between ritual and our shared environment. With these principles in mind, she co-founded the TéMaTé Institute for Black Dance and Culture in 2018.

The organization hosts an annual dance convening that demonstrates that vision through workshops and performances from experts who span the African diaspora. This year, it takes place October 18 and 19 at the Andy Art Center and Detroit School of Arts. Ajara joined The Metro to discuss the upcoming event.

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