— Photos by Joni Lohr

The Center for Arts at the Armory Deepens Collaboration With Leading Percussive Dance Artists in Third Annual Feet Keep the Beat Festival July 28 – August 3

Now in its third year, Arts at the Armory’s Feet Keep the Beat Festival announces its annual jams, workshops, and Showcase Performance LINEAGE to premiere on August 1st in the Armory Performance Hall. Returning from prior festivals are Ariaki Dandawate (Kathak), Joh Camara (West African), Lekisha Limage (Step), Ryan Casey (Tap), Anjali Nath (Kathak), Antonio Tran (Flamenco guitar), Akili Jamal Haynes (percussion, trumpet and tabla), Sory Diabate (percussion), Giri Subramaniam (tabla), and Aidid Brayboy (percussion). Xianix Barrera, a renowned Flamenco dancer and educator based in New York City, will be joining the Boston-based collective of percussive dance and musical artists this year. 

As the artists featured in the August 1st showcase performance perform a story of how feet have been keeping the beat over time, and across cultures and geographies, they will also deepen their collaboration this year by paying homage to their teachers, gurus, mentors and those who opened the path for them. Anjali Nath recounts this quotation shared by her guru, Pandit Chitresh Das to his disciples, “Guru se chela savai,” which translates to “The disciple steps on the shoulders of the guru and must aim to be 1/4 over one times better than the guru.” Dance legends such as Das and Thelma Goldberg are among the gurus/teachers who will be given homage by the Feet Keep the Beat artists this year. 

The festival is being produced and presented by Arts at the Armory led by Co-Director/CEO Stephanie Scherpf and Co-Director/COO Jess White. Once again, Arts at the Armory is collaborating with Deborah Mason, who is serving as Artistic Advisor to Feet Keep the Beat, and is also bringing her lauded Boston Tap Party Showcase to the Arts at the Armory Performance Hall on August 2nd, the night after the Feet Keep the Beat Showcase.  

“Feet Keep the Beat is about providing a platform for these rich percussive dance forms, almost all of which come to us from histories of oppression and marginalization, but it’s also an opportunity to put these dance forms into conversation with each other, providing a model for intercultural conversation and learning, and a chance for rhythmic fireworks and innovation to emerge,” says Scherpf.   

  On Monday, July 28th, from 7-9pm at ROOTED Armory Café there will be a Traditional Irish Session with participatory music and dance. On Sunday, August 3rd, Arts at the Armory will host Feet Keep the Beat community workshops from 10-12:30pm. All jams and workshops are free admission. Tickets for the August 1st Showcase Performance LINEAGE are available here.

Lead funding support for Feet Keep the Beat has been provided by Movement Arts Creation Studio. Other sponsors include The Cambria, RedBones, US2, and Wooden Kiwi Productions. Arts at the Armory is currently accepting sponsorships from businesses and individuals who would like to support this vital program and be associated with its intercultural brand.

More info: https://artsatthearmory.org/our-programs/feet-keep-the-beat/

Monday, July 28th 7-9pm: Traditional Irish Session at ROOTED Armory Café (free)
Friday, August 1st 7pm: Feet Keep the Beat Festival Showcase: LINEAGE (Arts at the Armory Performance Hall) | Tickets: https://the-center-for-arts-at-the-armory.ticketleap.com/feet-keep-the-beat-performance-showcase-lineage/

Sunday, August 3rd 10-12:30pm: Free Community Workshops (Arts at the Armory Performance Hall) | RSVP Form Here

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. To learn more please visit our website, https://artsatthearmory.org/, our Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram at @ArtsattheArmory.