Causes: Arts & Culture, Cultural & Ethnic Awareness

Mission: Our mission is to provide an insightful, woman-centered perspective on west african tradition and culture as a source of healing and balance by providing quality education and entertainment to audiences of all nationalities and walks of life.

Programs: Annual black river festival/conference:a special annual two-day event of workshops and performances presented to attendees of all ages and backgrounds and 525 people attending two festival performances at the kelly strayhorn theater. West african dance and drum workshops attended by 75 people and taught by master artists highlighted the musical and dance traditions of mali, congo, senegal, and guinea. As part of the week-long conference, the production of "sundiata 2: the triumphant return of the hero, " a performance of the story of the great hero of the 15th century mali empire and inspiration of walt disney's "the lion king, " was also performed at the kelly-strayhorn theater.

classes and workshops:approximately 500 hours of classes and workshops in african dance and culture were conducted in schools and as after-school programs, serving over 400 students in the pittsburgh area. Programs and schools served included the community empowerment association in homewood, the neighborhood academy, pittsburgh public schools summer dreamers academy, winchester thurston, and pittsburgh montessori. Master dancer kadiatou conte-forte, the artistic director of balafon, is passionate about sharing the beauty and power of west african culture with students, especially youth.

performances: development of the balafon youth ensemble, a youth dance troupe comprised of 20 girls aged 5 to 14 years of age rehearsing weekly and performing 2 to 3 times a month in the pittsburgh area; the balafon dance ensemble presented multiple african drumming and dance performances in the local area of southwest pa, pittsburgh, and beyond.