Conference Overview
The Teranga Conference is an interdisciplinary performing arts and educational cultural conference rooted in the traditions, histories, and contemporary realities of the African Diaspora. Returning for its second annual convening, the 2026 conference expands its scope to include a formal symposium component, inviting artists, educators, scholars, elders, and community practitioners to share research, practice, and embodied knowledge.
At a time when communities of color—particularly immigrant communities—face intensified threats rooted in racism, classism, and systemic exclusion, Teranga positions culture as sanctuary. Through dance, education, and collective exchange, the conference creates a protected space for learning, storytelling, and movement that honors cultural inheritance and affirms our shared humanity.
Conference Theme
Guardians of Culture: Building Sanctuary through Art and Education
This theme envisions artists and educators as stewards of cultural knowledge. Dance and education become tools to defend against dehumanization—building spaces where movement, memory, and inter-generational wisdom safeguard what is sacred.
We invite proposals that reflect how your work:
- Centers equity, diversity, and cultural integrity
- Uses dance and education as tools for protection, resistance, and healing
- Builds safe, affirming spaces for students and communities
- Preserves, transmits, and reimagines African Diasporic traditions
Symposium Topic Areas
Proposals should align with one or more of the following areas:
- Dance as Sanctuary: Safe Spaces, Sacred Pedagogy, and Cultural Care
- Guardianship & Resistance: Teaching Culture in the Face of Racism and Classism
- Ancestral Knowledge, Living Traditions, and the African Diaspora
- Storytelling, Identity, and Intergenerational Exchange
- Equity, Access, and Cultural Sustainability in Dance Education
Submission Categories
- Lighting Talk (Student Focus)
Research-based quick conversations focused on student undergraduate and graduate projects
Format:
- 15-minute presentation
- 5-minute Q&A
- Lecture Presentation
Research-based or reflective presentations engaging with dance education, culture, and community arts practice.
Format:
- 20-minute presentation
- 10-minute Q&A
- Workshop-Demonstration
Integrated presentations combining spoken context and embodied movement to explore cultural, historical, and pedagogical frameworks.
- Movement-Based Presentation (Performance)
African Diasporic choreographic and embodied movement research works presented as part of the conference’s signature performance event.
Performance Event:
KASSOUMAII
Saturday, June 13, 2026
7:00 PM
Selected works will be curated into this evening-length performance celebrating cultural guardianship through movement.
Embodied Knowledge Statement
The Teranga Conference recognizes movement as scholarship. We honor embodied practice, oral tradition, and lived experience as essential forms of knowledge alongside written and spoken research.
Who Should Submit
We welcome proposals from:
- Dance artists and choreographers
- Teaching artists and educators
- Scholars and researchers
- Elders and culture bearers
- Graduate students and independent practitioners
- Community-based organizations
Interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and community-centered proposals are strongly encouraged.
Submission Requirements
All submissions must include:
- Proposal title
- Submission category
- Symposium topic area(s)
- Abstract (250–300 words)
- Presenter bio(s) (150 words per presenter)
- Technical or space needs (if applicable)
- For movement-based works: video link and estimated runtime
Review Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Alignment with the conference theme
- Clarity and strength of concept
- Contribution to African Diasporic knowledge and practice
- Equity-centered and community-affirming approach
- Relevance to educators, artists, and cultural workers
Important Dates
- Call for Proposals Opens: Winter/Spring 2025
- Submission Deadline: March 31st, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: April 20th, 2026
Questions
For inquiries regarding submissions or accessibility needs, please contact:
theinstitute@kofagoinstitute.org
The Kofago Institute invites you to stand as a Guardian of Culture—to move, teach, and share knowledge in ways that protect our past, affirm our present, and shape a liberated future.