The Metro: Annual African dance conference uses dance as a tool for justice and equity
Cary Junior II October 7, 2025The TéMaTé Institute for Black Dance and Culture hosts an annual dance convening that demonstrates the artform’s ability to connect and transform through workshops and performances with experts who span the African diaspora.
The TeMaTe Institute is hosting its annual dance conference October 18th and 19th.
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.
Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.
Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Support local journalism.
WDET strives to cover what’s happening in your community. As a public media institution, we maintain our ability to explore the music and culture of our region through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.More stories from The Metro
Author
-
Cary Junior II is an audio journalist and producer for The Metro on 101.9 WDET. Cary has worked as a producer or host on a number of projects. His work includes short and longform audio, documentary series and daily radio. In his five year career in journalism he has worked for Crooked Media, the Detroit Free Press, and now WDET - Detroit's NPR station.


