Amber's Dundunba Party 4.0
Presented in partnership with Ambe’r Johnson, Azania Drum, Music Moves Chi/Old Town School of Folk Music, and Beloved.Projects
Saturday, December 12, 2026 from 4:00-9:30 p.m.
Registration: Free and Pay-What-You-Can Options ($20, $15, $10)
What began as a personal birthday celebration has transformed into a highly anticipated annual event bringing together dancers, drummers, and community members through intensive-style workshops and immersive archival installations dedicated to the Guinean rhythms of Dundunba. AMBER’S DUNDUNBA PARTY 4.0 features West African dance artists/instructors Imania Detry, Zenzile Fatou, and Washington, D.C.-based, master teacher Mama Lesina Martin. Dundunba (also spelled dununba) refers to the drum, a family of West African rhythms, and a traditional celebratory dance originating from the Malinké people of Guinea, West Africa.
“While the rhythm is popular among practitioners, there is a desire for deeper education around the form. Amber’s Dundunba Party serves as a training ground for both beginners and seasoned practitioners to dive deeper into the rhythm’s history and performance techniques, enabling them to confidently engage with Dundunba in classes, performances, and other artistic settings.” - Ambe’r Johnson, founder of the annual event and Dance Center alum (BA ’16).
Carousel Images: Pictured left to right: Imania Detry, Zenzile Fatou, Ambe’r Johnsno; Photo Credit: William Frederking
