Brooklyn Academy of Music — Attraction in New York

Dance Africa 2023!🔥🔥🔥 You are transported from Brooklyn, New York to an authentic African Marketplace in the heart of the Continent 🎶

Always the best of times. Catch the show if you can but don’t let the fun stop there. The African Dance performances inside the Theatre from all over the continent is nothing short of magical💕 The real after party starts right outside the steps of BAM with the sidewalk drumming circle open to all and the friendly street vendors with their unique wares and vibrant selection of eclectic pieces you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Whether it’s African print yoga mats, to funky hats, to rustic jewelry pieces or one of a kind household items like hand woven African Prints place mats w/matching runners. You name it, the unabashed variety in cultural creativity will take your breath away.

Now don’t forget to go there hungry as your tummy will thank you later. Whether you’re vegan or a carnivore there’s something for everyone. From freshly smoked jerk chicken to hot roasted corn 🌽 on the cob, bring small containers to pack an order to go😂

Wait, it gets even better. Your guaranteed to run into a old college friend, neighbor or someone you haven’t seen in ages. It’s like a family reunion, especially when the weather cooperates. I went there in my jeans and a white tee and left decked out in a beautiful Andikra Print piece that can be worn as a shawl or a shirt. Talk about a two-fer! Clear your calendar for 3 days of bliss cause you can’t see it all on one day.

Buckle up and brace yourself for an unbelievable experience. See ya out...

Hey friends! This review is about sustainability only. ☺️

It saddens me to see you all of your concession drinks wrapped in single use plastic. Especially when options like aluminum cans exist for both soda and water.

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. And over 95% of the plastic that we produce and consume, does not get recycled, but rather ends up in landfills, incinerators, or in our waterways, breaking down into micro plastics that are making us sick.

I would love to see more entertainment venues in our waterfront city better serve and connect to the local environment by not trashing it at every turn. Perhaps the leader ship at Brooklyn Academy of Music would consider more sustainable options for its patrons.

By transitioning to canned water, canned soda, and by butter promoting and highlighting your water bottle refill stations, I think you could make great headway in mitigating the theater’s contribution to the plastic waste crisis.

Because there is no need for a patron (who is coming in to see a two hour film) to consume and discard a bottle that will take over 400 years to break down (into tinier plastics…(

Thank you for considering, and thank you for this...

Having known nothing about this academy and as a first time visitor, all I can say is wow. WOW! This is a magical space full of raw talent and art and culture. The staff and instructors are so involved and nurturing it’s easy to see why the space breeds such talent across the board.

This is the kind of New York I wish to see more of, the kind of spaces we need most, and I’m glad the modest ticket price will go to making sure there’s more of it. And that’s all before I learned about their music therapy programs, accessible classes and long history of serving the community dating back to the 1940s.

Then, there are the kids... Let me tell you, it’s hard to put into words how amazing each and everyone of they were. Truly. Each performance was unique and beautiful in a way that leaves you feeling like you just witnessed something magical... because you did!!! It pains me to know I will never be as cool as these kids, but I am learning to live with that feeling with the knowledge that the future performance is just a train stop away.

I will definitely be back and I hope everyone reading this will be right there with...