The internationally acclaimed Sirius Quartet brings its genre-defying approach to contemporary music to the DIA. These conservatory-trained performer-composers shine with precision, soul and raw energy.

Sirius continues its commitment to innovation with original works by its own members, incorporating popular song forms, extended techniques, gripping improvisations, and contemporary grooves. 

Okaidja Afroso was born into a family of musicians and storytellers in the town of Kokrobite on the west coast of Ghana. He began his career as a dancer with the celebrated Ghana Dance Ensemble. As he toured internationally Afroso expanded his artistic reach, becoming a master multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and arranger.

His genre-defying songs, often performed in his native language, convey a range of experiences—joy, tragedy, and hope—and embrace what he calls “the rich complexity of the integrated world we inhabit.”

Through his distinctive style, which combines percussion instruments, vocals, guitar, and dance, Afroso explores ancestral traditions and creates a new, contemporary African oral tradition. This performance is in conjunction with the exhibition James Barnor: Accra/London—A Retrospective. 

Travel through the many different and beautiful regions of Mexico with Ballet Folklorico de Detroit, a community group of passionate dancers who dedicate their time and talent to preserve Mexican culture and traditions through dance.

With each style of dress, music, and footwork showcased in every performance, the dancers aim to delight viewers and ignite a spark of interest in, and respect for, Mexican culture.

After the performance, don’t miss the 11th installment of Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos, running through November 5, 2023. Free with museum admission. 

Don’t miss the amazing talents of William Chapman Nyaho, a Ghanaian American pianist, solo recitalist, and chamber musician. Nyaho has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean, and has developed a repertoire focused on composers of African descent.

He is a guest artist at colleges and universities around the US, and is in high demand as a judge for national and international piano competitions. 

The Firewalkers are a hot new R&B, blues and rock band from Detroit, specializing in the pre-Motown sounds of the late 1950s and early '60s.

The band includes some of the city's finest musicians and is fronted by the fiery vocals of Laura Mendoza, (White Shag, The Ricky Rat Pack, Mark Farner’s American Band) featuring David James (Jon Rice Band) on guitar, Rudy Varner (Chris Casello Trio, JC and the Royal Keys) on upright bass, and Loney Charles (Jack Scott) on drums.  

DDCF’S Rivera Court Stage is a series of performance showcases taking place in the DIA’s Rivera Court that highlight local, national, and international talent and share diverse dance styles with the DDCF audience. Join us for three back-to-back showcases.

1 p.m. Performance

• Susie Thiel 
• Compañeros de Flamenco 
• Next Step Broadway 
• Grand Rapids Ballet 
• Haley Tarling & Dancers 
• Elizabeth Kattner 
• Company SIX 
• RESILIENCE Dance Company 
• dropshift dance 

2 p.m. Performance

• Smutek Dance
• Motive Forces 
• Ballet Folklorico Sones Mexicanos 
• Allison Lincoln 
• Winifred Haun & Dancers 
• Antonella Doblanovic 
• Embodied Arts Collective 

 3 p.m. Performance

• Animus Movement 
• sk|dancers 
• Mrudani School of Performing Arts 
• Embodied Arts Collective 
• Movement Reservoir Dance Company 
• Sophia & El Kronox 
• BGIRL MAMA 
• Xing Dance Theater - Competition Team 
• Diversiform Dance Project 

For the full festival lineup, go to detroitdancecityfestival.com 

Dance and Celebration is a favorite event for Detroit Dance City Festival audiences and features performances by world-renowned guest dancers and choreographers, this year including 

• ArtLab J I
• ArtLab J II
• ArtLab J for Grown-Ups
• Kelsey Lewinski
• Xing Dance Theater Student Company
• Seong Jeong Kim 

A major highlight of the weekend-long festival, you will not want to miss this celebratory performance!

Detroit Dance City Festival (opens in a new tab) (DDCF) is an annual community building event curated by ArtLab J that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. DDCF brings the work of renowned local, national, and international performing artists, choreographers, and companies to the stage in a weekend full of performances, master classes and networking events. 

Two of Detroit Dance City Festival's programs highlighting new works come together for an evening of exciting dance!

DDCF’s College Showcase was developed to give platform and agency to collegiate choreographers, professors and guests artists to present their newest work. This year’s showcase features:

• Univeristy of Michigan
• Western Michigan University
• Hope College
• Lindenwood University

Choreographers Showcase II, presents new works by local, national, and international artists and dancers, this year including:

• ARK Initiative Ballet
• Smutek Dance
• Morgan Walker
• Norberto Collazo
• Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers
• ConteXture Dance Detroit
• Mark Gonzalez
• Jazz Spectrum Dance Company

Detroit Dance City Festival (opens in a new tab) (DDCF) is an annual community building event curated by ArtLab J that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. DDCF brings the work of renowned local, national, and international performing artists, choreographers, and companies to the stage in a weekend full of performances, master classes and networking events. 
 

Local, national, and international artists and dancers share their current projects during Choreographers Showcase I. This year’s showcase features:
 

• DDC Dances
• Zehnder Dance
• Yukina Sato
• Gabrielle McNeillie
• Jasmine Powell
• CPR Dance: Inhale Movement
• Monica Brady-Barnard
• Rowan Janusiak
• Simone Knowelle Dance Theater
• Aimee McDonald
• Winifred Haun & Dancers

Detroit Dance City Festival (opens in a new tab) (DDCF) is an annual community building event curated by ArtLab J that celebrates dance in its various forms and disciplines. DDCF brings the work of renowned local, national, and international performing artists, choreographers, and companies to the stage in a weekend full of performances, master classes and networking events. 

Virtuoso violinist, Juilliard instrument curator, and Hoboken, N.J. resident Eric Grossman will be joined by family members Lida Lopez Mancheva (piano) and Cecilia Grossman (cello) for this survey of famous composers of the Baroque period, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and their contemporaries.