Join us in person for a documentary screening exploring how Afro dance carries memory, history, and stories through movement.

About the Event

What do our bodies remember?

How is culture carried through movement?

And what happens to African dance as people, traditions and identities move across generations, countries and communities?

Join AFJ Cardiff for the final public event of Afro Dance Narratives: Movement as Memory and Storytelling, an Arts Council Wales-supported research and development project exploring African dance as a form of memory, identity, heritage and storytelling.

At the centre of the evening will be the premiere screening of our documentary, created through conversations, research and movement with African dancers, educators, creatives and cultural practitioners.

But this is more than a film screening.

We’re bringing the research to life through an immersive cultural evening featuring:

Documentary screening

Panel conversation

Live dance performances

African fashion and contemporary African identity

Spoken word and storytelling

Food and drinks

Music and community

A special celebration of 5 years of AFJ Cardiff

About Afro Dance Narratives

Afro Dance Narratives: Movement as Memory and Storytelling explores how African dance carries stories that are not always written down.

Through movement, interviews and creative research, the project looks at themes including:

heritage , memory , identity , migration , cultural transmission , evolution , reclamation, preservation

The project asks what happens when movement travels, changes, is commercialised, disconnected from its origins or reclaimed by the communities it comes from.

The documentary follows that journey through conversations with people whose work sits across African dance, culture, community and creative practice.

The Documentary Screening

The documentary is the central creative outcome of the project and brings together the voices, experiences and discoveries gathered throughout the research. Rather than simply documenting dance, the film explores the stories and meaning carried through it, asking how culture can live within the body, even across generations and places. The screening will be followed by opportunities for reflection, conversation and celebration.

Celebrating 5 Years of AFJ Cardiff

This evening also marks a very special milestone: 5 years of AFJ Cardiff. What began as a space centred around African dance has grown into a community built through movement, culture, education, creativity and belonging.Our community has always been central to that journey.The anniversary is an added celebration within the wider Afro Dance Narratives event: a chance to recognise the people who have helped shape AFJ and the community we continue to build.

What to Expect

Come ready for an evening that moves between film, performance, culture and conversation. This isn't meant to feel like a traditional cinema screening or formal conference.

Expect something:

cultural , cinematic , reflective , celebratory , community-led

Whether you are connected to dance, African culture, film, fashion, research, community work or simply curious, you are welcome.

Event Schedule

4:30pm - Doors Open

Arrival, food, music and networking

5:30pm - Main Event Begins

The evening will include:

Welcome and introduction

Fashion presentation

Creative performances

Afro Dance Narratives documentary screening

Panel conversation

Spoken word

AFJ performances

Community performance

5-year celebration

Music and community moments

8:30 pm - Event Ends

Running order may be subject to small changes.

Who Is This Event For?

This event is open to everyone.

You may particularly enjoy the evening if you are interested in:

African dance and culture

Film and visual storytelling

African diasporic identity

Heritage and migration

Fashion and creative expression

Community and cultural development

Arts and research

Dance education

Cultural preservation

Creative industries

Your ticket gives you access to the full evening programme.

Places are limited, so we recommend booking early.

About AFJ Cardiff

AFJ Cardiff is a Wales-based Afro dance and cultural organisation using dance as a tool for education, connection, cultural understanding and belonging. Our work brings people together through classes, performances, workshops, creative projects and cultural experiences that explore both the movement and the meaning behind African dance. AFJ is committed to creating spaces where African culture can be celebrated, understood and shared with respect.

Supported By

This project has been supported by Arts Council Wales.

The event is being delivered with contributions and support from creative and cultural partners including Urbanstamp Hub, Watch Africa Film Festival and National Dance Company Wales.

Important Information

Date: Saturday 5 December 2026

Doors: 4:30pm

Event: 5:30pm–8:30pm

Venue: Dance House / Tŷ Dawns, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Tickets: £20

For enquiries, please contact:

afjcardiff@gmail

Description supplied by the event organiser.