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NANIGO 2025

UMFUNDALAI DANCE INTENSIVE June 19th to 21st

The National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT) comprises of dance artists scholars, and educators, who seek to heighten awareness and appreciation for African Diasporic Dance traditions that have been championed by African Americans artists and/or emerge from an American African Diasporic discourse.   â€‹

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MISSION

The National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT) aims to heighten the quality of African dance presentation in the United States. We support the multi-faceted ways by which African dance traditions are transmitted and scholarly activities that centralize Black dance traditions in the United States. Our services include educational programming, professional development, and performance opportunities. NAAADT provides administrative, consulting, and artistic services. Furthermore, NAAADT is the epicenter of Umfundalai repertory, namely that of its progenitor, the late Kariamu Welsh, D. Arts. We provide licenses and certifications for teaching the Umfundalai contemporary African dance technique.

EVENTS

Thursday, June 19, 2025
2:00 pm (Central)

Nanigo 2025

Dance Center Columbia College
Chicago, Illinois
Sunday, August 10, 2025
3:00 pm (Eastern)

NAAADT Membership Quarterly Meeting

Virtual
Sunday, August 17, 2025
3:00 pm (Eastern)

NAAADT Membership Quarterly Meeting

Virtual
Saturday, October 18, 2025
3:00 pm (Eastern)

Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Calibration

Waldorf, Maryland
Sunday, October 19, 2025
10:00 am (Eastern)

Umfundalai Master Teachers' Intensive

Waldorf, Maryland
Sunday, October 19, 2025
3:00 pm (Eastern)

Umfundalai Community Class

Waldorf, Maryland
Sunday, November 9, 2025
3:00 pm (Eastern)

NAAADT Membership Quarterly Meeting

Virtual
Thursday, January 8, 2026
6:00 pm (Eastern)

​Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Saturday, October 18, 2025
10:00 am (Eastern)

Umfundalai Master Teachers' Intensive

Waldorf, Maryland
Friday, January 9, 2026
6:00 pm (Eastern)

​Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Saturday, January 10, 2026
1:00 pm (Eastern)

​Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Thursday, January 15, 2026
5:00 pm (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Friday, January 16, 2026
5:00 pm (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Saturday, January 17, 2026
10:00 am (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Friday, January 23, 2026
6:00 pm (EST)

Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Saturday, January 24, 2026
1:00 pm (EST)

Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Friday, January 30, 2026
5:00 pm (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Saturday, January 31, 2026
10:00 am (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Sunday, February 8, 2026
3:00 pm (Eastern)

NAAADT Membership Quarterly Meeting

Virtual
Friday, February 27, 2026
5:00 pm (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Saturday, February 28, 2026
10:00 am (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Friday, March 13, 2026
5:00 pm (EST)

M'Singha Wuti - Umfundalai Recreational Teacher's Training

Virtual
Saturday, April 12, 2026
TBA (Eastern)

​Íjoba - Umfundalai Professional Teachers' Training

Virtual
Sunday, May 3, 2026
3:00 pm (Eastern)

NAAADT Membership Quarterly Meeting

Virtual
Thursday, June 4, 2026
2:00 pm (PST)

Nanigo 2026

California State University Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Saturday, June 6, 2026
7:00 pm (PST)

Dancing Our Africa Concert

Martha B. Knoeble Dance Theater
Long Beach, California

What We Offer

  • Teachers' training

  • Umfundalai Teaching Certifications & Licenses

  • Community Dance Classes 

  • Performance Opportunities

  • African Diasporic Dance Curriculum Development 

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