Free - £55.00
TicketsEvent Description
AiDance – West African Dance Connection
Saturday 27 June 2026 – Bristol
Join us for a full day celebrating the richness of West African drumming & dancing, storytelling and community. Experience an immersive programme featuring a djembe drumming workshop with Sidiki Dembele, and dynamic West African dance sessions led by Batch Gueye and Fanta Dembele, three extraordinary artists bringing the spirit of West Africa to the UK.
📍 Location
STUDENT UNION – University of Bristol
Pegg Studio, Bristol SU University of Bristol Richmond Building 105 Queens Road Clifton Bristol BS8 1LN
✨ About the Day
AiDance returns with its fourth instalment of The Power of Spiritual Connection, presenting a performance rooted in strength, spirit and deep cultural heritage. Expect movement, music and storytelling woven together to create a powerful journey through West African rhythm and tradition.
🕒 Schedule – Saturday 27 June
10:00am – 7:30pm
Three workshops (each 1h 30m) with 15‑minute breaks between sessions.
10:00am – Registration
Morning serving: Beignet & Café Touba
10:30am – 12:00pm
SIDIKI DEMBELE (Côte d’Ivoire) – Djembe Drumming Workshop
12:00pm – 12:15pm
Warm‑up / Movement Preparation
12:15pm – 1:45pm
FANTA DEMBELE (Burkina Faso) – West African Djembe Dance
2:00pm – 3:30pm
BATCH GUEYE (Senegal) – West African Sabar Dance
Afternoon serving: Fataya with juices – Bissap, Ginger & Baobab
5:00pm – 6:30pm
PERFORMANCE
🎟️ FEES (Updated – Bristol)
Performance Only
- Advance (Afromoya): £8
- On the door: £10
- Children: FREE
- Students & Over‑60s: Concession tickets available
Workshops
- Single Workshop: £18 advance / £20 on the door
- Two‑Workshop Bundle: £35 advance / £38 on the door
Full Day Package
- £55 advance (includes performance) / £58 on the door
Begin your day with traditional rhythm and sound before moving into the dance workshops.
If you require a concession, please contact us directly so we can arrange a rate that supports your circumstances.
idance@live.co.uk⭐ Sidiki Dembélé
Sidiki Dembélé is a multi‑instrumentalist from the Ivory Coast, born into a renowned Malian griot family. He began performing professionally at ten and toured West Africa as a musical director by fourteen. His work blends deep tradition with contemporary expression. Sidiki released his album Nyangy in 2015, and in 2024 performed at the Edinburgh International Festival, where The Scotsman praised him as a “master of African percussion.”
Learn more with Sidiki.
⭐ Fanta Dembélé
Fanta Dembélé is a Burkinabé–Ivorian dancer raised in a griot family and trained from childhood in West African dance traditions. She rose to prominence in Abidjan with the Dante troupe and later joined the celebrated Yelemba company, touring internationally across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Fanta is known for her powerful stage presence and for leading workshops that share her deep love of dance.
Come & dance with Fanta.
⭐ Batch Gueye
Batch Gueye is a Senegalese griot singer, dancer, and storyteller whose music reflects themes of migration, gratitude, and Baye Fall spirituality. Beginning as a professional dancer at twelve, he performed with major Senegalese artists before touring Europe with Afrika Afrika! in 2008. His discography spans traditional and Afrobeat styles, and he has earned international recognition including the Raaya Music Award for “Best Artist in the Diaspora.” Batch and his band have appeared at festivals such as WOMAD, Glastonbury, and Shambala.
Discover more with Batch Gueye.
Refund Policy
AfroMoya fees are not refundable.
