The Center for Arts at the Armory created “Feet Keep the Beat”–an annual multicultural percussive dance festival–as a signature program that debuted in July - August 2023. Feet Keep the Beat brings together vibrant and diverse percussive dance communities of West African, Kathak, Flamenco, Irish, Step and Tap. This year, for the 3rd annual festival, Arts at the Armory has commissioned five percussive dancers and five musicians to create LINEAGE, an evening length work to premiere on August 1st. Deborah Mason is serving as an Artistic Advisor. Lead funding support for Feet Keep the Beat has been provided by Movement Arts Creation Studio.

As the artists featured in the August 1st showcase performance perform a story of how feet have been keeping the beat over time, and across cultures and geographies, they will also deepen their collaboration this year by paying homage to their teachers, gurus, mentors and those who opened the path for them. Anjali recounts this quotation shared by Pandit Chitresh Das to his disciples, “Guru se chela savai,” which translates to “The disciple steps on the shoulders of the guru and must aim to be 1/4 over one times better than the guru.”

Schedule:

Feet Keep the Beat Performance Showcase LINEAGE (ticketed event – Arts at the Armory Performance Hall)

The 2025 Feet Keep the Beat Performance Showcase LINEAGE Will Include:

Anjali Nath (Kathak)
Antonio Tran (Flamenco Guitar)
Ariaki Dandawate (Kathak)
“Joh” Sidi Mohamed Camara (West African)
Lekisha Limage (Step)
Ryan Casey (Tap)
Xianix Barrera (Flamenco)
Akili Jamal Haynes (Percussion, Trumpet)
Sory Diabate (Percussion)
Giri Subramaniam (Tabla)
Aidid Brayboy (Percussion)

Tickets