"Shangwe, le bal": a dance project full of joy
Kenyan-American choreographer Wanjiru Kamuyu is hosting a community dance project titled 'Shangwe, le bal' in Lyon, France. The performance integrates East African cultural elements with French sign language to promote inclusivity and joy.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates the role of arts and cultural exchange in fostering social cohesion and accessibility in urban spaces.
On a sweltering afternoon in the French city of Lyon, around 60 dancers fully ignored the heat to immerse themselves in a festive performance brought to them by Kenyan-American choreographer and dancer Wanjiru Kamuyu.
"Welcome, everyone, to Shangwe, le bal !"
Wanjiru Kamuyu's voice clearly rings out over the audience's heads and the relaxed beats of the music.
Despite the heat in the city in south-eastern France, the cultural space "Les Subs" near the river Saône is buzzing with chatter, music and laughter on this July afternoon.
In the middle of it all is Kamuyu, dancer and choreographer born in Kenya to Kenyan and African-American parents, and who has been living and creating in France for the past 19 years.
This afternoon, around 60 amateur dancers and participants from the audience will perform her latest work: "Shangwe, le bal", as part of the annual Nuits de Fourvière festival.
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