For the past 13 years, Detour Dance Festival has celebrated dance not only as an artform, but as a tool for cultural connection, community empowerment, and identity. In 2023, we deepen this vision with a renewed focus on youth aged 13–18, a new initiative rooted in African dance cultures and aimed at building bridges across generations, diasporas, and artistic disciplines.

This workshop program offers professional-level workshops led by internationally acclaimed dancers and cultural practitioners, creating a rare opportunity for young people in Denmark to experience first-hand the depth, history, and creativity within global street and club dance communities. International Artists, Local Impact

In the first sessions we welcomed:

• Yemi Osokoya (Nigeria): A leading voice in Afro street dance, Yemi brought his dynamic style Naija Fusion, which blends Konto, Shaku, and traditional Nigerian movement practices. His workshop offered not just technique, but storytelling, rhythm awareness, and insight into Lagos’ vibrant dance scene.
• Sibusiso DRS (South Africa): Known for his fierce and refined style, Sibusiso introduced participants to Pantsula– a township-born street dance form that combines precise footwork, cultural codes, and political expression. Through Pantsula, young dancers learned about rhythm as language and movement as resistance.

These workshops are more than dance training – they are immersive cultural encounters that center Black joy, shared knowledge, and intergenerational learning.

A Closed Cultural Practice

This initiative is intentionally designed with and for the Black and Brown communities of Denmark. It centers cultural integrity and lived experience, offering a space where both youth and elders can see themselves reflected – not only in their teachers, but in the stories, rhythms, and practices shared.

Through movement, participants are invited to explore ancestral knowledge, reconnect with roots, and affirm their identities in a space that honors heritage. This is more than dance – it is a cultural practice, shaped by history, spirit, and resistance.

By holding space for these traditions, the program actively works to counter isolation and marginalization, nurturing a sense of belonging, pride, and collective healing.Workshops are free of charge and professionally facilitated, with focus on both technical excellence and cultural integrity. Participants are encouraged to bring their full selves – whether they’re new to dance or seasoned movers.