The African Diaspora Dance and Drum shows are a staple of the Berkeley High School calendar, drawing big audiences of students, families, alumni, and dance enthusiasts alike. This year’s spring showcase was a sendoff to the senior dancers as well as a tribute to the late Reverend Dr. Robert McKnight, a key figure in establishing the first high school Black Studies program in the country at BHS. His mantra, “I am teachable,” was echoed throughout the performance, and connected to the show’s guiding theme “Nyansapo,” the Ghanaian wisdom knot.
McKnight’s legacy played a part in the entire show. Each African Diaspora Dance and Drum show begins with a libation to honor people’s ancestors, typically via the drawing of names. However, on Monday, April 27, 2026, this was done through a slideshow featuring photos of the performers’ loved ones, backed by McKnight’s favorite song, “My Ancestors.” McKnight was also featured in a short student skit in the middle of the show.
The showcase then transitioned into a land and labor acknowledgment, the Black National Anthem, a slam poetry piece delivered by BHS freshman Kanani Maroto Lockwood, and a piece by the Praise Dancers.
“My favorite part was Praise because I’m not really a religious person, but praise really helped me come out of my shell a little bit more. And, you know, it really helped me see things through,” Tabitha Jefferson, a BHS senior and dancer, said.
Months of work go into each show. But some elements were harder to plan for, such as the location change to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School’s stage due to BHS on-campus construction. The new stage posed challenges, but was also nostalgic for some.
“It was difficult to work with. I cannot lie. I haven’t danced on that stage since my freshman year when the A Building was still being renovated, but I thought it was a nice full circle moment that I ended the way I started,” said Corina Blanton, a BHS senior who has been dancing in AfAm shows for four years.
Nyansapo and blends of old and new were seen with the addition of students from Ruth Acty Elementary School performing alongside the dancers. “I’m so happy for Mama Jessica and Baba MD who have had the opportunity to teach generations to come the importance of movement and rhythm,” said Blanton. She plans to support her fellow dancers in showcases to come. In fact, most of the senior dancers and drummers are looking for ways to keep pieces of the AfAm dance and drum experience with them as they enter the real world.
“It was my last one, so that’s pretty special,” Miles Aki, a BHS senior drummer, said. Aki has been in the class for two years. “The class almost feels like family. It’s more than just learning the music and dancing ... It’s also about connecting with everybody. I think I’ll try to find more groups in the future that I can join and maybe find the same experience,” he said.
Blanton said, “I felt bittersweet about this year being my last show. It hasn’t fully settled in yet that I won’t be back (...) next year, but I think it will probably will when I walk across the stage less than a month from now.”