ABOUT

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PASSION. HISTORY. MOVEMENT. EDUCATION.

A woman in a flowing green dress standing on the beach with her eyes closed, her arms raised and hands gently touching her head and neck, under a cloudy sky.

KELLY S. WHITE

Founder, Executive Producer

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Kelly Seph White is a performer, choreographer, researcher, and dance educator. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Southern Mississippi and an M.A. in Dance Education from New York University.  She is the mother to a bright and beautiful daughter named Morgan. 

In 17 years of living in New York City, Kelly had the honor of studying under the great Jean Leon Destine, Baba Richard Gonzalez, Nia Love, Ronald K. Brown, Nadia Dieudonne, and Aussettua Amor Amenkum (New Orleans).  She was also honored to have trained and performed at the American Dance Festival, Plaza Cuba, New Waves Trinidad, Bates Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow.  Ms. White has performed with Ase Dance Theater Collective, Kumbuka African Drum and Dance Collective, Kwame Ross's Prophecy Dance Works, and Nia Love’s Blacksmith’s Daughter.  Her choreography has been performed in venues and productions such as the 92nd Street Y, Psychotherapy Network Association Conference, Mixed Flava’s Performance Series, Dance Africa, Feast: A Yoruba Project, and Voices of Congo Square New Orleans where she also served as the Associate Director.

Ms. White is a second-generation educator who has brought the art form of dance to a host of colleges and public schools located in Florida, Cuba, Louisiana, Georgia, California, Mississippi, Vermont, Texas, New Jersey, and New York.  In 2017, Kelly co-founded and is the Director of EVOLVE Diaspora, where she creates weekend intensives, cultural immersion trips, and community classes for professional dancers, researchers, scholars, and educators to intensely study dances of the African Diaspora. Currently, she is on staff teaching African Diaspora Dance Styles at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Professor of dance at the Southern University and A&M College and is the Director of Education at Young Audiences of Louisiana.

BALBANCHA
ADVISORY COUNCIL

  • A woman dressed in traditional African attire with a large blue headwrap, standing against a plain background with her eyes closed and hands resting on her chest.

    Ausettua Amor Amenkum

    Artistic Director
    Kumbuka African Drum & Dance Collective

    Ausettua Amor Amenkum is the Big Queen of the Washita Nation, Artistic Director of Kumbuka African Drum and Dance Collective, and the Performance Director and choreographer for The Graduates, a New Orleans-based performing arts organization comprised of former members of the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) Drama Club. She is on the path of manifesting her spiritual destiny. And believes her role is to educate, present, research and preserve traditional African and African American culture. 

    She makes every attempt to see God in all who she encounters and that is the guiding motivation towards determining the work that she does. Ausettua recognizes that she has not chosen her path, it was chosen for her. So whether she is dancing in an Indian suit in Europe, presenting African dance in a prison, giving young people opportunities to exhibit their creativity, cooking vegan food or training 9-1-1 dispatchers, she continues to offer her life as a living sacrifice to the ancestors and the liberation of African people! 

  • Close-up portrait of a smiling man with a shaved head and goatee, wearing layered necklaces and a blue tie-dye patterned fleece jacket over a white turtleneck, against a dark background.

    Sulé Adams

    Arts Administrator, Cultural Producer

    As a dancer, Sulé has performed with renowned companies such as Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Francine E. Ott/The Walk, Soweto Street Beat, and N’Kafu Traditional African Dance Company, touring both regionally and internationally. Beyond performance, he is the creator and ongoing producer of HomeGrown, a series of events that celebrate artists’ contributions to the cultural heritage of their communities through performances, exhibitions, talks, and workshops. He also leads Heart of the Matter with Sulé, an initiative designed to uplift and educate artists by offering inspiration and administrative support.

    Driven by a deep passion for the arts, Sulé is committed to building stronger communities through arts education and outreach. Guided by the motto, “Dance is always a work through spirit,” he continues to support and inspire fellow dreamers in his role as Senior Director of Programming at Moving in the Spirit.  

  • A woman with short braided hair and hoop earrings, wearing a black top, stands against a brick wall background.

    Stephanie McKee-Anderson

    Executive Artistic Director
    Junebug Productions

    Stephanie McKee-Anderson is a performer, choreographer, educator, facilitator and cultural organizer born in Picayune, MS and raised in New Orleans.

    She is the founder of Moving Stories Dance Project, an organization committed to dance education that provides opportunities for dancers and choreographers to showcase their talents. In 2007, she was awarded The Academy of Educational Development/New Voices Fellowship, an award for emerging leaders.

    For the past 20 years, Stephanie has been involved with Junebug Productions as an artist and educator. Most recently she served as Associate Artistic Director of the first annual Homecoming Project 2011, a place-based performance project that addresses the Right of Return and what home means to communities in post-Katrina New Orleans. In 2006, Stephanie was one of ten artists who collaborated to create the original production, “UPROOTED: The Katrina Project,” co-produced by Junebug Productions.

    As an artist and cultural organizer, Stephanie is deeply committed to creating work that supports social justice and aligns with the FST and Junebug legacy.

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A group of diverse women practicing a dance routine in a bar called Sanctuary, with a man instructing them from the front. The women are standing in a line, some smiling and some focused, with a painted mural above them depicting revolutionary figures.

BALBANCHA SCHOLARSHIP

3% Cover the Fee

HOW DOES THIS HELP?

Contribute a donation to help fund a New Orleans high school student’s training, education, and artistic growth.

  • Your support helps shape the next generation of cultural and creative leaders.

  • Scholarships provide dancers with high-quality instruction with world renowned Master Teachers.

  • Festival participation broadens their understanding of global dance traditions and styles.

  • Dance training nurtures focus, resilience, and self-expression in young people.

  • Investing in youth dancers helps keep the city’s rich dance traditions alive and evolving.

  • Support gives talented teens the chance to perform, connect, and grow through life-changing experiences.

WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT

Balbancha is more than a festival - it is a gathering of stories, histories, and communities in motion. Here, we honor the land we stand on, the cultures that have shaped it, and the artists who continue to transform it through movement.

Every class, performance, conversation, and shared experience is an opportunity to connect across traditions, celebrate our differences, and recognize our shared humanity. Together, we dance not only to preserve culture, but to create the future.

ROOTED IN PLACE.
REACHING THE WORLD.

Dance has the extraordinary power to bring people together beyond language, age, culture, and experience. At the Balbancha Dance Festival, we believe that every body has a story worth telling and every movement has the power to build understanding.

As you learn from master artists, collaborate with fellow dancers, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural traditions of New Orleans, remember that you are part of something larger than yourself—a community committed to honoring heritage, embracing creativity, and uplifting one another.

DANCE IS OUR
COMMON LANGUAGE.

The Balbancha Dance Festival is a celebration of resilience, culture, and joy. It reminds us that dance is more than performance—it is remembrance, resistance, healing, and celebration.

As we gather on the ancestral lands known as Balbancha, we honor those who came before us while creating space for new voices, new collaborations, and new possibilities. Every rhythm shared, every tradition exchanged, and every connection made strengthens our collective future.

Leave this festival with more than new choreography. Leave with renewed purpose, deeper community, and the courage to use your artistry to make a meaningful impact wherever you go.

CARRY THE SPIRIT FORWARD.

FAQs

  • "Balbancha" is the Choctaw name for the land on which New Orleans was built and is often translated as "the place of many languages." The festival honors the Indigenous peoples who first stewarded this land while celebrating the many cultures whose traditions continue to shape New Orleans through music, dance, and community.

  • We encourage festival participants to consider booking an Airbnb or other locally owned accommodations in the historic 7th Ward, Tremé, Esplanade Ridge, or Marigny. Staying in these neighborhoods allows you to experience New Orleans beyond the tourist districts while directly supporting local homeowners, entrepreneurs, and the surrounding community.

    If you prefer a hotel, there are many excellent options located just a short Uber ride from the festival.

  • The Balbancha Dance Festival is rooted in community. By choosing neighborhood accommodations, you help support local residents and small businesses while experiencing the rich culture that makes New Orleans unique.

    From neighborhood cafés to Black-owned businesses, historic landmarks, and community gathering spaces, you'll discover that the neighborhood is part of the festival experience.

  • The Festival will take place at the Andre Cailloux Center located on the historic Old Bayou Road, one of New Orleans' oldest roads and a longtime cultural corridor that offers a variety of locally owned restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops. Bayou Road has become a destination for Black-owned businesses and reflects the city's rich cultural heritage.

    Some local favorites include:

    There are also bakeries, dessert shops, vegan-friendly options, and additional neighborhood restaurants within walking distance.

  • Yes. The festival is located in one of New Orleans' historic neighborhoods where many restaurants, coffee shops, and cultural destinations are within walking distance. As with any urban area, we recommend remaining aware of your surroundings, especially after dark.

  • No.

    Most visitors find that walking during the day combined with Uber or Lyft for longer trips is the easiest way to explore New Orleans.

  • The French Quarter is only a short Uber or Lyft ride away, making it easy to experience New Orleans' iconic music, architecture, and nightlife while staying in a quieter neighborhood.

    • Comfortable dance clothes

    • Dance shoes (if required for your classes)

    • Circle skirts and Lappas 

    • Water bottle

    • Towel

    • Notebook or journal

    • Extra clothes for performances or social events

    • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Absolutely!

    The Balbancha Dance Festival welcomes dancers of all levels. 

  • We're happy to help!

    Contact us through our website or social media, and someone from the Balbancha Dance Festival team will get back to you as soon as possible.

    We can't wait to welcome you to New Orleans and share this incredible weekend of movement, culture, and community with you.