Konbit: Agricultural Dances of Harvest in Haiti by Nadia Dieudonné & Feet of Rhythm will take you on a journey to the countryside of Haiti where we will explore the rich traditions of Konbit, the rural collective organizing practice of a community coming together toward a shared goal. Through live demonstrations and group participation, families will discover how Haitian rural life weaves the culture of music and dance to agricultural work and harvest celebration.

Learn about three traditional dances associated with agricultural work and community celebration: Djouba, Kontredans, and Chay o Pye. Through their movements, rhythms, and cultural significance, audiences will experience the spirit of cooperation and collective energy that defines Konbit. Explore the spiritual connection of the season’s lwa of many names––Azaka, Kouzen, and Ayizan––and the connections to earth, marketplace and Konbit. The program will bring to life traditional agricultural foods, tools, and clothing worn in the countryside, creating a deeper connection to the people, practices, and traditions at the heart of Haitian culture.

This interactive program invites audiences to learn, dance, discover, and celebrate Haitian cultural heritage as participants gain a deeper understanding of how community, agriculture, spirituality, music and tradition come together through Konbit.

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Presenting in collaboration with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden as part of the Fall Harvest Festival. Celebrate the fall season surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s most fabulous foliage. Enjoy live music, hands-on activities for families, and more. Come dressed in your best flannel—or a costume for an afternoon parade!

Free with Festival Admission.
Learn more and reserve tickets here »

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nadia Dieudonné is a seasoned choreographer, performer and dance educator. By 12 years old, Dieudonné was performing with well-known Haitian folk singer and community activist  Myriam Dorismé. Nadia’s innate talent as a Haitian dancer grew stronger in 1990, as she began to travel back  to her homeland to research and study the origins, purposes of Haitian dance and its connections to Africa. She  honed her skills by attending several Lakous (communities that preserve and practice specific Vodou ceremonies)  in the countryside and in reputable dance schools with esteemed dancers/teachers in Port-au-Prince, and New  York. Dieudonné was also mentored by the Haitian dance icon Jean-León Destiné and worked with him for  many years as a performer and assistant instructor. Today, Dieudonné is known globally as one of the best Banda dancers outside of Haiti.

In 1995, her passion for dance led her to establish Nadia Dieudonné & Feet of Rhythm, a Brooklyn-based  Haitian dance company specializing in theater performances with live instrumentation. In the founding of this  organization, Dieudonné also created Feet of Rhythm Kids to include Haitian-American youths who are not  aware of nor exposed to the vibrant culture of Haiti. Through their performances and signature cultural program  called “Konbit,” Feet of Rhythm has been educating the community through the performing arts for three  decades.