Light it Up

presented by
Woezo Africa Inc.

Twenty years ago, Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre set out to honour and uplift African, Caribbean, and Black arts and culture through education, performance, and community connection, creating space for cultural understanding, artistic excellence, and belonging. On July 25, we come together to celebrate that journey and everyone who has helped shape it.

Light It Up is a one night immersive celebration at The Grand, marking Woezo Africa’s 20th anniversary and the closing of the 5th annual Black Arts Development (BAD) Program 3 Week Dance Intensive.

The evening begins in The GRAND's historic Lobby with a cocktail reception filled with live music and performances, a vibrant selection of African and Caribbean inspired food and beverages, and the unmistakable energy of community gathering.

Upstairs, The Gallery on the Mezzanine presents a curated arts exhibit featuring paintings, photography, textiles, and designs by talented local artists.

In the Studio, a community canvas invites guests to put down what lights them up. As the night unfolds, it becomes a living collective artwork, revealed in its final form later in the evening. The Woezo Africa story is then brought to life in a 20 year documentary premiere, as Founder and Director Wunmi Idowu reflects on the milestones that made this journey possible.

The stage belongs to the artists. Youth and adult participants of the 2026 BAD Program 3 Week Dance Intensive take flight with choreography created by five world class international guest instructors, showcasing Traditional Ethiopian Dance, Kuduro, Bikutsi, Coupé Décalé, and Azonto. For the first time in Calgary, instructors Ordinateur from Paris, France and Akosua Akoto from Atlanta, USA will also step onto the stage and perform.

The night closes in full circle with an immersive performance and the unveiling of the community canvas, now transformed into a finished collective work of art. It is a celebration of Black creativity, heritage, and community held in shared experience. Whether you have been part of the journey for 20 years or this is your very first time, there is a place for you here.