Feet Keep the Beat Festival
Arts at the Armory’s fourth annual Feet Keep the Beat Festival returns July 30–August 1, bringing together acclaimed percussive dancers and musicians for three days of performance, participatory events, and workshops celebrating rhythm, movement, and cultural traditions from around the world.
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Traditional Irish Music & Dance Session as part of One Night Art School
FREE! Thursday, July 30 at 6:00PM and 8:00PM (10 Prospect Street, Somerville MA 02143)
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ROOTS & WINGS: The Next Generation
Friday, July 31 from 7:30PM – 10:00PM at Arts at the Armory
The centerpiece of this year’s festival is ROOTS & WINGS: The Next Generation, a newly commissioned evening-length work created by six outstanding percussive dancers and five musicians.
What happens when Flamenco collides with Tap? When West African dance intersects with Kathak? Join us for the 4th annual Feet Keep the Beat Festival to find out!
Feet Keep the Beat brings together vibrant and diverse percussive dance communities of West African, Kathak, Flamenco, Step, and Tap. This year, Arts at the Armory has commissioned our collective of six percussive dancers and five musicians to create ROOTS & WINGS: The Next Generation, an evening-length work premiering on July 31.
As the featured artists tell the story of how feet have been keeping the beat across time, cultures and geographies, they will deepen their collaboration by sharing the stage with the next generation. Some will perform alongside their children, while others will be joined by their students, creating a powerful celebration of artistic inheritance, mentorship, and renewal.
Honoring the roots that ground us and the wings that help us soar, ROOTS & WINGS explores how rhythm, movement, and cultural traditions are passed from one generation to the next—taking flight in new directions while remaining grounded in the traditions from which they emerged.
The 2026 Feet Keep the Beat Performance Showcase ROOTS & WINGS will include:
- Anjali Nath (Kathak)
- Ariaki Dandawate (Kathak)
- “Joh” Sidi Mohamed Camara (West African)
- Lekisha Limage (Step)
- Ryan Casey (Tap)
- Xianix Barrera (Flamenco)
- Akili Jamal Haynes (Percussion, Trumpet)
- Antonio Tran (Flamenco Guitar)
- Pranav Ghatraju (Tabla)
- Sory Diabate (Percussion)
- Tiemoko Camara (Percussion)
- And special youth guest artists
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FREE! Saturday, August 1 from 10:00AM – 12:00PM at Arts at the Armory
- Kathak workshop taught by Ariaki Dandawate: 10:00AM – 10:30AM
- Step workshop with Lekisha Limage: 10:30AM – 11:00AM
- Flamenco workshop with Xianix Barrera 11:00AM – 11:30Am
- Final jam: 11:30AM – 12:00PM
Please wear whatever clothing you are comfortable wearing to the workshop. Sneakers, socks or bare feet would all be suitable. Below is the workshop schedule. Participants are welcome to stay for the entire event or drop in and out.
Participatory Dance | Performances
Ticket Information