Donation – $7-25

Come celebrate life, fertility and death with Haiti’s raucous Gede spirits through song, dance and drums. During Fèt Gede, Haiti’s Feast of the Dead, revelers dress up and dance to entice the spirits of the dead to celebrate with their living descendants. In this special workshop, you'll learn the traditional dances of Banda and Maskawon, mostly known as Yanvalou Gede in a dynamic one hour dance workshop led by Julio Jean. 

To enhance the experience, we encourage you to wear black, white, purple or silver outfits and have props like a cane, dark glasses and tall black top hat. 

Kwa Simibo!

Julio Jean is a renowned master Haitian dance teacher and choreographer. He blends traditional Haitian forms with modern and contemporary dance to create compelling movement narratives. His extensive career of over 20 years includes work with Katherine Dunham and performances of his company’s choreographies at Alvin Ailey and Central Park’s Summer Stage.   Julio studied with Lavinia Williams, a company member of Katherine Dunham, at the National School of Arts in Haiti. In 1989, he moved to New York City and worked directly with Katherine Dunham, teaching traditional Haitian dance for her teacher trainings. He has been a guest teacher at Webster University in Saint Louis and Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany; and has taught workshops in San Francisco, Milwaukee, and at the Dance New England Dance Camp in Poland, Maine.   Currently, Julio teaches in New York City and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Julio is also a songwriter and composer of traditional Haitian music; he released the album: “Kenbe la,” which encompasses the panorama of traditional Haitian music.