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Karamu House Arts Academy



Our Classes

Sankofa Rhythm: Senior Tap (Adults)

Free

with Jailyn Harris

Calendar Sep 28, 2026 at 5:30 pm

Sankofa Rhythm: Senior Tap keeps legacy alive through rhythm and motion. Designed for older adults, this joyful class strengthens mobility, memory, and musicality while honoring the Black roots of American tap. Whether returning to dance or stepping in for the first time, students move with pride and purpose.

Class Day: Wednesdays

Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 

Session Dates: September 28 – November 7, 2026

First Class Meeting: September 30, 2026

Performance Dates:  November 7, 2026

Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106 | Lower Dance Studio

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and tap shoes

Contact our Arts Education Department: info@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7077 

Will run

Sankofa Acting: Finding Your Voice (Ages 10-13)

$175

with Dar'Jon Bentley

Calendar Oct 5, 2026

Ages: 10 - 13

Sankofa Acting: Finding Your Voice is a class for beginners. This class honors the past while planting seeds for future performers. This beginner-level course teaches acting fundamentals—character, voice, body, and ensemble work—through culturally relevant stories and scenes. Students build confidence, creative empathy, and performance readiness.

Class Day and times: Mon AND Wed, 5:00-6:30 pm 

Session Dates: October 5 – October 28, 2026

First Class Meeting: October 5, 2026

Performance Dates:  In-Class on Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Upper Drama Studio

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers

Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)

Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available

To request financial aid for class, use promo code FINAID26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment.  Do not select a payment plan.  You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.

A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.

Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.

Contact our Arts Education Department: info@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7077 

To request financial aid for the acting class, use promo code FINAID26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment.  Do not select a payment plan.  You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.

Will run

Little Griots: Story and Stage (Ages 5-9)

$125

with Sydney Smith

Calendar Oct 5, 2026 at 9 am

Ages: 5 - 9

Welcome your young performer into the world of theatre through storytelling, play, and performance. Little Griots: Story and Stage is designed to introduce children ages 5–9 to the foundations of acting while fostering creativity, empathy, and collaboration. Through games, improvisation, and age-appropriate scene work, students gain confidence on and off the stage.

Class Day: Saturdays

Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Session Dates: October 5 – October 31, 2026

First Class Meeting:  October 10, 2026

Performance Dates:  In-Class on October 31, 2026

Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106 | Upper Drama Studio

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and sneakers

Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)

Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available

To request financial aid for the LITTLES Dance and/or LITTLES Acting class, use promo code LITTLES26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment.  Do not select a payment plan.  You will be contacted by Karamu's finance office with next steps.

A member of our finance team will contact you to collect documents such as paystubs or tax returns to assess your family's financial aid eligibility. We will then provide a tuition award and create a personalized payment plan that meets your needs.

Please Note: The $25 annual registration fee is required for all students, regardless of tuition option.

Contact our Arts Education Department: info@karamuhouse.org

Phone: (216) 795-7077

To request financial aid for the LITTLES Dance and/or LITTLES Acting class, use promo code LITTLES26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. 

Will run

Sankofa Social: Urban Ballroom Dance (Adult)

Free

with Duane Johnson

Calendar Oct 5, 2026 at 5:30 pm

Sankofa Social: Urban Ballroom Dance is a vibrant and welcoming class designed for adult life-long learners of all experience levels." ...a social, mature, and soulful partner dance experience that merges the structured elegance of traditional ballroom with the smooth, rhythmic, and improvised styling of 1970s Detroit club dancing. It is often referred to as "Detroit Ballroom" or "Urban Contemporary Ballroom," focusing on fluid movement to mellow R&B, soul, and jazz music, prioritizing connection, sophistication, and a "glide" across the floor rather than high-energy, high-impact movements. - LA Times, 2012

Participants will build coordination, balance, confidence, and partner connection while exploring movement that feels both grounded and expressive. Whether you are stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or returning with experience, this class emphasizes joy, community, and personal style.

Adult Urban Ballroom Dance honors Karamu’s legacy as a home for cultural expression and artistic growth, offering adults a space to stay active, build community, and celebrate movement in an uplifting, culturally connected environment.

ATTIRE:

Comfortable clothes, shoes with a smooth bottom for dancing or sock covers over rubber soles.

Sock covers: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKNDFY7P?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

This year’s program proudly aligns with Karamu House’s year-round theme:

Class Day: Tuesdays

Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM 

Session Dates: October 5 – November 7, 2026

First Class Meeting: October 6, 2026

Performance Dates:  November 7, 2026

Location: Karamu House, 2355 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 44106 | Pavilion

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing 

Contact our Arts Education Department: info@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7077

Will run





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