Sankofa Acting: Building the Story is for students with previous experience, this class deepens scene study, character analysis, and performance techniques. Rooted in Black storytelling traditions, Sankofa Intermediate sharpens the actor’s craft through ensemble building, critical reflection, and rehearsal rigor that supports artistic growth.

Class Day: Mon & Wed

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Program Dates: September 14 - November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  Nov 6th and 7th of 2026

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

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:Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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.

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: Wed 5:00-6:30 pm AND Sat 11:00 am-12:30 pm

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  Nov 6th and 7th of 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: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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.

Sankofa On Stage: Musical Theatre Dance is designed for actors and performers of all movement backgrounds who want to build confidence and strengthen their dance skills for the stage. Taught by Mojuba Dance Collective, this welcoming, high-energy class focuses on musical theatre movement, coordination, rhythm, musicality, choreography retention, and performance quality. Movers of all skill levels will develop greater body awareness and learn how to approach choreography with confidence, character, and storytelling—helping actors become more versatile and prepared performers.

Class Day and times: Mon 6:00-7:30 pm AND Sat 11:00 am-12:30 pm

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  Nov 6th and 7th of 2026

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

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing and jazz shoes

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: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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.

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

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  Nov 6th and 7th of 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: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org

Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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. 

Young Griots: Jazz and Rhythm introduces young dancers to the energy, technique, and expressive style of jazz dance. Students will build coordination, flexibility, musicality, and strength while learning foundational jazz steps, combinations, and performance skills. Through upbeat movement and engaging choreography, dancers are encouraged to develop confidence, individuality, and stage presence in a supportive and affirming environment.

Class Day: Saturdays

Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  Nov 6th and 7th of 2026

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

Required Materials: jazz shoes, formal dance attire

Annual Registration Fee: $25.00 (non-refundable)

Full Tuition & Sliding-Scale Financial Assistance Available

To request financial aid for the MIDDLES Dance and/or MIDDLES 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.

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: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org

Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

To request financial aid for the MIDDLES Dance and/or Middles Acting class, use promo code FINAID26 at checkout to pay only the $25 registration fee at the time of enrollment. 

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: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM 

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  November 6th and 7th of 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: Maya Nicholson, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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 

Program Dates: September 14 – November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  November 6th and 7th of 2026

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

Required Materials: Comfortable movement clothing 

Contact our Arts Education Department: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

Sankofa Acting: The Living Story is a course that offers adults a challenging yet welcoming space to develop acting skills through progressive training in voice, movement, character, and scene work. Using texts that reflect cultural identity and social relevance, students sharpen their technique while engaging in personal and artistic transformation.

Class Day: Tues & Thurs

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM 

Program Dates:  September 14, 2026 -November 7, 2026

Performance Dates:  November 6th and 7th of 2026

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

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: Maya Israel, Arts Education Manager Email: misrael@karamuhouse.org Phone: (216) 795-7070 ext. 228

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.