Ibuka Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization in Arusha, Tanzania founded by Canadian dancer, pedagogue and choreographer Anna Bussey. Through recruiting efforts across Tanzania, Anna identified young adults with raw talent, yet, in the beginning, there was no infrastructure, and few opportunities available to them.

Ibuka was created to address these issues, firstly by building a studio theatre to provide a physical space in Arusha dedicated to dance; secondly, by starting a scholarship training program for Tanzanian youth to become professional dancers; and thirdly, by creating innovative afro-contemporary dance works and performing locally, nationally and internationally. Anna states, We are helping young people rise above socio-economic barriers through dance to reach their potential as dancers, choreographers, teachers, artistic directors & as people.

Ibukas mission is to educate and employ disadvantaged youth with a focus on empowering girls and young women in Tanzania.

In 2016, Prof. Peter Dennee traveled to Tanzania and met Anna Bussey and the dancers of Ibuka. At that time, they discussed the possibility of doing a joint concert tour in Tanzania. In J-Term 2019, the Carthage Treble Choir traveled to Tanzania and completed a highly successful concert tour in Tanzania with the Ibuka Dancers. Based on this experience Anna and Peter decided to work to bring Ibuka to the USA to tour with the Carthage Treble Choir on their Spring Break Midwest Tour in March 2020. For all the Ibuka dancers, this will be there first time traveling to the United States.

All of the dancers in Ibuka come from extreme poverty and most have little parental support to follow their passion for dance. For this reason, Prof. Dennee has sought to find funding for round-trip air travel and in-country expenses while the the two groups are rehearsing and touring. The total goal is to raise $15,000. If we exceed our goal, we will be able to expand the tour and offer more opportunities for citizens in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois to experience this collaboration between the singers of Carthage Treble Choir and the dancers of Ibuka.

Make your gift today to bring the Ibuka dancers here and enhance the experience of the Carthage students involved.