Dance Institute of Washington to Present Annual THE SPIRIT OF KWANZAA
The powerful cultural rite of passage that is The Spirit of Kwanzaa was created by the late DIW founder, Fabian Barnes.
By: Chloe Rabinowitz Nov. 11, 2025
Dance Institute of Washington will present their upcoming annual holiday celebration, The Spirit of Kwanzaa. This year will offer four performances from December 19th through December 21st (12/19 at 6pm, 12/20 at 1pm and 6pm and 12/21 at 3pm). All performances will take place at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
“The Spirit of Kwanzaa is always such an amazing event for DIW,” says Executive Director Kahina Haynes. “It's a perfect opportunity to bring the community together while celebrating everything enduring and beautiful about Black culture and creativity. In this moment when we see rights being rolled back, funding for the arts being cut, and racism normalized at the highest level, it is more important than ever to preserve the creative invention, resilience and artistry of our culture.”
The Spirit of Kwanzaa is the Dance Institute of Washington's most popular and longest-running cultural arts and dance production (since 1995). Kwanzaa is an African American winter holiday celebration that draws on the agricultural ceremonies of Africa. DIW has adapted the principles of Kwanzaa to convey the struggles and creativity of the Black diaspora. The production highlights the holiday's principles with dance, song and spoken word and is more than a performance—it is a living archive of Black creativity, resilience, and brilliance.
The powerful cultural rite of passage that is The Spirit of Kwanzaa was created by the late DIW founder, Fabian Barnes. For three decades, The Spirit of Kwanzaa has connected young artists to their sense of belonging, identity, and purpose through the arts. This 30th anniversary year will be a culmination that celebrates DIW's mission to nurture young artists, share stories with intention, and ensure the enduring power of Black artistry shapes the future.
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