YENSA Festival at Betty Oliphant Theatre

YENSA Festival is thrilled to announce programming for the third edition taking place August 20-23, 2026 at the Betty Oliphant Theatre at Canada's National Ballet School. YENSA Festival is an international biennial festival that celebrates the work of women in dance, from African and Afro-diasporic culture. The festival will feature two Black Flames showcase performances by five Black female choreographers, three AFRICA VIBES workshops, the ATSIA Circle, and the YENKA (Let’s Talk) Social.

“YENSA Festival enters its third edition with both grounding and momentum,” said Artistic Director Lua Shayenne. “What began as a vision to carve out space for Black women’s artistry, inventiveness, and bold imagination has grown into a dynamic platform, one that continues to evolve in response to the needs of a thriving, interconnected dance community.”

Under the resonant 2026 theme AS I AM, YENSA Festival honours Black women dance artists claiming space on their own terms. It celebrates emerging voices bringing forward new choreographic works, alongside established practitioners whose practices extend far beyond performance.