Inaugural Banyan Dance Festival Set

Sean Aaron Carmon

(Press Release) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Natural Movers Foundation and GroundedWPB will launch the inaugural Banyan Dance Festival, a new week-long celebration of dance taking place August 3-8, 2026, throughout West Palm Beach.

Founded by two Palm Beach County-based arts organizations, Banyan Dance Festival was created through a partnership between Natural Movers Foundation and GroundedWPB. Combining their expertise in arts programming, artist development, dance education, and community engagement, founders Ericka Squire, Natural Movers Foundation, and Branndi Lewis, GroundedWPB, envisioned a festival that would strengthen the local dance ecosystem while elevating Palm Beach County as a destination for dance. 

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Designed to strengthen South Florida’s dance ecosystem, the week-long festival brings together professional artists, aspiring dancers, choreographers, and community members through performances, training opportunities, creative development, and public engagement experiences.

“At its core, Banyan is about creating opportunities for artists,” said Ericka Squire, co-founder of Banyan Dance Festival and founder and CEO of Natural Movers Foundation. “As two local arts leaders and passionate advocates for dance, Branndi and I recognized an opportunity to further enrich the cultural landscape of Palm Beach County through a festival dedicated entirely to dance. Palm Beach County is Florida’s Cultural Capital®, and we wanted to create an opportunity for audiences to experience high-quality dance performances while also creating real pathways for dancers and choreographers to train, work, create, and be seen right here in Palm Beach County.”

Festival faculty and featured artists include internationally recognized choreographers and educators Sean Aaron Carmon, Babatunji, and Loni Landon, alongside other local, national, and international artists participating throughout the week.


Festival Programming
Throughout the week, Banyan Dance Festival will offer programming designed to engage artists, dancers, students, and the broader community, including:

• Young Artist Program (YAP) for dancers ages 9-15
• Banyan Dance Intensive (Pre-Professional Track) for dancers ages 16-25
• Banyan Community Class sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority
• Banyan Silent Disco hosted by Nora District 
• Banyan Company class and rehearsal observations, artist talkbacks, and behind-the-scenes opportunities for the community to engage with the creative process
• The Banyan Gala, celebrating the artists, supporters, and creative work developed throughout the week. The Gala kick-offs with a cocktail hour that leads into an intimate performance preview and concludes with a courtyard reception featuring light bites and a social gathering 
• The Banyan Dance Festival Concert, a dynamic evening featuring world premieres, newly commissioned works, and performances by acclaimed local, national, and international artists

Featured Artists and Creative Development

Resident Choreographer Sean Aaron Carmon, former dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and an internationally recognized performer, educator, and choreographer, will create an original work for the Banyan Dance Company.

Resident Choreographer Babatunji, former company member with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and internationally acclaimed choreographer and educator, will create an original work on the Banyan Dance Ensemble, composed of dancers participating in the Banyan Dance Intensive.

Festival faculty member Loni Landon, a Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship Award Winner, Guggenheim Fellow and NYFA Choreography Finalist, will teach during the festival and create a featured solo work for the Banyan Dance Festival Concert created for a dancer participating in the Banyan Dance Intensive.

The inaugural Banyan Choreography Fellowship has been awarded to Norge Cedeño and Thais Suárez, Cuban choreographers and artistic directors of OTROLADO Dance Company. As the Festival’s first Choreography Fellows, they will travel from Cuba to collaboratively create a newly commissioned work during the Festival.

“Banyan Dance Festival is building something that doesn’t currently exist in South Florida,” said Branndi Lewis, co-founder of Banyan Dance Festival and founder of GroundedWPB. “For years, talented dancers and choreographers have had to leave the region to access the training, creative development, work opportunities and performance opportunities that help sustain a career in dance. Together, GroundedWPB and Natural Movers Foundation have created a platform that expands the local dance ecosystem while investing in artists through paid opportunities, professional training, and a full creative pipeline. Our goal is to position Palm Beach County as a destination for dance while creating meaningful cultural impact, community engagement, and a place where artists can train, create, perform, and thrive.”

If You Go (details)
August 3-8, 2026
Throughout West Palm Beach, Florida

• Youth Artist Program (Ages 9-15) at Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Banyan Dance Intensive (Ages 16-25) at Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Company Class & Rehearsals inclusive of observations and artist talkbacks at Ballet Florida
• Banyan Silent Disco at Nora District 
• Banyan Community Classes sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority at the City Hall Courtyard 
• The Banyan Gala hosted by Ballet Florida at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties 
• Banyan Dance Festival Concert at the Norton Museum of Art

For more information and a detailed schedule of events, visit www.banyandancefestival.com or follow @banyandancefestival on Instagram.

The Banyan Dance Festival is funded in part by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County through its Bright Ideas Sponsorship.
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