Open Arts LES: Batingua Arts at Trick-or-Streets

Batingua (Bah-ting-ah) Arts is an Afro-Caribbean dance and drum company dedicated to preserving, teaching, and celebrating the cultural traditions of Africa and the African Diaspora while using the arts as a powerful tool for community connection, cultural identity, education, and collective expression.

Founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Persephone DaCosta, Batingua takes its name from a Moore word from Burkina Faso meaning “the land of my ancestors.” The name reflects the company’s mission: to honor the wisdom of those who came before us while creating space for today’s communities to connect with their history, tell their stories, and shape the future through movement, music, and culture.

Batingua’s work bridges tradition and contemporary expression. The company draws from rich dance and musical traditions throughout the African Diaspora, with a particular focus on the Caribbean cultures of Trinidad, Jamaica, and Haiti, while incorporating West African dance and drumming, contemporary movement, spoken word, step, and other forms of artistic expression. Through this fusion, Batingua creates dynamic performances that are culturally grounded, physically powerful, and relevant to contemporary audiences.

At the heart of Batingua’s work is the belief that cultural arts are not simply performances—they are living knowledge. The company creates opportunities for people of all ages to experience culture through participation, education, and artistic practice. Batingua’s programs bring communities together across generations, using dance and drumming to build connection, celebrate heritage, encourage wellness, and create spaces where people can see themselves and their histories represented.

Under the artistic leadership of Persephone DaCosta, Batingua has developed a distinctive approach to cultural arts that centers authenticity, accessibility, education, and community empowerment. Batingua has shared its work on major stages and in community spaces throughout New York, including: Madison Square Garden, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the New York City Labor Day Parade alongside Mayor Eric Adams, the Caribbean Youth Festival, the Key Awards at the United Palace, The Museum of Natural History, JCAL’s Children’s Arts Festival, and numerous schools, cultural institutions, community organizations, and public events.

Batingua Arts is more than a dance company. It is a living expression of ancestral knowledge, contemporary creativity, and the power of community through the arts.