Created for artists, by artists
We have a mission
Our mission is to cultivate Meaningful space for artists and curate experiences for communities.
One Dynamic week of experiences. August 3-8, 2026
A new platform for dance in West Palm Beach
Banyan Dance Festival is a vibrant experience bringing together artists, training, performance and community engagement in one dynamic week in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Our festival is curated for dancers across multiple stages of their journey, offering not only immersive intensives, choreographic development, and performance opportunities for artists, but also creates space for the community through a series of community-centered events.
Banyan Dance Festival consists of performances, training opportunities and social gatherings.
The festival contributes to a growing cultural landscape, connecting local and national artists while expanding access to high-level dance experiences in the region and engaging the local community.
An immersive experience for the community
WHat to expect at our festival
Banyan offers more than a series of classes and performances, it is an immersive experience.
Artists can engage in daily training, creative process, and performance, while also connecting through curated events that foster community and collaboration.
Patrons can engage through performance attendance, talkbacks and an intimate encounters with the creative process inviting them closer to the artists, the ideas, and the moments that shape the work.
For the broader community, it becomes a gathering place through various social events.
For dancers and choreographers, Banyan is a place of rigor and expansion where work is created, refined, and shared in real time within a collaborative, professional environment.
For educators, it offers a living model of artistic practice, where teaching and creation meet.
At its core, Banyan is about cultivating artists, audiences, community and creating career sustainability through the shared power of dance.
JOIN US FOR OUR INAUGURAL FESTIVAL EVENTS & ACTIVITIES.
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August 5, 2026
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Live music, dance all evening, impromptu salsa lessons & performances. Free and open to the public.
See our Events page for more details & pre-registration.
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August 6, 2026
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Grab a set of headphones connected to our live DJ and dance the night away.
See our Events page for more details and pre-registration.
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August 7, 2026
6:00PM - 9:30PM
Ticketed event to a cocktail hour and preview showcase of the Banyan Performance followed by a reception.
See our Events page for more details and Pre-registration.
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August 8, 2026
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Come see three world premieres performed by Banyan Dance Company and Banyan Intensive dancers, as well as, esteemed companies and artists.
See our Performances pages for more details & pre-registration.
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August 3-7, 2026
Ages 9-12 | 9:00am - 12:00pm
Ages 13-16 | 3:00pm - 6:15pm
A weeklong intensive for young dancers.
Visit our Pre-professional Development page for more details.
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August 3-8, 2026 | 9:00am - 7:30pm
A week-long dance intensive for advanced dancers ages 16-25. The intensive includes performance opportunities.
Visit our Pre-Professional Development page for more details.
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August 4, 2026
Babatunji Company Class Observation
Observe Resident Choreographer leading Banyan Dance Company in class before rehearsals. Stick around for light refreshments and a Meet & Greet.
August 6, 2026
In the Mind: Costume Design
Talkback with the Banyan Costume Designer
Join our mailing list to receive updates about these opportunities.
Banyan Dance Festival is designed as a continuous pathway for artistic development.
An Artistic Pipeline curated for development & sustainability
Youth Training
Early exposure to movement, discipline, and creativity in a supportive environment.
Pre-Professional Development
Rigorous training focused on strengthening technique, versatility, and artistic voice.
Professional Advancement
Residencies and fellowships that support working artists in creating and refining new work.
Performance Platform
A culminating stage that brings together emerging and established voices in one shared space.
THE FOUNDERS
Who We Are
Natural Movers Foundation
Founder & CEO, Ericka Squire
Ericka Squire is a Florida-based choreographer, educator, and arts leader. With over 20 years of experience, she is the Founder & CEO of Natural Movers Foundation. Her work bridges performance, education, and community engagement, centering dance training, creative processes, and live performance.
As an artist, Ericka is the artistic director of Ericka Squire//The Dance Company and a professionally certified Umfundalai instructor and Horton practitioner. She holds an MFA in choreography and an Ed.M in dance education.
She has developed and produced festivals, performances, and partnerships across Palm Beach County, collaborating with institutions including the Norton Museum of Art and the Kravis Center. These curatorial efforts create platforms for artists while expanding access to high-quality dance experiences.
Ericka is the co-founder of the Banyan Dance Festival, bringing together professional artists, emerging dancers, and the community through a shared process of training, creation, and performance.
Grounded West Palm Beach
Founder & CEO, Branndi Lewis
Branndi Nicole Lewis is a South Florida–based choreographer, educator, and cultural curator known for her dynamic, movement-rich work blending contemporary, modern, and African diasporic influences.
Branndi is a 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellow, a 2025 Carmel Dance Festival Choreography Fellow, a 2024 Choreography Resident with The Black Artists Dance Collective, a 2025 Dance Lab New York Choreographer, and the 2026 Western Michigan University Choreography Competition winner.
Following a seven-year tenure as dance faculty at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, her work has since been commissioned by institutions such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: The Ailey School, Marymount Manhattan College, George Mason University, Spelman College, the University of Florida, and more.
Branndi is the Founder & Director of GroundedWPB, an equitable dance training and mentorship program located in South Florida. A graduate of the University of Florida and a 2016 cohort member of The Ailey School’s Horton Pedagogy Program, she continues to push the field forward through bold work and a deep commitment to community, access and artistry.
