Onstage company
Documented collaborators
Forces of Dance is a pioneering company founded in 1981 by Abdel R. Salaam and Olabamidele Husbands, with Dyane Harvey-Salaam as a founding member and longtime principal dancer. The troupe is celebrated for blending contemporary modern dance with West African dance, Afro-beat, fusion, contemporary ballet, hip-hop, and martial arts. Over the decades, they have delivered word-of-mouth performances and marquee engagements at iconic venues such as the Apollo Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), and Duke University’s Dance Africa programming. Their work has been featured on PBS’ Great Performances in the documentary Free to Dance, highlighting the history and impact of Black dance in America.