​

An Important Announcement from Afoutayi — A New Chapter Ahead

 

Dear Afoutayi Family,

With deep gratitude and a full heart, we are writing to share an important update with our beloved community.

After many years of reflection and care, we wish to officially announce that all Afoutayi activities will be moving to Toronto, Canada by Summer 2026. This decision comes at the close of a long, beautiful chapter and the opening of a new one rooted in safety, continuity, and our unwavering commitment to culture, community, and humanity.

​

Since Afoutayi’s creation in 2009 in California, its relocation to Minnesota in 2014, and throughout the years that followed, we have dedicated our lives to sharing the value, beauty, and living traditions of Haitian culture and its people. Together, we have offered weekly dance, drumming, and singing classes; monthly workshops and community gatherings; annual festivals and ceremonies; conferences and residencies across the United States in public and private schools, churches, libraries, museums, Park & Rec programs, and arts organizations. None of this would have been possible without you.

​

To our partners, members, students, volunteers, sponsors, educators, families, and supporters: thank you. Thank you for believing in our mission and vision, for showing up with open hearts, and for helping Afoutayi grow and thrive over the years.

Before we close this U.S. chapter, we are honored to offer one final program for our Minnesota community: a FREE three-week virtual dance, drumming, and Haitian Creole singing workshop. This program is offered with care and intention, especially as some members of our company and community have been directly impacted by the current immigration crisis. These sessions are meant to provide a safe, welcoming space to move, drum, connect, and celebrate life and humanity together.

​

Final U.S. Program — Free Virtual Workshop

Sundays: February 8, 15, & 22, 2026 (Central Time)

• Kids & Teens: 2:30–3:30 PM

• Adults: 4:00–5:00 PM

Please register through our website to receive the session links and details.

​

We extend our sincere thanks to the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) for supporting this program through an FY2026 Arts Education grant, allowing us to continue serving our community with care during this transition.

​

As Afoutayi prepares for its next chapter in Toronto, our mission remains the same: to honor culture, uplift community, and create spaces where rhythm, movement, and storytelling bring people together.

Thank you for walking this journey with us from California to Minnesota, and now toward what’s next.

With love, gratitude, and rhythm,
Djenane Saint Juste, Florencia “Fofo” Pierre & Jenny Lutter

 

Website Information 

Virtual Dance, Drumming & Haitian Creole Singing Programs

• Pre-K Program (MN Pre-K School)
  Three weeks of virtual dance, drumming, and Haitian Creole singing classes designed for Pre-K students and youth. These sessions engage learners through Haitian and Afro-Caribbean movement and rhythm, while weaving in cultural storytelling to support language development, creativity, and cultural connection.

• Afoutayi Sunday Youth Program
  Three weeks of virtual dance, drumming, and Haitian Creole singing classes for Afoutayi’s Sunday youth group. Students of all ages explore rhythm, movement, and song rooted in Haitian and Afro-Caribbean traditions, fostering cultural pride, expression, and intergenerational learning.

• Afoutayi Adult Program
  Three weeks of virtual dance, drumming, and Haitian Creole singing classes for adults. These sessions invite participants to reconnect with heritage, rhythm, and storytelling, supporting wellness, community building, and cultural continuity.

 

Community Gatherings & Leadership Development

• Community Coaching Sessions
  Two coaching sessions designed to train Haitian community members in planning, organizing, and sustaining monthly community gatherings (Rasanblès) and the annual Haitian Flag Day Festival. These sessions focus on leadership development, cultural preservation, and long-term community engagement.

​

​

Program Schedule

Sundays: February  8, 15, and 22, 2026
(Central Time – Minnesota-based participants)

• Kids & Teens: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

• Adults: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Sessions are interactive and welcoming, blending movement, drumming, song, and storytelling traditions rooted in Haitian culture.

​

Who This Program Is For

• Children (Pre-K and up), teens, and adults

• Families and community members

• Minnesota-based participants seeking meaningful arts education experiences

This program is designed especially to serve Minnesota communities, with a focus on accessibility, intergenerational learning, and cultural continuity.

 

Community Gatherings & Leadership Development

In addition to weekly classes, the program includes two community coaching sessions to support Haitian community members in organizing and sustaining:

• Monthly community gatherings (Rasanblès)

• The annual Haitian Flag Day Festival

These sessions strengthen leadership skills, community organizing capacity, and long-term cultural programming.

 

Funding & Acknowledgement

This program is supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) as part of the FY 2026 Arts Education Grants.

Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music and Arts Company
Lakeville, Minnesota
Grant Amount: $14,090

Funding supports dance, drumming, and language classes, as well as community gatherings, ensuring access for 2,000+ learners while fostering cultural pride, artistic skills, and cross-cultural understanding.

​

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.