Award-winning musician, dancer, and choreographer Olivier Tarpaga makes his highly-anticipated Crossing the Line debut with the New York premiere of his joyful and deeply personal work, When Birds Refused to Fly. Set to a powerful soundtrack by Tarpaga’s father’s band, Super Volta—combining traditional sounds from Burkina Faso and driving contemporary rhythms—this athletic dance piece compares the celebratory post-independence fervor in 1960s Sub-Saharan Africa to the fight for Civil Rights in the United States.

For this exceptional event, Tarpaga has invited four Burkinabe dancers from Ouagadougou to perform. They will also join him in an interactive Q&A with the students after the show.

Committed to creating long-lasting experiences for students, FIAF provides educators with a free study guide with detailed content about the show as well as recommended pre- and post-event activities.

Part of Crossing the Line Festival 2019