Juneteenth Celebration with Santa Barbara Ring Shout Project

Join us for a Juneteenth celebration and performance by Santa Barbara Ring Shout Project. Ring Shout is a spiritual, traditional circle dance that enslaved Africans carried out when they were brought to the United States. It involves call and response singing, stomping, clapping, and beating on a wooden floor or surface with a stick to make rhythm. Ring Shout doesn't use musical instruments, it's an acapella style of singing.

Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery. We will present songs and dances to represent both before and after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln, which freed the slaves. Ring Shout is a sacred, spiritual, traditional circle dance enslaved Africans carried out when they were brought to the United States, it involves call and response singing, dancing in a circle, clapping, stomping and beating on a wooden floor or surface with a broom or stick to make rhythms. No musical instruments were allowed.

Santa Barbara Ring Shout Project aims to preserve this tradition through education and performance.

Disclaimer(s):

Participants in this event may be photographed by Library staff. These photos may be used in promotional or educational publications, including in print, social media, and presentations. Please see staff if you do not consent to having your photo taken. Staff will obtain individual, signed photo releases of photographs that contain only an individual as opposed to a group.