Arts at the Armory’s theater-shaking “Feet Keep the Beat” percussive dance festival is back with a fourth annual multicultural performance. This year’s theme “Roots & Wings: The Next Generation” explores the connections between generations and the passing of the creative baton to a new crop of young artists.

The vibrant festival is produced and presented by Arts at the Armory, led by co-director/CEO Stephanie Scherpf and co-director/COO Jess White with Deborah Mason as artistic advisor.

Scherpf compared the festival to the recent FIFA World Cup festivities, a celebration of cultures and talents that brings people together. Artists are performing in West African, step, tap, flamenco, Kathak and other percussive styles from around the globe.

This is dancer and educator Anjali Nath’s third year participating in the collaborative performance. Nath specializes in Kathak, a classical dance from northern India known for its rapid spins, intricate footwork and rhythmic hand gestures.

“It’s so deep and rich because from the moment you begin dancing, you begin with a pranam, which is your way of tuning into yourself and opening up your own awareness, not only to yourself, but to the space you’re dancing in, to the floor you’re about to stomp on,” Nath said. “From the second we started moving and dancing, it just felt right to my body and my ego.”

During the performance the artists get solo time but each dance flows fluidly into the next with some overlap among the dancers. Nath says this allows the dancers to see connections between different beats and different movement styles.

In keeping with the theme, many young dancers will join the seasoned teachers on stage. Joh Camara will perform in the West African dance tradition with three of his children, daughters Maya and Yassi dancing with him and his son Tiemoko performing percussion.

Other performers are Ariaki Dandawate, Lekisha Limage, Ryan Casey, Antonio Tran, Akili Jamal Haynes and Sory Diabate.

“Feet Keep the Beat is about providing a platform for these rich percussive dance forms, almost all of which come to us from histories of oppression and marginalization,” said Scherpf. “But it’s also an opportunity to put these dance forms into conversation with each other, providing a model for intercultural conversation and learning, and a chance for rhythmic fireworks and innovation to emerge.”

The “Roots and Wings” performance is July 31 at 7 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. On July 30 at 7 p.m., a traditional Irish dance performance and workshop will be held and on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m., community members can participate in a series of dance workshops related to the festival.

Though technically impressive, the performance has the casual feel of a jam session among artists. Audience members are encouraged to react and respond when dancers excite them and the performers have a casual, almost improvised flow with each other.

“The people feel connected to not distanced from the artists,” said Nath. “There’s something for everyone to get out of it, it’s a fantastic show.”

ON THE WEB

Learn more at artsatthearmory.org/our-programs/feet-keep-the-beat