CDC Festival has always been and continues to be a celebration of Black cultures. The festival wouldn’t exist without them. We see Black dance styles as powerful expressions of resistance to oppression and discrimination based on race. Because CDC Festival happens in a predominantly White European setting, we need to acknowledge that everyone has been shaped by systems that encourage racism. That’s why we take on the responsibility to be actively anti-racist and to think critically about the spaces we create around the festival. To help everyone share this mindset and to build real community, we organise community sessions (the Black Joy and Refl-action Session) that foster understanding and give people a chance to connect, learn from each other, and be on the same page.