By Chakara Bennett, Guardian Summer Intern

Africa is calling! Do you hear it?

If you enjoy music, dance, African culture and the dynamic bustling New York environment then DanceAfrica Festival is for you. This year's festival, which will be held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in Brooklyn, New York from May 24-26, is one that you can't afford to miss.

This is the perfect festival for the Afro-centric or those with a growing interest in the African culture and lifestyle.

Robert Bain, artistic director of DanceBahamas School and the National Dance Company of The Bahamas, says a festival like this that focuses on the African culture is something to be marveled at and Bahamians should take the opportunity to attend it.

"Bahamians are in for a treat. This festival provides the opportunity to see the similarities and differences between our culture and Africa's. We are told that we are Africans but very few of us know anything about Africa.

"Festivals like this answer questions as to why we dance the way we do — cook the way we do — move our bodies the way we do. We are made aware of ourselves and connections are made. Bahamians will see the proof of our heritage and of which we've lost track of so much, especially in dance. But the links are still there for those who will take the time to make them.

Festivals like this are eye-openers and I wish there was something like this in The Bahamas," said Bain.

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the DanceAfrica Festival in New York and its tour through specific cities in America. In commemoration of this feat, this year's event is bound to be a rhythmic, pulsing celebration of vibrant color, song and artistic performance. Founder, Chuck Davis names this year's festivities "Bridge to Cultural Rejuvenation and Enlightenment".

Dance companies from as far as Gambia, Africa, and as near as Bed-Stuy, New York, will enact breath-taking, heart-pounding performances on the BAM opera house stage.

There will be wild drums beating, people dancing, costumes and festivities galore. If you think Junkanoo and Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival is spectacular, then you will be blown away by the vibrancy, the raw energy and artistry of this true African cultural festival which is the largest and most true-to-form African/African-American cultural phenomenon currently in America.

While you enjoy the expressive music and dance, you can also enjoy the shopping experience of the DanceAfrica Bazaar which boasts of having more than 250 vendors and attracts more than 20,000 visitors annually.

You can purchase African artifact imitations, items original to different African countries, clothing, jewelry and many other things, at amazing prices.

As with any festival you can't forget the food options. An abundance of delicious African-American dishes as well as those native to many African nations will be served at this grand celebration of life and culture.

There will also be educationally rich displays of African history, culture and natural beauty. Movies produced in Africa, acted in by Africans and set in Africa will be shown in mini-theaters.

The DanceAfrica Festival is a chance to claim a long lost heritage and mingle with others who are as richly endowed as, or more so than ourselves.

*31st DanceAfrica Festival

Where: Brooklyn Academy of Music, Howard Gilman Opera House, New York

When: May 23-25

Price: $10.00-45.00

*How to get there

Best Flight and Hotel with Travelocity: $888

Flight: American Airlines (dep #: 4970, arr#:1765)

Hotel: Howard Johnson JFK Airport Hotel