By Isabelle Zhang
Special to the Reporter
Student performers will take the stage this Saturday (Oct. 10) at the Strand Theatre for the 32nd annual “”Twist & Shout” fundraiser. Hosted by OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center, a youth dance nonprofit, the event will feature performances ranging from spoken word poetry to contemporary and traditional African dance.
Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga, who co-founded OrigiNation with her sisters Muadi and Musau Dibinga, said the event is an opportunity not just to raise money for the organization but also for students to showcase their skills and “the community to watch them in a different light.”
“A lot of people have their various ideas of what young people are up to, and sometimes they’re not so positive,” Dibinga said. “But what they are going to see at “Twist & Shout” is nothing but positive.”
The performance, which runs 8 to 10 p.m., will also feature a silent auction and an awards ceremony honoring people who “have gone above and beyond” in supporting OrigiNation and Dorchester youth, Dibinga said.
Honorees include Lianne Hughes-Odom, the principal of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Innovation School, Marcita E. Thompson, the senior vice president of Fenway Park Tours, and Hydn and Rossemary Vales, co-founders of Boston-based wellness brand V!Healthy.
“What OrigiNation brings to the table embodies our core beliefs about helping others, accepting and meeting people where they are, being positive and motivating, and bringing everyone together,” the Valeses wrote in a statement announcing the fundraiser.
“Twist & Shout” doubles as an alumni reunion: Every year, former students make their way back to the Strand Theatre to participate in the performance.
Keenan Cooke, a former student at OrigiNation, is among the alumni performing this year. Now working as a professional dancer in New York City, Cooke said he is making the trip back to Boston to “show up for the company” in the same way it supported him.
As a performer, Cooke has danced in the 2026 World Cup halftime show and choreographed for artists like Cardi B and David Guetta. He attributes much of his success to OrigiNation, including the scholarship he earned through the organization that allowed him to attend college and pursue his dance career.
“I don’t know how many other organizations would do that or care enough to do that,” Cooke said. “I think what sets OrigiNation apart is the fact that they’re so embedded in our lives in a good way, and they really care about what’s next.”
In addition to building skills and discipline, Cooke said OrigiNation has created a “brotherhood” among dancers, many of whom go on to perform together — Cooke, for example, danced with three other OrigiNation alumni during the 2026 World Cup halftime show.
“It’s bigger than the benefit, bigger than the dance,” Cooke said. “These sisters have created a close-knit family, and to be in the industry and do jobs with other alumni is just really cool.”
For Dibinga, seeing alumni return for “Twist & Shout” serves as a reminder of their organization’s mission.
“We have students that are now immigration lawyers and business owners … and dance is something they’re always remembering,” Dibinga said. “It means a lot that we can be part of their blueprint in some way, shape, or form.”
Even current students are already making plans to return. Laila Smith, a high school junior who teaches and dances at OrigiNation, said she and the other members of her troupe always talk about visiting once they graduate.
“Most of the alumni that come were my teachers when I was younger, and I would love to go back and see the kids I taught dance,” Smith said. “I really don’t want my time in OrigiNation to stop when I’m a senior.”
Smith, who is participating in “Twist & Shout” for the third time this year, said she is most excited about dancing with the other performers in her troupe. They have been practicing since the summer, Smith said, and are excited to be showing off their skills.
“It’s very rewarding when we hit our last pose,” Laila said. “All the work is done, and we were able to give our all.”
Beyond dancing, Smith said, OrigiNation has taught her the value of giving back; through the organization, students perform at charity events and distribute clothes and supplies to schools. At “Twist & Shout,” she said, she hopes attendees give back to OrigiNation in the same way they have supported the Boston community.
Cooke echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that proceeds are reinvested in students by helping keep tuition affordable, purchasing costumes and providing travel opportunities.
“You’re not just supporting the sisters,” Cooke said. “You’re not just supporting the business. You’re supporting these dancers in the next steps of their lives.”
For Dibinga, it’s enough if attendees leave with a greater appreciation for the arts — and a desire to give back themselves.
“I want them to leave the theater feeling like they want to go give back to someone, no matter who it is,” Dibinga said. “Give back to us, give to a homeless shelter… I want them to walk out of that theater and help someone feel good.”
She added that she also hopes the performance leaves students feeling “elated, empowered and strong. I want them to understand their power to dive in and do what makes their heart smile, and that nothing is impossible for them.”
Tickets for Twist & Shout are $75, while the $125 VIP experience includes admission to the reception and silent auction.
This story is the result of a partnership between the Dorchester Reporter and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom program.
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