Black History Month event celebrates culture through dance and personal traditions

Tradition in Motion: The Black Family Reunion brought about 50 people to explore African American history, food, music and dance.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Tradition in Motion: The Black Family Reunion event on Feb. 10 at Salt Lake Community College's Taylorsville Redwood Campus celebrated African American culture through food, music, dance and personal traditions. The event featured educational posters, a book giveaway, and a dance exercise led by JiggAerobics instructor LaDonte Lotts. Attendees shared insights into their own family traditions and cultural connections.

Why it matters

The event aimed to provide an educational and engaging opportunity for students to learn about and celebrate African American history and culture during Black History Month. By highlighting personal traditions, dance, and community, the organizers hoped to foster a sense of unity and cultural appreciation.

The details

Around the room, eight posters were displayed with insights into African American history, and the first 30 attendees received copies of the book 'High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America' by Jessica B. Harris. Host Deja Brown, a KSL 5 TV moderator, walked around the room asking attendees about their family traditions and what they liked about themselves. LaDonte Lotts, owner of JiggAerobics, led a dance exercise while DJ D smoove played hip-hop music, inviting attendees to join in the dancing.

  • The Tradition in Motion: The Black Family Reunion event took place on February 10, 2026.

The players

LaDonte Lotts

The owner of JiggAerobics who led a dance exercise at the event.

Deja Brown

A KSL 5 TV moderator who hosted the event, walking around the room and engaging attendees.

Christopher McKinley

The coordinator for Heritage Month Events and the organizer of the Black Family Reunion event, who aimed to provide educational and engaging activities for students.

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What they’re saying

“To see the room full was such a fulfilling feeling. We know what our culture means to us [and] we just want to present understanding [about] how big the impact can be.”

— Deja Brown, KSL 5 TV moderator (globeslcc.com)

“I loved the energy. When you come into an unfamiliar place, you are on the edge or on the wall. And just seeing their energy change, I'm super excited to be here just to see the students' faces [and] see the students getting up and movin' and groovin' and just being involved in our culture.”

— LaDonte Lotts, Owner of JiggAerobics (globeslcc.com)

“I want them to learn about different cultures from fun and engaging activities. They can learn what we do at those Black Family Reunions through participating and engaging in dance and cultural education. A lot of them walked in shy and walked out friends.”

— Christopher McKinley, Coordinator for Heritage Month Events (globeslcc.com)

What’s next

The organizers plan to introduce more educational activities that expose students to new cultural experiences in the future.

The takeaway

This event showcased the power of community, personal expression, and cultural celebration in fostering understanding and connection among students. By highlighting traditions, dance, and shared experiences, the organizers aimed to create a fulfilling and empowering experience for attendees during Black History Month.