Under the Baobab Tree: African Music & Dance

Under the Baobab Tree: African Music & Dance

Discovery Theater at the Smithsonian is one of those spots that does not get enough attention from local families, and this show is exactly why you should put it on your radar. Under the Baobab Tree is a live performance built around traditional African music, storytelling, puppets, and dance. Iya Bashea Imana leads the show, and she has a way of pulling little kids right into the music within the first few minutes. The Kuumba Kids youth troupe performs alongside her, which is honestly one of my favorite parts. Watching kids on stage doing real choreography gives your own child something to connect with. It is not a passive sit-and-watch experience. The performers invite the audience to clap, sing back phrases, and move along with the rhythms.

The show runs about 45 minutes, which is the right length for toddlers and preschoolers. Our two-year-old made it through the whole thing without a meltdown, and that almost never happens at live performances. The puppets are colorful and big enough that even kids in the back rows can see them clearly. There is a lot of call-and-response singing, and the performers genuinely seem happy when the kids shout back at them. You do not need to know anything about African music traditions beforehand. The show explains everything through the stories, and the kids absorb it naturally. If your child is in a phase where they love dancing and making noise, this will be their absolute favorite hour of the week.

There are two showtimes each day, at 11am and 12:15pm, running from June 3 through June 5. Tickets range from $3 to $9, which makes this one of the best deals for live children's theater in the DC area. The theater itself is small and intimate, so there really is not a bad seat. I would grab tickets ahead of time because Discovery Theater shows do sell out, especially the morning slots when school groups sometimes book. After the show, you are right on the National Mall, so it is easy to grab lunch from a food truck or let the kids run around on the grass. The combination of a short, engaging show plus being steps from the Mall makes this a really easy half-day outing with young kids.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Buy tickets in advance. Discovery Theater is small and shows sell out, especially the 11am slot. Book online before you go.
• ✓The 12:15pm show is usually less crowded. If you have flexibility, the later show tends to have more open seats.
• ✓Show runs about 45 minutes. That is a perfect length for toddlers. Even our wiggliest kid made it through the whole performance.
• ✓Strollers can be parked outside the theater. The venue is small, so leave the stroller at the entrance and carry little ones in.
• ✓Plan lunch on the Mall afterward. Food trucks line the Mall during summer, and the grass is perfect for a post-show picnic.
• ✓Kids are encouraged to dance and sing along. This is not a "sit still and be quiet" kind of show, so let your child move with the music.