In the narrow streets of Stone Town, where history breathes through coral-stone walls and rhythm echoes from every corner, a group of young dreamers once gathered to dance. No stages, no spotlights — just raw passion, borrowed speakers, and an unshakable belief that movement could change lives.
From those early street performances emerged Six Unit Dance Crew, now one of Zanzibar’s most respected and internationally recognised dance collectives.
From Street Corners to Cultural Ambassadors
Founded on 17 July 2007, Six Unit Crew began as inspired local youth performing in Stone Town alleys and Zanzibar villages. They danced wherever people gathered — markets, school yards, beaches — sharing energy, hope, and identity. To survive and grow, they exchanged more than performances: they taught Swahili to foreign visitors for free, learning languages, cultures, and confidence in return.
What started as informal street shows soon evolved into structured training, competitive ambition, and artistic purpose. Their relentless dedication carried them beyond Zanzibar, winning competitions and performing on stages across Europe, and later expanding their reach to Tanzania, Mayotte, Kenya, South Korea, Poland, Romania, and Italy.
Below is a clear, honest guide to safety in Zanzibar, based on real visitor experiences and local realities.
A Choreographic Language Rooted in History
Today, based in Zanzibar and officially recognised by the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sport, Six Unit Crew represents far more than dance. Their choreography is a living language — shaped by Zanzibar’s layered history, African rhythms, urban expression, and collective memory.
With eight generations of dancers trained since their founding, the group embodies continuity, discipline, and evolution. Each generation carries forward the same values: authenticity, excellence, and social responsibility.
Stone Town Dancing Studio: Giving Back to the Next Generation
Six Unit Crew’s impact reaches deepest at home. Through the creation of Stone Town Dancing Studio, the group volunteers its time to offer free dance classes to children and teenagers across Zanzibar. The studio is more than a rehearsal space — it is a refuge, a classroom, and a safe environment where movement becomes expression, learning becomes freedom, and confidence takes shape.
In collaboration with international volunteers, the crew also provides free English classes, opening doors to education, travel, and global opportunity for Zanzibar’s youth.
Whether performing on international stages or teaching in local communities, Six Unit Crew carries a universal message: culture is not static — it moves, grows, and connects people. Their art is made of gestures, rhythm, struggle, joy, and memory — a powerful reflection of Zanzibar itself.
At Yasa, we celebrate and support cultural movements that preserve identity while inspiring progress. Six Unit Dance Crew stands as a proud symbol of Zanzibar’s creative soul — grounded locally, respected globally, and driven by purpose.
Six Unit Dance Crew at Yasa: Live Culture in Motion
Yasa Boutique Hotel is proud to be one of the main venues where Six Unit Dance Crew regularly performs. Guests staying at Yasa, and visitors joining us for events can experience authentic Zanzibar dance culture live, through powerful performances that blend African rhythm, contemporary movement, and Stone Town storytelling. Watching Six Unit Crew perform at Yasa is more than entertainment; it is a front-row seat to one of Zanzibar’s most influential cultural movements.
Afro Dance Classes by Six Unit Crew at Yasa
Beyond performances, Yasa also hosts Afro dance training classes led by Six Unit Dance Crew, offering guests a rare opportunity to learn directly from a leading Zanzibar youth dance group. These sessions are open to beginners and experienced dancers alike and are designed to share the foundations of African dance in Zanzibar rhythm, grounding, expression, and connection. Classes can be booked through Yasa, making culture not just something you watch, but something you truly experience.
