A performance by Les Ballets Africains, a renowned Guinean dance company, scheduled in Santa Barbara has been canceled.
Les Ballets Africains was scheduled to perform at the Granada Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on February 6, 2026, as part of the University of California, Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Arts and Lectures Series.
Founded in 1952, Les Ballets Africains is the national dance company of the Republic of Guinea. The company is known worldwide for its performances that highlight traditional rhythms, choreography, and the interplay of movement and sound.
In an email to ticket holders, UCSB stated, “The artists’ visas have been placed on administrative hold, preventing them from entering the U.S. at this time. As a result, the engagement will not be rescheduled.”
Les Ballets Africains’ scheduled performance at the Pepperdine University Center for the Arts in Malibu on February 8, 2026, has been cancelled as well, the center announced in a Facebook post.
The center cited “ongoing visa processing delays” that were “beyond the company’s control” as the reason for the cancellation.
UCSB Arts & Lectures stated it will issue refunds automatically to all ticket holders within the next five business days. No action is required on the part of those who purchased tickets. “Please help us communicate this information to those affected by the cancellation,” UCSB stated.
In addition to Santa Barbara and Malibu, Les Ballets Africains is slated to perform in more cities in the U.S., according to their tour schedule. The group is scheduled to perform in Santa Fe, Aspen, Boston, New York, Portland, and more cities throughout February and March.
Ahead of the Santa Barbara and Malibu performances, Les Ballets Africains was expected to perform at West Palm Beach and Miami.
Citing an employee of the West Palm Beach event venue where the dance company was supposed to perform, Santa Fe New Mexican reported the show was cancelled as the company was “having trouble with their visas.”
The troupe’s series of performances in the U.S. would have been its first North American tour in decades, the news report added.
Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department indefinitely paused issuance of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Guinea.
The department said that President Donald Trump announced that immigrants must be “financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans.”
Clarifying that the suspension was only meant for immigrant visa applications, the State Department said that tourist visas were nonimmigrant visas and will not be affected.
About Les Ballets Africains
Les Ballets Africains was formed by noted Guinean choreographer and political figure Keita Fodeba in Paris.
The group’s first major performance was at the Théâtre de l’Étoile in Paris in 1952.
The dance company toured the world until the country gained independence in 1958 and was invited to become the nation’s national ensemble.
Les Ballets Africains has performed several times on Broadway between 1958 and 1968, captivating audiences with their traditional African music, dance, and storytelling.
In an extraordinary tour, the company performed in 165 capital cities, presenting 695 shows across 750 days, traveling 180,000 kilometers by plane, 33,000 kilometers by train, and 21,000 kilometers by road.
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