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La Toya Davis-Craig, Ph.D. (Owner and Lead
Teacher) - Her research interest are using
dance to help build a sense of community and using dance as apart of interdisciplinary
education. La Toya has been teaching students for over 15 years. Originally trained
in ballet, tap, and jazz in Miami, FL, La Toya has gone on to study and teach Lindy-Hop,
African, Afro-Brazilian, Contemporary Modern, and Horton. La Toya is the Founder and
Artistic Director of Essence Dance Theatre and has danced with the African Caribbean
Dance Theatre, Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre, and is a charter member of Mahogany
Dance Theatre. La Toya believes that the arts can be a powerful communication and
learning tool, and seeks to impart life skills to her students in addition to technique.
La Toya is certified by the Dance Educators of America to
teach ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics.
Selina Hall (Ballet Teacher and Prophecy
Performing Ensemble Asst. Director) -
has a Masters
degree from Florida A&M University in English
Education, and is a native of Miami, Florida. She graduated from
the high school division of New World School of the Arts in
2002. She trained with the Miami Conservatory under the
direction and guidance of Thomas Armour and Ruth Wiesen.
Selina performed with the Miami Ballet and Thomas Armour
Youth Ballet under a full tuition scholarship. She attended
Florida State University, majoring in English. While at FSU,
she became Rehearsal Director for Essence Dance Theatre of
FAMU, and maintained that position for three years. Selina
has received scholarships for and studied with numerous
summer programs including: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin
Ailey, Milwaukee Dance Connection, Jacob’s Pillow, and Lines
Ballet. Selina has worked closely with the FSU Dance
Department, performing in their Days of Dance 2006 as well
as the MFA concert for Millicent Johnnie and Lawrence
Jackson. Her passion lies in teaching students to truly
enjoy and appreciate dance as a vital art form.
Britney Extra
(Creative Movement/Pre-Ballet/Tap I)
- has a
Masters degree in
Occupational Therapy from FAMU, she also has a bachelor’s degree in
Occupation and Wellness. Starting her training in ballet,
tap, and jazz, Britney began dancing at the age of five in
Miami, FL at Edwin Holland School of Dance. Growing up she
attended magnet schools for dance and became a student dance
instructor during high school. She has participated in a
number of events including The Chocolate Nutcracker and The
Florida Dance Master’s Convention. She is also a member of
Essence Dance Theatre. Britney’s goal is to be able to
incorporate dance as a means of treatment for children with
disabilities. She also hopes to one day open up her own
dance studio.
Nzinga Metzger - (African
Diasporan Movement Instructor)
- has been a student of
traditional West African dance since 1991, when she
began to study dances from the Old Mali Empire with Nia Love
at the Florida State University. From 1991 to 1995, her
study was focused on the dances of the Old Mali/Senegambian
region of West Africa with a special interest in the
historical and present day contexts of these dances and
their socio-religious functions. During this period of her
dance career, she also acted as dancer/choreographer with
the Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre at FAMU in
Tallahassee, Florida. Later, Ms. Metzger joined Barefoot
Ballet in Atlanta, Georgia where she studied the dances of
Senegal under Linda Faye Bayo. Nzinga joined Kulu Mele
African American Dance Ensemble in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, one of Philadelphia’s oldest African-American
African dance companies, in 1997. As a member of Kulu Mele
African American Dance Ensemble she widened her
knowledge of dances from Old Mali/Senegambia and added
Afro-Cuban dances from the Lucumi orisha tradition to
her repertoire. Ms. Metzger’s artistic journey has not been
limited to dance-in 1993, in collaboration with Eric Bond
and Alex Harvey, Ms. Metzger began her study of the
sangba, djundjun and kenkeni, the bass
drums of the djembe orchestra, in response to a dearth of
available drummers in Tallahassee. As a student of the
Lucumi cultural tradition, Nzinga has added the singing of
the oriki or the songs dedicated to the deities of
the orisha traditions.
Dromatala (Drum Teachers and Musicians)
Long-time drummers Eric Bond, Derek
Abdully Hemingway, Alex Harvey, Olusegun Williams and Osubi
Craig, who currently serves as the battery's Artistic and
Musical Director, formed Dromatala in 1993. Boasting musical
experience in musical styles ranging from reggae to drum
corps style marching band, the members of Dromatala produce
a sound that owes its heritage to the instruments being
featured as well as the backgrounds of the musicians. This
sound borrows rhythms from the peoples of Guinea, Mali,
Senegal, and Gambia in West Africa. Dromatala has Afro-Cuban
Latin style undertones with African-American grounding in
traditional Jazz and R&B funk. Dromatala has performed and
studied, both nationally and internationally.
Tahembi Smmons - (NuSoul Belly Dance) - Ms. Simmons has received her dance
training from the Florida State University and The
University of California Los Angeles.
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