LaTonya Borsay, a Master Teaching Artist, has worked as a curriculum designer, facilitator and educational consultant for over 20 years. She has experience with students with learning differences and English language learner populations in both public and independent schools; Arts educational organizations she collaborates with are the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center Education, Lincoln Center Theater, and Roundabout Theatre Company. Her artistry is acting—some of her television credits include: Evaline in Cinemax’s The Knick, Sadie Jefferson in HBO’s Show Me a Hero, Janis in Luke Cage, and Dame Evelyn/Elderly Woman in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix. Films: “The Reunion”, “First Breath”, and “It Takes Two”. Off-Broadway: Margery Kempe at The Duke Theatre, Des Moines at the Flea Theatre, Exonerated at Bleecker Theater, and Civil Sex, Macbeth, Woyzeck at the Public Theater. Regional theatre: Yale Rep, Crossroads, Passage Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Denver Center Theatre Company.

Joyia D. Bradley is a New York City based artist (actor, writer, director and producer) with her own company, EB Film and Stage Productions. Joyia specializes in telling stories that seek to uplift and entertain the human spirit. We focus on challenging the stereotypical notions that are prevalent in the world today regarding “the others”-people of color, women, children and seniors by specializing in creating visual phenomena that nourishes and inspires the imagination and intellectualism of our audience.

Affectionately known as Dani Criss, The Artist; a multidisciplinary artist, artistic educator, and community organizer hailing from Durham, NC, now based in Brooklyn, NY. Leading with a passionate perspective driven by her roots and studies of the African Diaspora, as well as the advancement of her people everywhere; Educating through the principles of the Diaspora, inspiring an appreciation, acceptance, and historical experience in each interaction; Using movement and knowledge as the source to obtain liberation while discovering ancestral connections within the liberative practices. Criss has trained and performed with numerous artists, companies, and festivals in the United States. Works have been shared in various ensembles, theaters, schools, universities, festivals, and conferences around the country including Harvard Graduate School’s Hip-Hop Ex Lab, Collegium of African Diaspora Dance Conference, New York State Dance Education Association Conference, Arts For All Abilities Conference, and others. An artistic educator in primary and higher education in New York, NY and surrounding areas including NYC Public Schools, Nassau Community College, Mark Morris Dance Center, and several arts organizations around the city. Dani Criss is a second-year graduate student in NYU Steinhardt’s Dance Education program, pursuing a degree in Professions of Teaching: Dances of the African Diaspora Check out www.danicriss.com for more information.

Porshia A. Derival is a first-generation Caribbean American born in Brooklyn. She began her dance career as a young child, and because of the tremendous potential my teachers saw, was then single-handedly chosen to continue my studies leadership abilities at H+. In 2012, Porshia was appointed as the Executive Director of H+. Since being hired, she has attentively overseen the organization’s creative affiliations with corporations which include Coca-Cola, Target, and many others. She also represents the NGO at the UN ECOSOC Council, sits on the committee for The Bessies, is a member of the Board of Trustees for Ladies of Hip-Hop, and the NYC ambassador for the #SHE_BUILDS Global Initiative. Porshia has had some amazing opportunities to share her knowledge of dance and leadership in publications like “Own Your Vulnerability” by Elizabeth Barry in 2016, and most recently a feature in the Dance Enthusiast.

Violinist Lakeisha Frith is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities. Ms. Frith began working with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony in 2005 as the String Orchestra Assistant and as an instructor in the Preparatory program. In September 2016, Ms. Frith became the Manager of Education at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts where she works in conjunction with resident companies, arts partners, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to enhance the arts education experience of all students and teachers throughout Miami-Dade County. As of February 2022, she is the Director of Education for the Arsht Center. Ms. Frith is a proud member of Women of Color in the Arts and the New Canon Chamber Collective. She also maintains a private lesson studio and enjoys teaching and performing.

Yvette Heyliger is a playwright, producing artist, educator, activist, and author of What a Piece of Work is Man! Full-Length Plays for Leading Women; contributor to many theatrical anthologies, penned theatre industry-related articles, and appeared on industry-related podcasts. A long-time activist for theatre women+, she has held leadership posts in the League of Professional Theatre Women and Honor Roll!  Awards: LPTW Special Award for Meritorious Service, finalist 2022 Advance Gender Equity in the Arts Legacy Playwright Grant, AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theatre’s August Wilson Playwright Award, National Black Theatre Festival Emerging Producer Award, and Best Playwright nomination NAACP’s Theatre Awards. Membership: Dramatists Guild, AEA, SDC, and AFTRA-SAG. Education: Master of Theatre Education (Hunter College); MFA in Creative Writing – Playwriting (Queens College).  Yvette formerly worked as a teaching artist in NYC public schools, most notably with Young Playwrights, Inc., Literature for Life, and Creative Arts Team. She is now a full-time faculty member at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

https://newplayexchange.org/users/30298/yvette-heyliger;

Ashley Noel Jones is an actor/musician/writer, arts educator and graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts( BFA with honors in Theatre/Africana Studies.) Theater: Downtown Stories-En Garde Arts, Mirrors-Next Door @New York Theatre Workshop, 365 Days/Plays-The Public, In The Line-A.R.T/NY, Goliath-Williamstown,Mad Cool/Walt Whitman BodyJolt-Corkscrew Theater Festival, She Like Girls/A Burning Church-The New Ohio,Tempest-NOLA Project. Film/TV/Digital: The Calling (NBC/Peacock), Rare Objects(Dir. Katie Holmes), Limetown, Grave Mysteries, Anomaly, featured in Grammy nominated artist James Bay’s narrative album/short film ELECTRIC LIGHT. Musician: Mercury Lounge, World Cafe Live, Rockwood Music Hall, featured by Afropunk, Instagram, AirBNB, Hilton Hotels. You can hear more of her music projects on all the music platforms. EP/Album: Les Reveries of Une Jeune Noire, Live From A Saturday Night. She has composed multiple songs and an original musical for young audiences as a teaching artist and Director of Elementary Programs of  after-school and Summer arts programs in NYC Public schools. Her original music and score will soon be featured in the documentary series Our Likeness that follows cultures of women across the world. Social media: Instagram/Twitter: @noelashley Facebook: @ashleynoeljonesmusic.

Traci Lester is a long-time nonprofit executive currently working as a philanthropic and nonprofit consultant.  She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Board of The New York City Arts in Education Roundtable.  She was most recently the Executive Director of The Center for Fiction, a literary arts organization. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of National Dance Institute (NDI). She has also held other leadership positions, including serving as the Executive Director for over a decade of Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, an early literacy and school readiness program.

The Manhattan Borough President has recognized Traci as a Cultural Leader in New York City. In addition, she is the recipient of the American Association of University Women’s Selected Professions Fellowship, the National Association of Health Service Executive’s Community Service Award, and was named to TheGrio’s 100 List as an African-American history maker and industry leader in the field of education. She is also a member of the American Society for Public Administrators Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society, serves on the MPA Program Advisory Board for San Francisco State University’s School of Public Affairs & Civic Engagement, and is on the faculty of the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York 

She earned a BSFS from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, an MBA from Rutgers University, an MPA from San Francisco State University, along with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University’s Institute for Nonprofit Management.  She is currently completing a doctorate in education, with an emphasis on leadership and innovation, at New York University.

More info coming soon!

Andreyah Maria Hernandez Black is a native of Stamford, Connecticut. She moved to New York City at the age of 18 to pursue her passion for dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre, Luigis’ Jazz Centre, and Nat Horne Musical Theatre, where she received a scholarship.  As a child, she began studying voice with late opera singer Winifred Keane in Westport, CT.  In her late teens, she studied with voice masters: the late Therman Bailey, and Melvin Jordan. Currently, she studies in Manhattan with opera singer Leveata Johnson. This international educator and multifaceted performer is also a dance choreographer, singer-songwriter, actress, creative writer, and filmmaker who brings her professional stage and media expertise to her students in the classroom. She also promotes self-care. Since 1986, the entrepreneur has aided clients via wellness as a master-certified reflexologist in the Tri-state area and Russia.  Moreover, as a young actress, she resided on Russian soil for 2 years, where she was not only hired to bring her talent to radio, film, and TV but received a dramatic arts fellowship at The School of Dramatic Art, under the direction of Anteole Vasiliev. There, she studied and played many roles in classical and contemporary stage with fellow Russian actors. In Moscow, she was offered invitations to choreograph jazz and modern dance repertoire for dancers competing in talent television shows, such as the White Dog Festival in Belorussia, where she was also hired as a judge and featured singer-songwriter.  As an arts educator, AndreYah worked for over 25 years privately, in Connecticut’s public schools, and after-school arts programs in New York City and abroad. The Renaissance woman has demonstrated her ability as an adolescent and adult performer on off-Broadway stages, music venues, cinema, television, and noted festivals where she produced and performed one-woman cabarets at the Piccolo Spoleto and MOJA Festivals in Charleston, SC.  AndreYah has earned numerous outstanding academic awards and fellowships. She holds a BS (magna cum laude) from CUNY BA at the Graduate Center and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa National and the Psi Beta Kappa National Societies.  She graduated and earned certificates from the New York Theological Seminary, the National Personal Training Institute, and Santa Clara University (MOBI Institute) with a certificate in Entrepreneurship, and a certificate in Grief Counseling through the Alison Institute. AndreYah is now completing her short documentary film, featuring her father of late, an honorable veteran, and a former baseball pitcher with the Negro American League Association. AndreYah is the sole proprietor of Artist Enterprises and Soul Care Solutions. Currently, she works as a contemporary modern teacher for a performing artist at the Regional Center for the Arts, in CT and teaches students in several after-school arts in New York City.

Afua Kafi-Akua (aka Marlene Graham) has worked at many media and arts organizations including Women Make Movies, Cinema Guild, Metropolitan Museum of Art, International Center of Photography and
Third World Newsreel. She is currently a media and communication professor at the New York City College of Technology/CUNY.

Afua is an arts educator, photographer, poet, musician and mixed-media artist. She is a founding member of the all-female funk/rock band IBIS. Her interviews with music legends Betty Carter & Nona Hendryx were published in the arts anthology Encyclopedia. She also co-produced an award-winning documentary about violence against lesbians, JUST BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE that was screened at film festivals and aired on PBS.

She is currently creating photographs and mixed-media installations about personal and socially relevant topics including being the grandchild of immigrants, LGBTQ+ issues, muses, women musicians and gender. She recently co-curated the VR gallery exhibition ANCESTRAL FUTURISM: UNAPOLOGETICALLY MELANATED in collaboration Oculus and The Alliance for Media Arts + Culture. Her artwork has been exhibited on both coasts.

More info coming soon!

Marilyn N. Worrell, known as Idaka and Mama Marilyn, is a vibrant Pan-African artist born on December 25, 1947. As a dancer, choreographer, actor, and designer, she brings creativity to every stage and screen. A founding member of Alpha-Omega Theatrical Dance Company, she merges modern, jazz, ballet, and West African styles. Her global performances and teachings, from New York to Vietnam, inspire and educate at institutions like Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy. Marilyn’s ongoing legacy celebrates her international collaborations and dedication to nurturing young artists.

Asari Beale is an Afro-Latina writer, educator, and leader deeply committed to children’s literacy. She is the Executive Director of Teachers and Writers Collaborative, one of the nation’s oldest writers-in-the-schools programs, and a steering committee member of LitNet, a network serving America’s literary community. She has taught literature and creative writing at Hunter College, Brooklyn College, and Fordham University. Prior to joining Teachers & Writers, she worked with LSA Family Health Service and Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, both organizations which center early childhood literacy. She holds a BA from New York University and an MFA from Brooklyn College, and lives with her family in Harlem, New York City.

Kay Bell is an Educator, Storyteller and music enthusiast. Her poetry aims to weave the language of activism with the voice of the marginalized to confront and interrogate literary spaces of oppression. For her, writing works as a birthing floor for healing, invention, and reimagination— where the poetic voice is responsible for both blessing and bruising the inquiring reader. Through writings such as “Work Sonnet,” & “Watching You Sleep” Kay continues to give rise to poetics that challenge societal norms, promote empathy, and inspire change. Currently, she works as an Academic Advisor and Adjunct Professor at the City College of New York and can be found nurturing her plants and her two sons, in the heart of the South Bronx

Shirlene Blake is a passionate and enthusiastic educator who brings to her role as Director of Dance for the New York City Public Schools a diverse background in performing and teaching various dance disciplines, arts advocacy, dance, special needs, and working with pregnant teens and teenage mothers. Shirlene has performed professionally in all styles of dance with independent choreographers as well as taught nationally and lived and taught in Reykjavik, Iceland. Shirlene received her BFA from Southern Methodist University and her MEd from Temple University and holds a Post-Graduate Advanced Certificate in Supervision and Administration from Hunter College. Currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Dance Education at Columbia University, Teachers College, Shirlene is reflecting on her years of experience and is interested in the balance between theory and practice in teacher preparation and retention as well as issues of social justice and identity.

Katherine “Kat” Cheairs (she/they) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. Kat has appeared and presented on panels at the Tribeca Film Institute, BAM, Pratt Institute, The New School, NYU, Vassar College, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Poster House, BAM, The Aperture Foundation, and UnionDocs. Kat is the founder of the Makeda School for Art, Media, and Humanities, an alternative educational and speculative learning space drawing from progressive education and Black feminist instructional pedagogies. They have developed and taught media arts programs at the K-12, college, and adult learning levels for educational institutions and community arts organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Tufts University and a Master’s in Fine Arts in Film Production from the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University. Kat is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in Art and Art Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.

I was born in Gainesville, Florida and am the oldest of 4 siblings. My favorite color is purple and my favorite food is sushi. I moved to Boston after I graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology. After doing City Year, I learned that I don’t want to be a teacher in a classroom but wanted to stay connected to education. I love to solo travel internationally. I love art, theatre, and learning about history. I started watching horror movies during the pandemic. I have zero work life balance and give everything I have to my job. Everything I do is centered around supporting community and helping everyone get free, but I don’t know how to do that for myself. I love the ocean. I’ve realized recently that I hate writing and I haven’t updated my resume in two years since I started this job.

Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja is a versatile multidisciplinary artist based in Southern California, celebrated for her vibrant use of color and diverse media. Her work, deeply influenced by her Yoruba heritage, explores themes of femininity, spirituality, and the relationship between nature and humanity. Adeola’s artistic journey includes notable achievements such as her honorable mention at the National Orange Show for “Wings of Love” and her featured artist role at the 1997 Inland Empire Alzheimer’s Association Art Auction. In addition to her solo exhibitions like “Sacred Imprints” and “Soulful Alchemy,” Adeola is dedicated to social causes, exemplified by her Menopause Art Project, funded by the California Arts Council and Inland Empire Creative Corps, which addresses inequities in women’s health. Her art has been showcased in local and national juried shows and is part of public and private collections, including the Riverside Art Museum and Universal Studios.

Jasmine Edwards, MA, LCAT, MT-BC (she/her) is a doctoral fellow studying music education with a focus in music therapy at New York University. Jasmine holds a BM and MA from Florida State University and NYU. Her clinical experiences include private practice, outpatient, school-based, and medical pediatric settings, and she is trained in NICU-MT, First Sounds: RBL, and Austin Vocal Psychotherapy. Jasmine’s scholarship centers on the role of cultural humility in both music therapy pedagogy and clinical practice. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Howard University, NYU, Montclair State University, Nazareth College, Duquesne University, and Molly University.

Kemba Lodescar is a passionate theatre educator who prides herself in teaching values that will transcend into lifelong learning skills beyond the classroom. She launched a thriving theatre program at P.S. 108Q where she is currently the instructor and directed numerous plays for the school and community. She is a vocal and music coach to students entering Performing Arts high schools such as LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra and Professional Performing Arts, just to name a few. She is the co-founder of the non-for-profit organization, ‘Shine’, which is located in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, and provides youth with access to Arts Education. Kemba is a member of the Youth outreach program for her local church and has over 10 years of experience providing mentorship to challenged and at-risk youth. She holds an A.S. in Fine and Performing Arts, a B.F.A in Music Education and a Masters in Theatre Education.

Shalewa Mackall is an artist and educator from Brooklyn, New York. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Infinite Constellations, edited by. Khadija Queen and K. Ibura, Obsidian, Mom Egg Review, Peregrine Journal, and other publications. Shalewa is a mid-career choreographer, mother, daughter, and cancer survivor, who creates in the Sankofa tradition—inspired by aesthetic traditions and creative movements that recycle, repurpose, and reinvent as they imagine forward. Shalewa’s creative interests include the spiritual and political legacies of resistance in Black vernacular culture, Black feminisms, and family history. Shalewa’s work has been supported with fellowships from Poets House, Obsidian/Poetry Foundation O Sessions, and Earthseed Black Family History Project. When she is not writing, Shalewa enjoys baking pies, and Deep House music.

Ernell has worked for several years in the non-profit industry providing services such as counseling, teaching, and organizing events for underserved communities. As an Educational Specialist, she used theatre techniques to teach creative writing to adults with mental illness, as well as use Forum Theatre to help address issues of educational inequality, careers, and mental health. As a performer she has appeared in several Off-Broadway productions as well as touring with the National Theatre for Performing Arts Tours in an Educational Play entitled “Great Scientists”, used to teach science to elementary school students throughout the United States. Ernell wrote and performed “Cracking the Code”, a play that addresses the issues of Adult Literacy for an Adult Education Class in Brooklyn. Her play was also featured at the Pedagogy of the Oppressed Conference 2012 in Berkeley, CA. Ernell holds a MA in Applied Theatre from The City University of NY.

I am a multifaceted, interdisciplinary International Community Artist-Philosopher who explores themes related to race, identity, and ideas about the spiritual. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, my experience as a military child ignited my interest in diverse cultures. Now, as an artist-philosopher, I travel extensively, collaborating with people from a wide range of backgrounds. My academic background includes bachelor’s degrees from NC A&T State University and Morgan State University, a master’s from Maryland Institute College of Art, and a PhD from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, which speak to my dedication as a lifelong learner in the arts and education. My work speaks to the idea of freedom in a way that allows one to freely express the spiritual in any form they choose, whether it be God, the divine, the creator, the universe, or anything else that connects individuals to higher dimensions of spiritual consciousness.

Sydnie L. Mosley is an award winning artist-activist and educator who is interested in creative work that is both artistically sound and socially aware. ​She produces experiential dance works with her collective SLMDances. Through their choreographic work, the collective works in communities to organize for gender and racial justice. Her evening length dances The Window Sex Project and BodyBusiness, their creative processes and performance experiences are a model for dance-activism. Sydnie was recognized by NYC Mayor de Blasio for using her talents in dance to fuel social change. ​​Sydnie danced with Christal Brown’s ​INSPIRIT 2010-2013, and appeared as a guest artist for Brooklyn Ballet 2009-2019. An advocate for the dance field, Sydnie sits on the Advisory Committee to Dance/NYC. Her writing has appeared in Essence, Dance Magazine, and the Brooklyn Rail. She graduated from Barnard College in Dance and Africana Studies and earned an MFA from the University of Iowa.​​​​

Ashira Mothersil is a vocal performer, educator, and third year doctoral student in music and music education at Teacher’s College Columbia University. During her time there she has developed a platform that merges her studies in music education with her passion for Black Feminism and Hip Hop Pedagogy. Born in a Haitian household in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Ashira’s love for music was inspired by her multicultural upbringing which embraced the artistry and diverse cultures of the African Diaspora. Today, she uses this foundation to not only engage audiences as a performer, but also to lead and inspire youth throughout New York City as a music educator. Ashira’s research focuses on social justice, cultivating classrooms that empower the voices of Black girls, and the importance of centering the narratives of Black women in music education.

Ayo Oti is an at-large NYCAIER board member who is the founder of Unofficial Social Chair LLC, a social impact focused audio production company and storytelling consultancy. She has also worked in a variety of sectors and across different functional areas, including operations and program management.

In 2016, Ayo was part of the launch team for the CUNY Cultural Corps initiative that provided paid internship experiences for CUNY students and alumni at various cultural institutions, thanks to the Department of Cultural Affairs and The Rockefeller Foundation.

Adrienne Powell is a multi-faceted arts administrator, performer, and arts advocate located in the Washington DC area. In her current role as the Program Coordinator for Professional Development at Wolf Trap Foundation, Adrienne helps to implement and manage professional development programs. She serves as a daily resource for teaching artists, contractors, partners, and colleagues, and coordinates logistical functions for activities and programming. Prior to joining Wolf Trap, Adrienne shared her passion for arts education by serving as a program facilitator and instructor in aftercare, summer camp, and early arts programs. In addition to her work in education, Adrienne has worked in non-profit fundraising where she planned, executed, and evaluated high-level donor recognition events. Adrienne maintains an active acting career on stages across the east coast. She received her Master’s in Acting from the American Repertory Theater Institute at Harvard University and holds a BA in Communication from George Mason University.

Tamia B. Santana has been an advocate of the arts for over 20 years. Previously, she was Executive Director of the Brooklyn Dance Festival and Resident Dance Director of the Brooklyn Museum. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Santana now raises her family there. She serves on the Executive Arts Committee for all NYC Public Schools, has recently been appointed to join the City Council’s New Arrivals Strategic Team, and served as Board of Directors to Mayor Eric L. Adams. Her previous experience as a dancer was performing at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, and Europe before beginning her career in arts accessibility and executive direction.

I am a native New Yorker and a first generation college graduate with a B.A. in History and minors in Italian and Studio Art from The College of Staten Island. I am a multidisciplinary artist with a background working in nonprofit and the arts education sector. I am passionate about the arts and fostering the space and opportunities for creatives to find their voices and thrive.

Tammie L Swopes is an intersectional artist, educator, storyteller, meaning maker, and disrupter of oppressive structures in and outside of theatre spaces. She is currently an adjunct professor at NYU (Steinhardt and Tish), Marymount Manhattan College, and CUNY (applied Theatre). She is also Artistic Director of the Seeing Ourselves Onstage program (New Plays for Young Audiences) and Artistic Associate of the NYU Verbatim Performance Lab, as well as a part time career coach and program assistant for the Creative Career Hub at NYU’s Wasserman Center. As a doctoral candidate in the Educational Theatre program, with 20 plus years of experience in theatre and education Tammie’s work largely centers on issues of art, activism, and amplifying youth voices.

With over a decade of experience in art education, public programming and community outreach, M’kina Tapscott has cultivated a dynamic and impactful career at the intersection of academia and public engagement. As an arts advocate, M’kina Tapscott has expanded audience engagement and fostered significant relationships with local communities and institutions, through a strong commitment to practical and inclusive curriculum and instructional practices, maintaining a strong focus on student and community engagement. M’kina Tapscott also brings valuable experience as an arts educator, having developed and implemented innovative art curricula, trained educators, and led numerous workshops, emphasizing hands-on, multimodal learning experiences. M’kina Tapscott is dedicated to advancing the fields of art education and community outreach, continually striving to create inclusive, engaging, and impactful educational experiences.

With a B.A. in Fine Art from Morgan State University, D.L. Tucker has worked collaboratively on countless interdisciplinary projects exploring innovative ways to create art for social change since 2009. She is a dedicated community artist that is passionate about using mixed media art and narrative storytelling to support mental health awareness, embrace strength through adversity, and to help build a more inclusive society for everyone. This loving wife and mother of five creates personal narratives through doll making, puppetry, murals and comics.

Kimberlee is an actor, writer, and teaching artist in Hamilton Heights. She most recently appeared in Fabulation, Or the Re-education of Undine at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn. Select credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (NY Shakespeare Exchange), and The Flood (Lyric Theatre, Northern Ireland). She currently leads a Shakespeare residency at Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & the Arts through New York Theatre Workshop. Before joining NYTW, she created Youth Creative Collective, an after-school program for early elementary-aged children in Harlem, and was the Lead Teaching Artist and Program Director. She’s a founding member of Uptown Collective, a community in Harlem that supports artists in honing their craft, developing their work, and building relationships. She volunteers as a Writers’ Hour Host through the London Writers Salon and as a team member at the food pantry at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem.

Ciara is a Brooklyn born teaching artist, arts educator, leader, and arts-lover. She fell in love with drama when she was accepted into a performing arts middle school at the age of eleven. She continued her studies at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, a performing arts high school in Queens. After high school, she attended Stony Brook University where she minored in dance and majored in Business. Afterwards, she pursued a career in education as a college counselor supporting hundreds of students with post-secondary college and career planning. Ciara recently received her master’s in Applied Theatre from the CUNY School of Professional Studies and transitioned into a career in arts education. She currently manages and facilitates multidisciplinary artistic programming for groups of young people ages 16+ at Park Avenue Armory. She believes that arts education is a great medium for dialogue, confidence-building, community-building, and social justice.

I began my career as a theater artist and fell into teaching artistry which I soon realized that it was more than a “gig” but more of an avocation. After working for many of the pre-eminent arts organizations in New York, I found home at Lincoln Center. I have been privileged through my work to travel to many diverse communities and support artists, educators, and exponentially their students. Personally, I am the proud mom of four adult humans, 2 canines, and 3 felines.

Yvonne Winborne is originally from Philadelphia, PA, and is currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Yvonne obtained her B.S. in Childhood and Early Adolescent Education and Dance Minor from The Pennsylvania State University and her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University. She is trained in ballet, modern, hip-hop, West and East African dances, step, heels, and street jazz and has danced internationally in Ireland and Uganda. After starting the dance curriculum at New Bridges Elementary School in 2015, Yvonne transitioned to the field of teaching artistry. For the past several years she has worked as a teaching artist for Urban Arts Partnership and Lincoln Center Education, along with freelancing at several camps and studios. She currently is the Education Director at Dancing Classrooms. Yvonne believes that dance should be accessible to all and approaches her teaching practice with a focus on cultural responsiveness and mental health awareness.