Dr. Baba Chuck Davis, a native North Carolinian, is Founder and Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble and the New York-based DanceAfrica. He attended Howard University and majored in Theater/Dance and continued his studies in African dance under the guidance of Babatunde Olatunji, Eleo Pomare, and the Bernice Johnson Dance Company. His growing reputation as one of the foremost and accomplished choreographers and teachers in the traditional techniques of African dance, compelled the American Dance Festival of Durham, NC, to recruit him for the position of Artist-in-Residence and to head up its outreach program. His desire to reach the young people of Durham who shared his enthusiasm and discipline for dance, was the fountainhead from which sprung the African American Dance Ensemble. He has nurtured and led the Ensemble on a course to become one of the truly premier dance companies of any kind touring the nation today.

Dr. Davis keeps a full schedule including appearances with the Ensemble, guest artist directorships, choreographer assignments, and research and travel excursions to Africa and international points. He is the founder and facilitator of the Cultural Arts Safari, which makes an annual pilgrimage to the continent of Africa.

Dr. Davis has been a panelist for several programs of the NEA. Since 1991 he has served as a Governor-appointed member of the Board for the North Carolina Arts Council where he chairs the Dance panel. In 1992, he was the recipient of the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts for his impressive and unique contribution to African American culture. This is the highest honor the state can bestow in the Arts. Dr. Davis is a recipient of the NY Bessie Award and the very prestigious Brooklyn Academy of Music Award for distinguished service to the arts world and beyond. In December of 1998, he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Medgar Evers College of New York.

Dr. Davis was recognized by the Dance Heritage Coalition as one of the first 100 Irreplaceable Dance Treasures in the United States. In February 2002 he was presented The Advocacy Award in recognition of dedication and commitment to Civil Rights advocacy, especially on behalf of People with Developmental Disabilities, by the Durham Human Relations Commission. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus awarded Dr. Davis with a citation for his years of distinguished service, loyalty and commitment to the arts as well as lauding him as a foremost, distinguished and accomplished choreographer and teacher in the traditional techniques of African American Dance. Dr. Davis has been selected Artist of the Year by DanceUSA. He has also received the 2002 National Governor's Association Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts. The City of Durham declared August 5, 2002 as Chuck Davis Day in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to the arts. North Carolina Dance Alliance has chosen Dr. Davis as the recipient of their 2002 award in recognition of his years of dedication to the advancement of dance in North Carolina, the nation, and the world.

Ibrahima "Kolipe" Camara is a Master Drummer from Guinea West Africa who began playing Djembe at the age of 10. At an early age Kolipe traveled throughout the regions of Guinea learning the different types of musical instruments, rhythms and dances from the many ethnic groups of Guinea. In 2000, Kolipe joined Les Ballets Africaines, the internationally recognized representatives of West African Culture, and the highest level of accomplishment for a Guinean percussionist. As a lead drummer for the Ballet, Kolipe toured throughout Africa and the United States, eventually settling in New York City.

Kolipe has been teaching, touring and performing with many groups including Feraba-African Rhythm Tap, Drum Cafè, Magbana and Famouro Diabate's Kakande continually pleasing crowds as a dynamic musician with a powerfully positive presence. He has been featured on many CDs and released his CD: Rhythms from Guinea Vol. 1. - for dance and drum students and teaching artists - in 2011.

Brother Jerome Hunter is a master dancer, choreographer and drummer who has merged several dance disciplines such as traditional Africa dance, Brazil, Caribbean, as well as North America, to create a unique fusion that is synonymous with LaRocque Bey, and has been performing these dance styles for over 30 years.

Mr. Hunter has studied at the LaRocque Bey School of Dance Theatre for over two decades. He is currently the Executive and Artistic Director at the Institution. LaRocque Bey School of Dance was established in 1960 and is one of the oldest African American Cultural Institutions in New York State and across the United States.

Mr. Hunter has studied a multiple dance disciplines, such as: African, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Lindy Hip, Swing, Ball room, to name a few. He has studied with Master Teachers worldwide and performs domestically and internationally on stage productions and film.

Mr. Hunter has worked with such artist as Herold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Delfonics, Savion Glover, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Yoko Ono, George Clinton, Phylicia Rashad and many more.

Mr. Hunter recently toured Great Britain as a choreographer and performer of the play "Tap Fusion" with choreographers from the Broadway play River Dance. He is currently and instructor at six private, and charter schools in the New York, New Jersey school system; teaching discipline through dance, spreading his cultural message to all students he comes in contact with.

Youssouf Koumbassa is a former artist of Ballet Djoliba, the National Ballet of Guinea. Born and raised in Guinea, West Africa, Youssouf began dancing at the age of six by studying and emulating the members of the National Ballet and the leading dancers of the many local and regional dance companies in Guinea. Youssouf's father is from the Landuma people and his mother from the Baga/Susu people.

In Guinea he studied under Sekouba Camara, Artistic director of Ballet National Djoliba and also with Kemoko Sano, the acclaimed Artistic Director of Les Ballets Africains, developing his talents as a dancer, musician and choreographer.

In thirteen years with the Ballet National, Youssouf traveled extensively throughout West Africa, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since moving to the United States twenty years ago Youssouf has established himself as the pre-eminent teacher of dance from Guinea, and travels throughout the world as a much sought after master teacher at conferences, workshops, camps and schools. When at home in New York his classes are attended by a large and loyal following who are appreciative of his mercurial energy and grace.

In the 1990's Youssouf formed Les Ballets Bagata, comprised of sixty dancers and drummers. Performances by this company were spectacular mélanges of traditional culture and dance theater. Children of Bagata, a company he formed later, consisted of fifteen young dancers and musicians. Youssouf's mission has been and continues to be the exposure of the rich and varied cultures of Guinea to audiences around the world.

In his attempts to bring the energy, excitement and history of African dance to a wide audience, Youssouf is meticulous in acknowledging the source of this material and insists on a high level of understanding and respect for the form among his students. He travels to Guinea regularly, taking students on dance trips and returns to the United States with the latest developments in contemporary dance so that his teaching is always a mixture of traditional work and the dances that infuse popular culture.

Youssouf is happy to announce the release of "Landouma Fare," a dynamic 75 minute dance travelog/documentary, in which he travels home to Guinea on a personal journey to learn the dances of his father's Landouma people. Youssouf has created a series of instructional DVDs Wongai Vol 1 + Wongai Vol 2, in which he demonstrates both the music and dance of a wide selection of ethnic groups from Guinea. He has also produced an edited version of the famous concert by his exuberent dance company "Les Ballets Bagata" in NYC.

GIA - Gaia, my name means Mother Earth! One of my proudest moments was giving birth to a baby that was born to dance. Jasmine! Gaia discovered her passion for the sacred art of East African Bellydance in 2004 under the artistic direction of Arianna al Tiye. Gaia is the founder of Nubian Angels; an African fusion based Bellydance Company for girls ages five to sixteen. Gaia is an original company member of Troupe Wahad, and became a junior company member of NMDDC in 2007. With my association with Nubian Moon Daughters it has granted me the opportunity to perform at Rakkasah East and West, the largest Bellydance festival in the United States & International African Arts Festival. As well as solo performances atHarlem YMCA Little Theater, and Lafayette Bar and Grill. I have studied with Oya and Embora Wellness studios and now with for the past two years with Tamar Raqs at Restoration Dance Theatre. Adding to my performance resume Solo performance at Jebron and two years group performance at BAM Café. Most of all I have to thank the creator! I never could have made it without you! My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

SEGULAH - "Segulah" is a Hebrew word meaning "treasure". Segulah, born Angela Williams, had a love for dance since early childhood, with her first dance teacher being her older beloved sister Joyce. Segulah began studing ethnic dance as a child, and later began more serious training in West African,Modern and jazz. Her studies introduction to Belly Dance started in 2003 under Nalani Valetine at the TDYCC in Westchester. She also performed with the Westchester Soltices at TDYCC. Her studies in Danse Oriental and folklore began with Arianna al Tiye in 2004, later journeying with Arianna in 2008 to further her study dance abroad in Egypt under Ms. Al Tiye's mysteries of Isis Tours: program in dance studies. She was an original company member of Troupe Wahad and became a junior company member of NMDDC in 2007-2010. Segulah is also a Co Founder of "Pure Onyx Movement". Peace & Blessings to all who have danced before me and all those to come.

SAMIRAH - Samirah born Samirat Rivers began her dance career at the early age of 9, attending Kips Bay Boys and Girls dance program. It wasn't until she matured into an adult that she realized her love and passion for dance. She always knew there was an untapped gift inside her that was waiting to be shown to the world. While in college Samirah, studied under Denise Perry of Perry Studios in Harlem, NYC. There she cultivated her dance education by studying Modern, Jazz, African and Belly Dance. While Samirah is still studying the art of Belly Dance this love affair with it is hardly over. Samirah, which is the Arabic root of her name, meaning "entertaining companion," Samirah plans on dazzling the world with this ancient art form of dance. It was there that she realized her enthusiasm for belly dance and through the dance learned about celebrating womb health, honoring ancestors, and just learning to love all aspects of being a woman. Belly dance provides her with a healthy workout and lifestyle and enforced sisterhood with the women in the belly dance community. After studying with Lateefah Fleming for two years, Samirah began studying with Arianna Halima al Tiye and later joined Nubian Moon Daughters Dance Company in 2009. Now a founding member of Pure Onyx Movement, Samirah is happy to teach this timeless dance to anyone willing to learn.