google-site-verification=8sdaU4iIQNLK8Va7JdtsLsOzDUAfMD13Egz1vx6avME
A'Keitha Carey  is a Bahamian artist, educator and scholar. She developed the dance technique CaribFunk, a fusion of Afro‐Caribbean, ballet, modern, and fitness principles and rooted in Africanist and Euro-American aesthetics and expressions. She received her B.A. in Dance from Florida International University and an M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University. She also holds a Certificate in Women's Studies from Texas Woman’s University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in African and African Diaspora Studies at Florida International University. She researches Caribbean spaces, locating movements that are indigenous, contemporary, and fusion based and investigates how Caribbean cultural performance (Bahamian Junkanoo, Trinidadian Carnival, and Jamaican Dancehall) can be viewed as praxis. A’Keitha has written about her dance technique CaribFunk in multiple peer reviewed journals and is featured in several book chapters. Her most recent book publications are: Escape Routes and Roots to Freedom: Rewriting the Narrative of The Vulgar Body; CaribFunk Technique: A New Feminist/Womanist Futuristic Technology in Black Dance Studies in Higher Education in the United States; and Roots and Culture: Exploring Caribbean Music and Dance in the Classroom. She has taught in K-12 serving as the Department Chair of the Enrichment Program and the Performing Arts Teacher at Indian Ridge Middle School in Davie, Florida (2017-2018) and in Higher Education, serving as dance faculty for several universities across the country. She was previously the Vice President of Operations at Cultural Connections by Design, a Diversity Education Consulting Company. A’Keitha is currently an Adjunct Professor at Broward College and Nova Southeastern University. She is a member of Olujimi Dance Theatre in Miami, Florida and teaches Zumba and Hip Hop at several 24 Hour Fitness gyms in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Stephanie Franco is a  choreographer, teacher, and movement artist rooted in Miami, Florida. She trained at Dance Attack Miami, under John Culbertson & Cookie Ramos. Her research expanded later in Los Angeles under the direction of Erica Sobol and Lobos Art Collective, in deep process with artists such as Medhi Walerski, Tilman O'Donnell, Jermaine Spivey, and Adi Salant. Her performance and choreographic work spans collaborations with Mia Michaels, Urban Bush Women, Live Arts Miami, Adele Myers and Dancers, and more. She has performed works by Hattie Mae Williams, Valeria Valleto, Tawanna Hall, Frankie Zulferino, Andrea Murillo, Rena Butler & Jamar Roberts to name some. Since returning to Miami, she’s danced with NWD Projects, Pioneer Winter Collective Grass Stains, and Peter London Global Dance Company. As a 2023 Rennie Harris University cohort member, she explores Hip Hop & Street Dance. Stephanie is Director of Community Engagement for Syncopate Collective and continues to teach contemporary forms and improv philosophies to the young generation. Stephanie teaches at Dance Attack Miami and Dance Empire of Miami, and is guest faculty at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center as a catalyst for raw embodiment and movement exploration.
The moment we choose to love, we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom. - Bell Hooks

​

​
Apon Nichols is native of Miami, Fl. He studied Entertainment Technology at MDC North Campus from 1991-93. Joined the IATSE Local 500 in 1993 as an apprentice. He was sworn in December 1996 as a journeyman member. By 1998, he began to design lighting for Inner City Children Dance Co and provided workshops for inner city youths on stage productions. Apon decided he needed more training on dance lighting, so he pursued an internship at Jacob’s Pillow for stage productions in 1999. In 2004, he designed the first black box theatre in Liberty City inside Charles Hadley Park (Arthur E. Teele Black Box Theatre.) Apon Nichols launched his own lighting company Apon Concept Productions Inc. in 2014. From there, his career in lighting designs became a full time position. He started working for local theaters companies such as The M’ Ensemble Theatre, Live In Color, Young Contemporary Dance Theatre, Divas Arts Dance Co., Olujimi Dance Theatre, Momentum Dance Co., Brazz Dance Co., FAMU Strikers and Mahogany Dance Theatre, and The Legend Of The Pink Elephant. He also worked with public and private schools for the drama and dance dept. such as: Miami Northwestern PAVAC, Miami Country Day School, Miami Carol City High, Miami Sunset High, MDC Kendall, and Florida Memorial University just to name a few. Apon also provided stage management for the Miramar Latin Festival and Overtown Music & Arts Festival. Feb.2021 ACP Inc. produced, designed, and managed the Cloud 9 Valentine's Festival. 2006-2021 Apon Nichols was the Assistant Electrician for the Miami City Ballet. He is currently touring with the National Broadway Hamilton as an Advance Assistant Electrician.
​
Nina Osoria Ahmadi, Born in New York and raised in Miami, Nina Osoria Ahmadi is a multidisciplinary artist working in performance, education, and cultural community organizing. Nina grew up in dance but spent most of their academic career with a focus in visual art, attending New York University with a focus in Arts Education. Nina is passionate about youth arts access, and spent the past two years writing curricula and teaching art classes to elementary school students via the Miami Children’s Museum. In their most recent project, Nina curates and programs free and open to all beginner dance classes at Miami Light Project, and regularly hosts open dance jams for the community. Nina is currently in the process of developing and choreographing a piece to be performed as part of Miami Light Project's Here&Now festival in February 2026. In 2019, Nina was named a United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts on account of their creative work and commitment to political organizing. At 23 years old, Nina has performed and exhibited visual art work across the country, and continues to work organizing opportunities for community engagement with the arts.


Cheryl Rowley-Gaskins is currently a Teaching Artists for Ailey Arts In Education & Community programs. Cheryl began her dance training over 20 years ago. She trained at New World School of the Arts and The Ailey School. Mrs. Rowley-Gaskins was a member of Ailey II for three seasons and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for five seasons. She has studied various dance forms, which include Horton, Graham, Limon, Dunham, West African, Afro-Caribbean, Tap and Hip-hop. She enjoys inspiring young people and teaching freedom of expression and individuality through dance movement. 
 



Shanna Woods,  a native of Delray Beach, Florida, trained at several dance companies prior to becoming a thespian and graduating from Overton High School in Memphis, TN in 2003. Woods joined Deeply Rooted Dance Theater 2 with for four seasons after graduating high school. Woods later moved to Denver, CO where she was a company member with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance for four seasons. While with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Woods performed solo and ensemble works. Woods has been a guest artist for Cindy Brandle Dance Theatre in Boulder, CO, Ife-Ile with Neri Torres, and Brazzdance in Miami, FL with Augusto Soledade.  As a choreographer, Woods collaborated with screenwriter, editor, and director Chassidy Jade on a short film, Brown Ballerina. Woods is currently engulfed in the discovery of her authentic choreographic voice. Using dance as a healing ritual, Shanna has started workshops, Art to Acceptance and Electric F.L.Y. Ladies. Both workshops are geared toward women and young ladies who desire to hold fast to their self-worth, embrace to self-love, and take care of themselves in an artistic and creative fashion. Woods is now in her fourth season as a performing artist with Olujimi Dance Collective.
Brianna Pierre-Georges is a passionate dancer of Haitian descent from Miami, FL with a rich background in Haitian folklore, contemporary, jazz, ballet and West African dance. Her journey began at Rainbow Park Elementary and Norland Middle School, later continuing at RickyDanco School of Dance, where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and acrobatics. Currently a commercial dancer with Dansalou Global, Brianna performs in live events and music videos in the Haitian Industry, including projects for artists Fatima, Zafem and KennyHaiti. She trained with NSL Danse Ensemble, sharing Haitian folklore at cultural events such as DanceAfrica Miami and Art Beat Miami Festival. Now through  Asaho Dance, she continues to proudly represent Haitian culture. Passionate about preserving Haitian culture, Brianna teaches Afro-Haitian dance, blending tradition with creative expression. She continues her professional development -actively pursuing her Associate in Arts in Dance at Miami Dade College. As President of the Jubilation Dance Ensemble at Miami Dade College, she strives to lead with passion and purpose. Brianna brings storytelling, emotion, and energy to every performance. With a deep commitment to cultural preservation and artistic growth, she aims to inspire others through movement while honoring her roots and expanding her artistry.


David Velazco is a drummer, percussionist, and producer from Miami, Fl. Born in Cuba and migrating to the United States at the age of 10. He began his musical journey playing drums in church and Latin percussion at school at the age of 16. He studied music at Miami Dade College where he furthered his interest in West African Dance accompaniment. He has worked as a collaborator and Music Director for choreographers, performers, and other musicians. This interdisciplinary practice led him to go to the California Institute of the Arts from the fall of 2019 to the spring of 2021.He is currently in Miami kicking off his career as a producer and drummer having done shows with artists like Ovi in Mexico and producing work for dancers like “Dame La Receta”, along with Chachi Perez and Jennifer Rodriguez, and now T.W.E.R.K. with Michelle Grant-Murray’s company, Olujimi Dance Collective.