CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

Updated February 22, 2023

Certified Professional Teachers have studied Umfundalai intensely, have performed with the technique's professional company , Kariamu &Company: Traditions, and/or have completed NAAADT's M'Singh Wuti and Professional Training Programs. They have "active" certification to teach Umfundalai at professional levels and so at locations throughout the United States.

Click on any of the images below to see the Certified Umfundalai teacher who is working in your state.

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Bevara Anderson, MFA

ILLINOIS

Bevara “Enzi” Anderson is a professional dance artist from the Maryland coast. Ms. Anderson focuses on the embodied research that lives within Umfundalai, house footwork, Horton, contemporary ballet, improvisation, and many other contemporary movement styles. Anderson is a graduate of The Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts where she participated in the International Association of Blacks in Dance conference and performed at the Kennedy Center for the Ellington School of the Arts 40th anniversary show with the singer Ledisi. She also participated in Mike Malone’s Black Nativity and was featured in the first issue of Black Dance Magazine. She received her BFA from Temple University in 2018. While studying at Temple, she presented her first work at the Piazza Del Popolo at the Rome Temple Campus and became the president of the all-styles company D2D: Dare to Dance. She is currently pursuing her MFA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Anderson is now rendering dance work based in narrative, abstraction, meditation, and continues to consider the experience of joy as a form of resistance in the Black American community. Her first mainstage work premiered in November 2020 at the Tryon Festival Theater and was a clear representation of her perseverance as an artist during the year’s health pandemic. A founding member of the Katherine Smith Dance Ensemble, Anderson performed with Kariamu &Company: Traditions from 2014 to 2019. Bevara is of the final generation of dancers to study under the direct tutelage of Dr. Kariamu Welsh, and holds this feet with pride as she continues to share Dr. Welsh’s technique, Umfundalai.

Stafford C. Berry, Jr., MFA

INDIANA

Stafford C. Berry, Jr., MFA, is an accomplished artist, educator, activist, and scholar of African-rooted dance, theatre, and aesthetics with an extensive background in arts and education. He has studied performing arts in the US and in Guinea West Africa, and he has toured nationally in the US, and internationally to London, England, and the Caribbean. He is a certified teacher of the Umfundalai Contemporary African Dance Technique and a licensed Zumba® Instructor. Mr. Berry was Associate Artistic Director of Baba Chuck Davis' internationally acclaimed African American Dance Ensemble (AADE) for 14 years; Assistant to the Choreographer of Kariamu & Company: Traditions in Philadelphia for 5 years; former Co-Director of The Berry & Nance Dance Project; and former Faculty at the American Dance Festival.
Mr. Berry’s artistic work has toured internationally and is concerned with black male discourse, black folks’ embodied epistemologies, and “making space” for African American, Lgbtqia+, “weirdos,” and disempowered communities. He has won several choreographic and residency grants from: Durham Arts Council (NC), North Carolina Arts Council (NC), Greater Columbus Arts Council (OH), Taft Museum of Art (OH), Bloomington Arts Commission (IN). In addition, Mr. Berry has served on various arts boards nationally.

Bianca Bonner, M.Ed.

NORTH CAROLINA

Bianca Bonner was born and raised in the Bronx, New York where she began her dance training at Ruth Williams Dance Studio. She later trained with Mary Barnett, former Associate Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in ballet, jazz, modern and African dance. Bonner has also studied under Melba Lucas, Aziza, Rae Ross Sandifer, Ann Vachon, Ruth Williams, Laura Williams, Bruce Hawkins, Kariamu Welsh, and the late Charles “Chuck” Davis. Bonner holds a BA in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media and a M. Ed. in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she taught. While at Temple, she also taught in various schools, studios and camps including The New Freedom Theatre and National Youth Sports Program. Bonner has toured with Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble to national and international venues, sharing African dance with American families in artist residencies, lecture demonstrations, and community outreach programs. She has served on the board of Charlotte Dance Festival and was named Best Choreography at the Charlotte Emerging Dance Awards in 2009. During that same year, she received a choreography award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Studs Terkel’s Working. In 2012, she was awarded the John W. Parker Award for Excellence in Directing from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf. For six years, Bonner has choreographed main stage theatre productions with the Union County Performance Ensemble under the direction of Larry Robinson. Bonner served as dance educator for seven years at Central Academy of Technology & Arts in Union County Public Schools. Currently, Bonner is the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Charlotte Ballet.

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Leanna Browne

MINNESOTA

Leanna Browne is a dancer, teaching artist, choreographer, and educator. She holds a BA in Psychology and Special Major in Dance & Black Studies from Swarthmore College. Leanna’s introduction to Umfundalai was through Oluko C. Kemal Nance during his tenure at Swarthmore. Some of her training includes the Umfundalai Teachers’ Intensive, Nanigo, Zenon Dance Zone, Philadanco Summer Intensive, and Penumbra Theatre’s Summer Institute. In 2017, Leanna became a M’Singha Wuti-licensed teacher in Umfundalai. Currently based in the Twin Cities area, she has worked with various artists and companies such as BLAQ, Leslie Parker Dance Project, Contempo Physical Dance, Jonathan van Arneman (AJ), Threads Dance Project, Ryan Parent, and Erinn Liebhard. As a teaching artist, Leanna has taught children, youth, and adults in different community-based, after-school, and summer programs. These include the BELL Xcel summer program and the YMCA School Success program at Maxfield Elementary and independent classes at CO-MOTION Center for Movement. During the 2020-2021 program year, she was selected as a Momentum: New Dance Works artist. Leanna’s work explores areas such as dance for social change, her Afro-Caribbean heritage by way of Montserrat, healing, joy, and transformation.

Dina-Verley Christophe, MFA

NEW JERSEY

Dina-Verley Christophe is a dance artist, educator and fitness professional. Dina's path to dance started in Philadelphia, PAat the historic New Freedom Theatre where she had the honor to study under Patricia Scott-Hobbs. During this time Dina also began her lifelong artistic relationship with Dr. Kariamu Welsh, as a student of the Umfundalai Contemporary African dance technique and a member of Kariamu & Company. These two experiences formed the basis of what would become a diverse dance journey and have made Dina a rare and unique talent, being fluent in both Western and African derived concert dance forms. While attending the University of the Arts (BFA) Dina was a member of Philadanco's second company, D/2. Dina's passion for choreography led her to continue her studies at Temple University (MFA), during this time she began dancing with Charles O. Anderson's dance theatre X. After leaving graduate school Dina completed a Post Grad Fellowship at Dickinson College, teaching in the Department of Theater and Dance and continued dancing professionally with Matthew Westerby Company. In 2017 Dina began studying and performing Merian Soto's improvisational Modes. Dina’s teaching and choreography credits most recently include Temple University, Rutgers University, Iona College and Sacred Heart University. Dina's varied dance technique experience and fitness background have laid the foundation for her educational mission: to share the rich tradition of the Umfundalai technique of contemporary African dance, and to help dancers better understand the biomechanics of movement in order to prevent injuries and extend the longevity of their dance careers.

Julian Darden

GEORGIA

(HE/HIM/HIS)
Julian Darden studied performance and choreography at the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teaching artist, he has worked with Philadelphia’s youth as an Education Assistant at the Lenfest Center, and a Mentor/Dance Instructor with Upbeat Dance Center, Elkins Park School, Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, The Village of Arts and Humanities, and both Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School and Conwell Middle School through the Pennsylvania Ballet. As a performing artist, Darden danced with D2D: Dare to Dance Co., Kariamu & Company:Traditions, and the Nance Dance Collective. Some of his recent credits include performing with the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble in Kingston, Jamaica and the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

Jessica Featherson, MFA

MARYLAND

Jessica C. Featherson is an interdisciplinary performer, creator, and educator. She received her MFA in Dance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) as part of its inaugural cohort. In addition to dance, she is the creator of the wellness lifestyle brand, WellBody WellSoul. She looks forward to continued collaborative and independent projects that merge her artistic and wellness practices. Jessica received her BFA in Dance from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) with a minor in Latin American Studies and has had extensive study and practice with the contemporary African dance technique, Umfundalai. She performed with Kariamu & Company: Traditions for several seasons under the direction of the late Dr. Kariamu Welsh and Dr. C. Kemal Nance. Jessica has performed with NYC-based companies, Laurie M. Taylor/Soul Movement and Eryc Taylor Dance at festivals such as Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out, Harlem Stage E-moves, and the International Festival Avante Garde in Merida, Mexico. Her interest in arts management landed her a position with the New York Dance and Performance Awards aka The Bessie's, where she served as Assistant to Senior Staff and Development Assistant. She is an original cast member of the theatrical production, "The Clothesline Muse," a collaboration with Dr. Kariamu Welsh, Grammy-nominated jazz singer Nnenna Freelon, and visual artist Maya Freelon. Jessica has studied abroad in Mexico and Brazil, and is especially focused on the relationship between music and dance in specific cultural regions. She has also traveled to Havana, Cuba with choreographer Ronald K. Brown to study folkloric and contemporary dance under the auspices of the Joyce Theater Foundation travel program. Jessica has been on faculty at Ballet Hispanico's School of Dance, Rutgers University, and currently serves as adjunct faculty at Prince George's County Community College and Richard Wright Public Charter School for Media Arts and Journalism.

Josephine Heard

Erin Holmes-Moran, M.S., LCAT, BC-DMT

NEW YORK

Erin Holmes-Moran, MS, LCAT, BC-DMT, graduated from Temple University and Pratt Institute. She has apprenticed with Urban Bush Women, was a principle dancer with Kariamu & Company: Traditions, African American Dance Ensemble, Tania Isaac Dance, Dance Theatre X, Denovo, Ephrat Asherie Dance, Ase Dance Theater Collective and worked with Bill T. Jones developing FELA! She traveled to West Africa to study the culture and has taught classes at Dance New Amsterdam, NY, Dance Theater of Harlem, Carlsbad High School, CA, Central Academy of Technology and Arts, NC, and has been a welcomed guest lecturer at both her alma maters as well as UNC at Charlotte, NC and College of New Rochelle School of New Resources, NY. Catching Subira, a collaboration with Mara Rivera and Niko Leboy, was requested as a plenary event at the American Dance Therapy Association and National Dance Educators Organization conference and she presented at the Expressive Therapies conference with drummer Dan Walsh. She is currently the Senior Activity Therapist in Dance at Maimonides Medical Center, a certified Umfundalai teacher for professional learners, and continues to collaborate as a member of Black Batey. She volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association Brooklyn Walk Committee, while teaching as a visiting professor at Pratt Institute, and directing Bryce Entertainment, LLC, a therapeutic services company.

Dara Meredith, MFA

Pennsylvania

Dara J Meredith, an Atlanta native received her B.F.A. in Dance and is the University of the
Arts recipient of the highest honored Stella Moore Award. She received her M.F.A. at Temple
University and was awarded the Rose Vernick Choreographic Achievement Award. Dara has
had an extensive performance career touring with Total Dance Theater in Senegal, West Africa,
Brian Sanders’ "Junk", “Black Nativity”, and Sonia Sanchez’ “Living Legends” tour. She is the
former Assistant Artistic Director, Principal dancer, Choreographer, and Rehearsal Director for
Eleone Dance Theatre and has also choreographed for Bad Boy’s “Danity Kane”, Grace Dance
Theater, and CAPA of Philadelphia musicals. Dara co-founded DCNS Dance Intensive and has
taught and choreographed for the West Chester University, Drexel University, Temple
University, University of the Arts, and Pennsylvania State College. She received a "Best
Choreography Award”" from National Dance Showcase, Fringe Festival’s “Rocky Award", the
“Ellen Foreman Memorial Award” from Drexel University, the “E Award" from Eleone Dance
Theatre, and the “Audience Choice Award" for the highly competitive International Dance
Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2020 Dara was commissioned by the Delaware Art Museum
to create, “The Bridge of Our Roots”, her own full-length evening choreographic response, to
celebrated painter, Eldzier Cortor’s “Southern Souvenir No. II”. Dara is currently an Adjunct
Faculty member at Drexel University, Temple University, and a full time dance educator in the
Philadelphia Public School System. She has a Professional Certification in the contemporary,
pan African,Umfundalai technique, and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. She is a
proud wife and mother of 3!

Tina Mullone, MFA

Rhode Island

Tina Mullone (BA, MFA) is Assistant Professor of Dance at Bridgewater State University and a New England board member for the American College Dance Association. She is a certified M’Singha Wuti instructor of Umfundalai contemporary African dance technique, Pilates mat instructor, and dance education consultant. She has performed in Texas, Louisiana, Philadelphia, Virginia, New York, Germany and Mexico. Her training background is in Agrippina Vaganova technique, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Katherine Dunham, Umfundalai contemporary African dance, various dances from Africa and the Diaspora. To highlight training, she studied at Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco Dance School, Urban Bush Women, Katherine Dunham Institute and the American Dance Festival. In addition to a number of outreach programs and studios, Tina taught at Texas Ballet Theater School, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth and Texas Christian University. Tina is co-director of M2, a performance art duet based in Monroe, LA. For 11 years, she commuted from Louisiana to Texas to continue her professional career as a performer with Beckles Dancing Company, and CD/FW (as Associate Artistic Director). Tina’s current research interests are centered around the following: African Diaspora dance, dance as a conduit for social change, African- Americans and the spaces that define/confine, the presence of spirituality in dance, Black feminism in movement & visual art, arts + education=what? and movement based therapy as a result of trauma. Tina is humbled and excited to begin this next journey with Umfundalai. All praises to Mama Kariamu, the master teachers and those who continue to keep the flames burning.

Angela Pittman, MFA

NEW YORK

Angie Pittman is a New York-based dancer-choreographer whose works sits in the Black Radical Tradition. Her choreographic work uses dance, text, and sound to illuminate nuanced and experimental portrayal of Black dance. Angie has had the pleasure of being able to create collaboratively with A Sef, Jasmine Hearn, Jonathan Gonzalez, Athena Kokoronis, and Anita Mullin. She holds a MFA in Dance and Choreography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a graduate minor in African American Studies and is a certified Professional teacher of the Umfundalai technique. As a dancer, she has danced in work by Larissa Valez-Jackson, MBDance, Ralph Lemon, Tere O’Connor, Cynthia Oliver, Anna Sperber, Donna Uchizono Company, Jennifer Monson, Kim Brandt, Tess Dworman, Antonio Ramos, C Kemal Nance and many others. As an educator, she has taught at Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Movement Research, MoMA, Sarah Lawrence College, Marymount Manhattan College, and is currently an Assistant Arts Professor of Dance at NYU: Tisch School of the Arts.