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CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Updated March 28, 2024
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.
Click on any of the images below to see the Certified Umfundalai teacher who is working in your state.
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.
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 raised in the Bronx, NY where she began dance training at Ruth Williams Dance Studio and later with Mary Barnett, former Associate Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in ballet, jazz, modern, and African dance, Kariamu Welsh, Charles “Chuck” Davis, and more renowned dance instructors. She holds a BA in Broadcasting and Mass Media and an M.Ed. in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Bonner toured with Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble to national and international venues and served on the board of the Charlotte Dance Festival. She was named Best Choreography at the Charlotte Emerging Dance Awards, a choreography award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Studs Terkel’s Working, and a 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. Bonner was the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Charlotte Ballet and is currently an educator for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
Bianca Bonner was raised in the Bronx, NY where she began dance training at Ruth Williams Dance Studio and later with Mary Barnett, former Associate Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in ballet, jazz, modern, and African dance, Kariamu Welsh, Charles “Chuck” Davis, and more renowned dance instructors. She holds a BA in Broadcasting and Mass Media and an M.Ed. in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Bonner toured with Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble to national and international venues and served on the board of the Charlotte Dance Festival. She was named Best Choreography at the Charlotte Emerging Dance Awards, a choreography award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Studs Terkel’s Working, and a 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. Bonner was the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Charlotte Ballet and is currently an educator for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools.
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.
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.
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.
(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
Josephine Heard
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!
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.
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.
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.
Tabatha Robinson, EdM
CALIFORNIA
Jamie Shakur, MA
Ericka Squire, MFA
FLORIDA
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