I was introduced to Baba Melvin Deal when I was 5 years old and he had his first dance studio located in Ward 7. He taught me West African dance. Many years later, Baba Deal has had the opportunity to observe me conduct dance workshops and dance performances at a wide variety of venues such as Malcolm X Park, Market 5 Gallery and Howard Theatre.
Baba Melvin Deal - African Heritage Dancers & Drummers
"The Founding Executive Artistic Director of the African Heritage Dancers and Drummers was, Mr. Melvin Deal, a veteran artist of more than forty one years. Mr. Deal, has worked tirelessly in researching African cultural manifestations to be used in the building of Self-Esteem and addressing the presence of Violence, Delinquency and Dysfunctional lifestyles and abuse in African-American communities.
An accomplished, Dancer, Musician, Choreographer, Researcher and Director, Mr. Deal was a graduate of Howard University, with a BA degree in Fine Arts & Education. Mr. Deal has studied at Ghana University, University of Nigeria at Ibadan and at num-erous cultural institutions nationally and abroad in the African Diaspora.
The recipient of many prestigious awards, among which includes: The Washington's "Living Legends" Award, 1980, "Washingtonian of the Year,1981", "Mayor's Arts Award, 1981", "Baltimore's" Great Blacks In Wax Award", 1995, "Philadelphia's 'CODUND'' Award, 1995 and many others.
Mr. Deal performed and taught regularly in the African Heritage Dance Center and in many Elementary & Secondary school systems and conducts classes, seminars, master classes and lecture demonstrations for Colleges, Universities and special cultural input to Motivational programs such as “'Robins Research Institute", National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Black Psychologist, Boys & Girl Scouts of America, Office of Criminal Justice and many others."
