There are so many Black women dancers that I know. Some of them include Nana Malaya, Wakili McNeil and Kima Hawk.
Nana Malaya
Nana Malaya at Dance Africa 2009. Dance Place, Washington, DC.Photograph by Ms. Afrika Abney
Nana Malaya was also selected to be one of the youngest members of August Wilson’s first professional theatre company: The Black Horizon Theatre. This friendship and collaboration continued, and she also served as an actress and choreographer for the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. Her company, The Nubian Theatre Dance & Music Company, has provided her the opportunity to portray many characters and to be a featured performer at many major venues including: The Lincoln Center, NYC; The Kennedy Center; The Smithsonian Institute; Wolftrap; the Anacostia Museum; Discovery Theatre; The Historic Lincoln Theatre; The Arc; The Lisner; The Harlem National Black Theatre and many more. She has also toured and graced the stage with Malcolm Jamal Warner, Phyliss Stickney, Phyliss Hyman, Stevie Wonder, Miriam Mekeba, Bill T. Jones, Alice Coltrane, and numerous others!
Nana Malaya was declared “The Dancing Diplomat” since she has performed around the world. She has had the honor of being selected to perform for the King of Ghana, President Bill Clinton, Rosa Park and others.
Wakili McNeill is
the founder of the Zawadi Arts & Leadership Training Institute
(ZALTI), a community consulting firm in Silver Spring Maryland. Raised
in Chicago's rich multi-cultured neighborhoods, Wakili developed a
strong respect and appreciation for cultural diversity. Wakili McNeill
holds a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Community
Development at Norfolk State University (NSU).
She
has worked in youth development for over 15 years. Cultivating and
influencing several diverse groups in Chicago, Baltimore, Virginia,
Washington DC & Maryland her work has impacted both youth
development professionals and young people directly in sectors such as:
academic, faith- based institutions, neighborhood civic groups, city
commissions, business advisory boards, and other community based
groups.
As the
Director of Youth & Community Development in Hampton, VA at
Alternatives, Inc., Wakili has galvanized communities in Hampton &
Newport News, VA to establish positive youth programming & youth-
led advocacy. She has been instrumental in the development of several
youth training tracks for national and statewide conferences.
Wakili
has inspired non- traditional youth leaders to create positive action
steps to address issues that are important in the lives of young people.
As a Certified Advancing Youth Development Curriculum Facilitator,
Wakili has trained youth professionals to work in partnership with young
people to create positive sustainable change in the lives of young
people and in the community at large. Wakili contributes her success to
believing in the capacity of all people and recognizing the cultural
arts as a valuable tool for empowerment.
Kima Hawk
Kima Hawk is a
dancer/performance artist, model, fitness model, dance fitness teacher
and healer. She has performed with Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, Bele
Bele, Akoma Drummers and many other companies. Ms.Hawk has performed at
a wide variety of venues throughout the community such as Hands of Drum
(2016), Malcolm X Park and Kennedy Center are just to name a few.