Instructors
Nadia Dieudonné
Afro-Haitian
Nadia Dieudonné is a seasoned choreographer, performer and dance educator who began dancing at an early age. By 12, Dieudonné was performing with well-known Haitian folk singer and community activist Myriam Dorismé. Dieudonné was also mentored by the Haitian dance icon Jean-León Destiné and worked with him for many years as a performer and assistant instructor. Dieudonné's innate talent as a Haitian dancer grew stronger in 1990 when she began traveling to her homeland to research and study the origins, purpose of Haitian dance and its connections to Africa. She honed her skills by attending several lakous -- communities that preserve and practice specific Vodou ceremonies -- in the countryside and by frequenting esteemed dance schools in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and New York.
Today, due to her diligent work, research and study of the heritage of Haitian dance, Dieudonné is known as one of the best banda dancers outside of Haiti. Her passion for dance led her to establish Nadia Dieudonné & Feet of Rhythm, a Brooklyn-based Haitian dance company specializing in theater performances with live instrumentation. In the founding of this organization, Dieudonné also created Feet of Rhythm Kids to include Haitian-American youth who are not aware of nor exposed to the vibrant culture of Haiti. Through their performances and signature cultural program called "Konbit," Feet of Rhythm has been educating the community through the performing arts for almost three decades.
Emilio Hernandez Gonzalez
Afro-Cuban
Emilio Yasmel Hernández González is a native of Havana, Cuba. He studied at the School of Art Instructors of Havana and has built a distinguished career as a dancer and choreographer of musical shows. Emilio is a First-Level Solo Dancer and the Principal Choreographer of the Raíces Profundas Company.
He received the Ramiro Guerra Award in 2016 for Best Folkloric Dance Performance in Cuba, as well as the National Choreography and Best Show Award in 2018–2019 for his work Patakkin. Emilio has participated as a workshop leader and jury member in international dance events and festivals across various countries.
Youssouf Koumbassa
West African (Guinean Dance)
Youssouf Koumbassa
In his 13 years with the Ballet National under the tutelage of Sekouba Camara, the Artistic director of Ballet National Djoliba, and with Kemoko Sano, the acclaimed Artistic Director of Les Ballets Africains, Youssouf traveled extensively throughout West Africa, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Holland, Hungary, Russia, Korea, Libya, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Since moving to the United States 22 years ago, Youssouf has established himself as the pre-eminent teacher of dance from Guinea. He now travels throughout the world as a much sought after master teacher at dance conferences, workshops, camps and schools connecting with students who are appreciative of his mercurial energy and grace.
Jazz Johnson
New Orleans Bounce
Jazz Johnson, Artist | Culture Bearer | Founder of TWERK NOLA
Born and raised in New Orleans, Jazz Johnson is a movement artist, visionary, and storyteller. Trained at NOCCA, NOBA, and SUNY Purchase (BFA Dance), she’s performed around the world carrying the spirit of her roots wherever she moves.
After nearly a decade in NYC’s dance world, Jazz returned home to launch TWERK NOLA a powerful blend of dance, wellness, and cultural pride. Her mission: to remind people that their bodies are sacred, their stories matter, and their joy is revolutionary.
Isaiah Tyrelle Boyd
Afro-Brazilian
Isaiah Boyd, a Bay Area native, is a versatile performing artist—actor, choreographer, and director—whose career spans TV, Broadway, regional theater, and dance concerts. He began his Afro‑Brazilian dance training at the age of 17 under Master Tania Santiago, a Salvador-born instructor and founder of Aguas Dance Company. Isaiah’s studies took him to Salvador, Bahia, where he participated in multiple dance and cultural intensives with Santiago. These immersive experiences strengthened his connection to traditional movement, rhythms, and cultural expression. His classes welcome all levels and feature high energy, fun, and a deep respect for Afro‑Brazilian culture.
Dr. Shola K. Roberts
Grenadian Folkloric
Dr. Shola K. Roberts is an international dance artist, educator, choreographer, cultural advocate, and fitness instructor based in Arizona and Brooklyn, New York, by way of Grenada, W.I. She is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Music, Dance & Theatre and the Founder/Artistic Executive Director of Dance Grenada Incorporated, a platform connecting Grenadian and international dance artists. A proud Grenadian American, Shola recently earned her doctorate in Dance Education from Columbia University, with research rooted in Ubuntu philosophy and Culturally Relevant pedagogy to preserve Grenada’s folk dance traditions in higher education. Her work has been featured in Essence and Black Enterprise, and she has collaborated with renowned companies and choreographers including Kowteff West African Dance Company, Oyu Oro, Francine Elizabeth Ott, and Otis D. Herring. In 2023, she launched the Shola K. Roberts Dance Company, debuting her original piece The Spirit is Callin… in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Shola’s performance highlights include the 2018 Voices of Congo Square at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans and the Bessie Award-winning 2021 Dance Africa film Vwa zanset yo: y’ap pale, n’ap danse! She has received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the New York State Dance Education Association, as well as the 2020 Cultural Ambassador Award from the Grenadian Consulate and Independence Committee in New York. Recognized as a Traditional Torchbearer, Shola is dedicated to uplifting people through dance, celebrating Caribbean culture, and inspiring communities around the globe.
Michelle Gibson
New Orleans Second Line Aesthetic
Michelle N. Gibson is a choreographer, educator, and cultural ambassador whose work embodies the rich traditions of the African Diaspora and her New Orleans roots. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance from Tulane University and an M.F.A. from Hollins University/American Dance Festival at Duke University. Currently Professor of Practice in Dance at Southern Methodist University, Gibson’s practice spans Contemporary Afro Modern, Afro Funk, Jazz, and her signature New Orleans Second Line Aesthetic.
Her acclaimed works include Takin’ it To The Roots (performed at The Joyce Theater and Jacob’s Pillow), Voices of Congo Square, and Displaced Yet Rebirth for Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Gibson has presented nationally and internationally, from leading Second Line parades at the Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland to choreographing new works for Ohio State University.
As a scholar and cultural leader, she has lectured at Northwestern, Duke, Columbia College Chicago, and USC, and curates the annual Culture, Brass, and Jazz in the Park Festival in Dallas. She was also featured in Moving Together, the documentary selected for Dance on Camera at Lincoln Center (2023).
