Free to Be Open Studios Classes

Baidy Ba

Baidy Ba is a Senagalese dancer, choreographer, and performer, native of Kaolack City, who started dancing from an early age. From 2012 - 2018, Baidy trained in contemporary, classical dance, Afro contemporary dance, and popping and locking with several major artists and pioneers of dance in Senegal including Guillaume Siard from Preljocaj Ballet, Alioune Diagne from Cie Diagn'art in St Louis, Senegal, Germaine Acogny at Ecole des Sables, Gil Roman from the Ballet Bej'art, and actress Marie Koda, to name a few. In 2018, Baidy earned his diploma in the art of teaching dance and mastering traditional and contemporary African dance at Ecole Des Sables.
From 2015 – 2019, Baidy Ba toured Germany, the United States, Spain, and London with several companies including the production Political Bodies choreographed by Yolanda Guttiérrer, the Tenane Company in the DanceAfrica Festival at Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2016, the Festival Kaay fecc in 2017, and the Festival Cuadernos esceninos in Spain. In 2017 Baidy founded his own company, the Mbosse Dance Company, which brought him to France for a cultural exchange as part of the Nicola project, in London, England and Brazil. His first solo entitled Gouddi Ndakarou, was presented in TChad at the Souar Souar Festival at the Goethe Institute of Dakar, at the Blaise Senghor Cultural Center in Dakar and at the Ecole des Sables in Toubab Dialao. His second solo entitled Ilusion was presented in the Soloduo International Contemporary Dance Festival in Cologne in 2018.

Through his organization that helps the children of the Street, Kilifete Euleuk, in Kaolack, Baidy was invited to participate in a project, Un pas en Avant, in Tchad to work with the War Refugees for three months in 2019. Baidy performed with the music group Guiss Guiss Bou Bess in the Transmusical Festival in Rennes and participated in a 2 week residency in Lille. While in in Rennes, France another Sabar Fusion was organized in Athens, Greece for a seminary at the Quilombo Center. Baidy Ba is also the Founder/Director of the first 100% international Dance Festival in Kaolack in 2017 and presented the second festival in 2019. In Kaolack, Baidy created cultural training and exchange projects for local dancers.
Currently, Baidy is working on a Collective project with dancers from the Kaolack region, the Alliance Française de Kaolack, and dancer/choreographer Nicoletta Key From Italy to create a national tour of Senegal. Lastly, Baidy Bâ opened the first mixed dance center in Kaolack in collaboration with L'alliance Frances de Kaolack where he trained more than 50 young students and lovers of dance. Through his mentorship, 40 young dancers became professional, including 6 dancers who have graduated in teaching and writing dance.

Shyana Broughton

Mrs. Shyana Broughton pronounced (Shay-na) is the Creator of Our Mommie Village that provides Doula care, breastfeeding support, fitness, nutrition and cultural instruction for women and families in the Buffalo, NY area and beyond virtually through a partnership with the Artsucation™ Academy Network. Mrs. Broughton has a professional dance career of over 20 years, which includes performing in the 2014 BAM DanceAfrica with the African American Cultural Center (AACC) as a principal dancer and mentor to young girls at AACC. Mrs. Broughton is a certified Zumba fitness instructor for 6 years, a former dance instructor for both the YMCA of Greenville, South Carolina and Buffalo, NY. Merging her 13 years of West African dance experience and Zumba, Mrs. Broughton brings forth a fun, one of a kind experience. She will lead a Mother Daughter Cardio Challenge with Nyeelah Broughton.

Diamond Tree

Diamond Tree DBA Hood Hula was born at Yale New Haven Hospital on March 25th in the 1900s at 12:39pm!! She's an African Spiritualist, Fashion Designer, Martial Artist to name a few and now Master Hula Hooper! All services available for teaching Women and Children.

Chaila Gilliams

Penn Yan, NY born, New Haven, CT raised, college educated (HBCU) Norfolk State University (BS Mass Communications) Norfolk, VA, further educated and life experienced at another (HBCU) Clark Atlanta University (Host Broadcast Training 1996 Summer Olympics) Atlanta, GA and Rising Spirit Institute (Certified Massage Therapist) Atlanta, GA, resided in Atlanta, GA for 12 years, and further educated MBA in Business Administration – Healthcare Management at Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT. Now residing in Hamden/New Haven, CT (back home) Chaila “Chai” has brought her talents, training, and entrepreneurial mindset back home to Connecticut. Chaila is a licensed and certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, Zumba instructor, Founder, Owner, Operator, and Chief Executive Director of The Green Peacock Corporation 501c3 and Bodyworkers, LLC Fitness and Wellness Company. You can find Chaila’s talents and explorations in after school programs; summer camps; specialty programs; outdoor/indoor workouts online and in person; Zoom; YouTube; Facebook; Instagram; local and national events; and globally via virtual platforms…… Chaila Gilliams dance and fitness training has graced stages near and far from Gloria Jeans dance studio in West Haven, CT; African Dance Company under Shari Caldwell New Haven, CT; Norfolk State University NSU Dance Company Norfolk, VA; Total Dance/Dancical Productions under Terrie “Ajile” Axam Atlanta, GA; Gold’s Gym; Bally Total Fitness; Sports Life; Crunch Fitness; Ladies Express; Fit Muslim – Mubarakah – local New Haven, CT Gym; Arts and Ideas Festivals New Haven, CT; Juneteenth Festival Celebrations, and more…..

Hanan Hameen

Ms. Hanan Hameen, Doctoral Candidate is the Founder of the Artsucation™ Academy Network, Ms. Hanan’s Dance and Beyond, New Haven Hip-Hop Conference, and Premiere Dance Company at Neighborhood Music School. Ms. Hameen is also Artistic Director of the BAM DanceAfrica Candle Bearers founded by Baba Dr. Chuck Davis, and an Adjunct Professor. Currently, Ms. Hameen is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Administration, Master equivalent in Dance Education, Master of Science in Educational Leadership with an Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership, Dance Education Laboratory Alumni, a Lupus support group facilitator, an author, dance mentor, and curriculum developer. Before Lupus diagnosis in 2010, Ms. Hameen performed with 13 dance companies, instructed at 8 colleges and universities, choreographed for major and independent artists, founded 6 dance companies, and owned/operated 4 dance schools during her dance career of over 30 years. Now being employed disabled, through Artsucational™ events she uplifts the community domestically and abroad. Ms. Hameen’s awards and recognitions include three honors societies and Arts Council of Greater New Haven 2018 Phenomenal Woman and Artist Commission Awardee. Her doctoral research interests are on STEAM education, culturally relevant instruction, and gifted and talented African-American youth. During this pandemic Ms. Hameen is hosting an online diasporic class series with former artists from BAM Dance Africa and national dance companies.

Kim Holmes

For the last 20 years, Kim Holmes has emerged as one of the premiere, influential luminaries of the urban dance movement with unparalleled vibrancy, sensuality, and versatility. This legendary, leading lady and vanguard of Hip-Hop dance culture, has sought to redefine the face of the hip hop/urban dance movement as a heavily sought after dancer, choreographer, and Founder and Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed, Universal Dance Movement.  Along with her formal training in traditional dance forms of African, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary, to name a few, Kim became intensely mesmerized by the pulsating energy of contemporary urban dance as expressed within forms of Hip-Hop and House. Her evolving intrigue in hip hop and house led her to an opportunity to tour and work with some of the top performers and influential artists within the music industry, including Beyonce, Jay-z, Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, Salt n Pepa, Dance Fusion, Full Circle, Elite Force and a plethora of others.  

Tamara Jones

Tamara Jones is a dancer and choreographer in New York. She has been a member of several different dance companies. To name a few, her longest dance career has been with Harambee Dance Company and Umoja Dance Company. Throughout her dance career, Tamara has had the opportunity to perform on many stages and venues. Those stages include Symphony Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), for Essence Magazine Events, Summer Stage, the International African Arts Street Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts Center NJPAC, and Broadway Dance Center’s Tribute to Savion Glover 2005. Tamara Jones also choreographed Jona Briddle, “The Jonah Show,” Tribute to hip hop pioneer and Brickhouse Studios Founder Kelly Peters at AlvinAiley Citigroup Theatre. This class incorporated African Dance for his travel team the “Boss Kids.” In 2020, she is also a featured dancer in the Grammy Award Singing artist Angelique Kidjoe & Bass Player Michael Olatuja's collaboration ""Lagos Pepper Soup.""

Tamara Jones has also explored a career in acting as she was a dancer in the Indi Film “The Magnificent Cooley T,” starring Jackie Long and Tiearra Marie released Spring 2016 produced by Steven Leeds. She was also in “A Meyers Christmas,” Movie produced by Will Packer and directed by David E. Talbert (2017) as a praise worshiper in the church scene. She also has explored reality TV and she is seen on television shows such as ""Black Ink Crew"" and Dr. Oz.

Ms. Jones spreads her passion for dance as she currently teaches West African, Tap and Hip Hop to ages 6 and up. Presently she is a Sub Traditional African dance teacher at Broadway Dance Center, Sub teaches Afrobeats at Peridance, and teaches Afrobeat Fusion at Ripley Grier Studio and Cumbe: Center for African & Diaspora Dance. Join her as she spreads her passion for dance in the tri state area and beyond.

Reina Pelle-Joseph

Reina Pelle-Joseph is Bronx, NY based dancer and choreographer who began her studies at the tender age of 5 under the tutelage of Ms. Robin Williams and Ms. Hanan Hameen at the historic Uptown Dance Academy in Harlem, NYC. Ms. Pelle-Joseph quickly advanced in her disciplines of Ballet, Modern, African, Tap, Flamenco and Jazz, which enabled her to land her first professional role as Timoune in the Off-Broadway play “Once on This Island” just two years later. This was the start of a long and ever-budding journey in the arts. As a teen in her community, Reina developed a passion for the youth and began to share her love of dance with her younger peers as a teaching assist. While attending North Carolina A&T, Ms. Pelle-Joseph focused her energy on creative movement for children, and with years of experience in all facets of dance, is primed to perform her craft at the highest level both physically and as a dancer and academically as a seasoned dance teacher. She has also traveled to learn from and performing with numerous international artists and dancers to help her get back in tune with her culture and heritage. As an Artsucator-in-Training, Reina he then aided and assisted her mentor Ms. Hanan Hameen at Neighborhood Music School and Lincoln Bassett Elementary School in New Haven, CT as a lead teacher. Ms. Pelle-Joseoph was also integral in the development of dance programs at Teaching of Arts Horizons, the Boys and Girls Club, Pathways to Graduation, and many other Public and Private Schools around the TriState Area and has instructed at each. Currently, Ms. Pelle-Joseph is the Dance Captain for Artsucation Academy Network’s Keepers of the Culture Performing Arts Company. She hopes to continue pushing love art and education to her community then the rest of the world!

Dr. Darian Parker

Darian M. Parker, PhD is a Guest Professor of West African dance at The Juilliard School. In addition, he is also a Guest Professor of West African Dance at The New School for Social Research and Sarah Lawrence College, and he is a faculty member at Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance. His choreography and research have received support from the Jerome Foundation, Harlem Stage, and The New Haven Arts Council. Dr. Parker has performed internationally with artists such as Meshell N’Degeocello and Jason Moran, and in the Hollywood film Step Up 3D. His commitment to teaching extends beyond dance. Dr. Parker is the Founder & CEO of Parker Academics (www.parkeracademics.com), which, in just five years, has provided 70,000 hours of test prep and tutoring to over 1000 students on two continents. As an adjunct professor at NYU, he teaches courses in anthropology and critical thinking. Dr. Parker is also active in the Yale Alumni Association, conducting dozens of interviews yearly for prospective Yale admits. He is the author of Sartre and No Child Left Behind: An Existential Psychoanalytic Anthropology of Urban Schooling (Rowman and Littlefield Press, 2015), and “The Haze”, which appears in Pedagogies in the Flesh (Palgrave McMillan Press, 2018). He also sits on the board of the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness, which is commissioned by the American Anthropological Association. Dr. Parker graduated from Yale University with a PhD, M. Phil and MA in anthropology and African American Studies, and from UCLA’s College of Honors with degrees in anthropology and English literature.