Nekeshia Wall, of Greensboro, NC earned a BA from UNC Greensboro in Dance and African American Studies and an MFA in Dance at Hollins University in collaboration with Kunstlerhavs Mousontvrm and The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts; with support from The Dresden Frankfort Dance Company. She is also the founder of Matriarch Dance Co. LLC.Wall is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Elon University and specializes in Traditional West African and Contemporary Dance. Her current research focus seeks to explore how binary dancing forms such as West African Dance, can be engaged as valued and valid epistemological and ontological domains in scholarship.

Khairi Morrow is a sophomore double major in Dance Science and Public Health with minors in Biology, Exercise Science, and African/African American Studies. She is from Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her dance training at ETD Studios, Carla's Dance Factory, and performing arts through her high school as a competitive company member. This year Khairi will be in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She also serves in various leadership positions on campus and throughout the community.

Maya Simmons is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia. She will be earning her B.F.A in Dance Performance & Choreography and B.A. in English this spring. She is proud to have performed in the Florence Dance Festival and performances here at Elon: Dancing in the Landscape 2020, Black History Dance Concert: Redemption for our Skin, Fall Dance Concert 2021, Black History Month Dance Concert, Bridging: The Spring Dance Concert 2021 and 2023, and Black in the Theatre. She is grateful to have had her work presented in Fall Dance Concert 2022 and now Dancing in the Landscape!

Kayla Spalding is a dancer and choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a senior at Elon University, majoring in both Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and History (AB). During her time at Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert all four years. Kayla has also presented work during the Dancing In The Landscape and the Fall Dance Concert at Elon. She also performed in both the Richmond Dance Festival and Florence Dance Festival this past year. Kayla is incredibly thankful for all her opportunities throughout her time at Elon!

Evelyn Ealey is a second year at Elon University pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Strategic Communications. She is from Fort Mill, South Carolina and is so excited to be a part of the Elon Performing Arts community. This year, she will be participating in Dancing In The Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, and the Black History Month Dance Concert.

Rick Earl is the Production Manager for Cultural and Special Programs at Elon University. Rick has worked as an audio engineer, production manager, and designer with various acts and clients throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Rick is a full member of the Audio Engineering Society, USITT, and the Event Safety Alliance.

Atiba Rorie has been playing percussion instruments since he was a young child. He currently holds a BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and has also studied with Babatunde Olatunji, Fahali Igbo, Bradley Simmons, Chief Bey, and The National Dance Ensemble of Ghana in a one month intensive in Accra, Ghana, and a one-month intensive study in Guinea, West Africa. He has taught at Winston Salem State University and Guilford College. He currently is the Dance music coordinator at UNC Greensboro. He is the founder of the dynamic band Africa Unplugged. Rorie is also a musician within various professional ensembles; with these ensembles, he has performed at many venues including Dance Africa in New York, Tedx Greensboro, National Black Arts Festival, Black Dance USA, and two Presidential Inauguration Celebrations. In 2005 Rorie was invited to participate in a Drums of Passion Tribute to Babatunde Olatunji at the Percussive Arts Society InternationalConference. Rorie has been a guest artist at CaldCluegh Community Center, Duke University, High Point University, Agnes Scott College, Williams College, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Black College Dance Exchange, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Radford University.

Greg Thorn is the Technical Director for Cultural Programs at Elon University, as well as a freelance lighting designer. Some of his lighting design credits include Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, Cabaret, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Greg recently received his M.F.A in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Lighting Design from the University of Idaho in December of 2022.

Maria Angelos is a sophomore Elon College Fellow majoring in Theatrical Design and Technology with a concentration in stage management. She is so excited to be the assistant stage manager and weapons handler for Clue! They thank their family, friends, and mentors for all of their support. Previous Elon credits include: Black History Month Dance Concert (Stage Manager) Fall Dance Concert (Stage Manager), Antigone (Stage Manager), and The Cherry Orchard (Asst. Stage Manager).

Nekeshia Wall, of Greensboro, NC earned a BA from UNC Greensboro in Dance and African American Studies and an MFA in Dance at Hollins University in collaboration with Kunstlerhavs Mousontvrm and The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts; with support from The Dresden Frankfort Dance Company. She is also the founder of Matriarch Dance Co. LLC.Wall is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Elon University and specializes in Traditional West African and Contemporary Dance. Her current research focus seeks to explore how binary dancing forms such as West African Dance, can be engaged as valued and valid epistemological and ontological domains in scholarship.

Lilly, a native of Kannapolis, NC is a senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Psychology major. Lilly’s performance credits include Elon’s Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, Fall, and Spring Dance Concerts, along with Elon Cares, ADF’s Footprints, NCDF’s Residency Showing, and JOYEMOVEMENT’s Love Notes. She has presented work in the Fall Dance Concert and numerous festivals and is excited to present work in this year’s Dancing in the Landscape. Lilly has enjoyed working with various guest artists, faculty, and student choreographers. She is grateful to be an apprentice with the JOYEMOVEMENT dance company and a teacher at Miss Kim's.

Madi is a third year Dance Science and Exercise Science double major from Jackson, New Jersey. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She will also be conducting Dance Science Research for her Honors Thesis, with help of her mentor Professor Kearns. She is so eager to perform in her first in-person Black History Month Dance Concert and is thankful for the opportunities that the dance program has given her.

Eileena Boyce is a senior working to obtain a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and a BA in Strategic Communications. She is a native North Carolinian from Durham. During her time at Elon, she has performed in many of the mainstage Elon dance performances, performed in two dance films under Keisha Wall called “I Want to Undie You” and “Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Crisis”, as well as trained in Florence and performed in the Florence Dance Festival for study abroad. She recently presented her work for the first time at Elon in Dancing in the Landscape and is preparing to present undergraduate research in the winter. Boyce is beyond thankful for every opportunity and all the support she has gained over the years. She hopes you enjoy the performances!

Pheriby Bryan is a sophomore Dance and Choreography major with a Spanish and Business minor. She danced at Jami Masters School of Dance in Charlotte, NC since she was 5 and joined the Company in eighth grade. She was a teammate on Charlotte Latin School Varsity Dance Team and served as captain for two years. Pheriby has performed for Central Piedmont Community College Summer Stock Musical Theater and has understudied Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She is so excited to be performing in more upcoming shows this year alongside her friends.

DeMya Culp is a sophomore at Elon University who is majoring in Arts Administration and Drama and Theatre studies. She is no stranger to the stage, and has been in productions such as Willy Wonka, Seussical, Aladdin and Elon Cares. She has also sung in élan jazz ensemble and has sung the music of Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder. She would like to thank Elon Performing Arts and her family as they enjoy The Moment. @broadway20_

Amanda Cousins is a senior double major in Dance Performance & Choreography (BFA) and Biology (BA). She grew up in Chapel Hill, NC where she trained, competed, and taught at her local studio. Amanda has been in various Elon dance shows and student pieces as a performer, rehearsal assistant, and understudy. Over the summer, she had the opportunity to travel to Florence, Italy and performed at the Florence Dance Festival with other Elon Dancers. Amanda is very grateful for the opportunities Elon Dance has given her and is excited for her final main stage performance at Elon 

Kyra is a senior Music Theatre major, and she is very excited to perform in Collage! Last semester, she performed in the spring musical, Deep Water Ballad and will be in the upcoming fall production, Spring Awakening. Kyra is grateful for her supportive professors, peers, and family members. She looks forward to creating more lasting memories throughout her final year.

Sophie David is a junior Dance & Arts Administration major from Franklin, MA. She has performed in shows including Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. Sophie is so honored to be performing in Ming-Lung Yang’s piece in this year’s Spring Dance Concert!

Zeth Dixon is a 3rd year Music Theatre Major here at Elon University. Some of his favorite credits include Eddie in Mamma Mia (Bigfork Summer Playhouse), Crapshooter/Ensemble in Guys & Dolls (Bigfork Summer Playhouse), Pat Denning/Ensemble in 42nd Street (Elon University), and Man #1 in Songs for a New World (Nashville Children’s Theatre). He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and also serves in many leadership positions here on campus.

Lauren Jacobbe is a Senior studying Dance Performance and Choreography and Human Service Studies from Western Massachusetts. This summer she studied abroad in Florence, Italy and performed in the Florence Dance Festival Summer 2022. She has previously performed and assisted in Elon University's Productions of Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month, Spring Dance Concert, as well as student run choreography. She has worked closely with Berkshire Dance Theatre from Massachusetts, as well with Dysfunk Crew opening up for dance companies and performing at Jacob's Pillow "On the Road" events in the summer of 2021.

Lauryn McCarthy is originally from Portland, Oregon. She is currently a first-year at Elon University, pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. She has trained under the Jefferson Dancers, a pre-professional company. Through the Jefferson Dancers Lauryn got to perform over 50 times a year including traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the National High School Dance Festival and the South of France to take class as well as perform.

Forrest Matthews began studying West African music in 2003 and met his mentor, Fode Lavia Camara, shortly after. After years of training under Lavia, he traveled to Guinea in 2015 to help him with the first KALOUM DJEMBE Festival in the capital Conakry. Since then, Forrest has traveled to Guinea annually, to train with the artists of Ballet Gbassikolo du Kaloum, and continues to work with the annual KALOUM DJEMBE Festival. In 2019, he and Lavia held the first Kaloum Djembe Drum and Dance Conference in Greensboro. Forrest resides in Greensboro, NC working as a freelance artist.

Olivia Lanter is a junior student from St. Louis, Missouri. She is pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. Olivia has performed in Dancing in the Landscape (2020), the 2020 Fall Dance Concert, the 2021 Fall Dance Concert, and the Spring Dance Concert (2022), and the 2022 Fall Dance Concert. Notably, she spent this summer abroad in Italy taking class at The Florence Dance Center and performing in the Florence Dance Festival as well as presenting choreography by Lauren Kearns. Additionally, Olivia is preparing to present her neuropsychological dance science undergraduate research that she embarked on last fall. She hopes to better the dance community as a whole with her findings.

Parker MacIntyre is a senior double major in Dance Performance & Choreography (BFA) and Dance Science (BS) with a minor in Exercise Science. Parker is incredibly thankful to be able to present his work in this production, and thanks Elon Dance for allowing him to do so. He has performed in various Elon Dance productions during his time here and is excited to make the most of his senior year.Parker MacIntyre is a senior BFA Dance Performance & Choreography major, originally from Londonderry, New Hampshire. He is also earning a Bachelor of Science in Dance Science with a minor in Exercise Science. Parker has performed in the Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and most recently presented his own work in this year's Dancing in the Landscape. He is incredibly grateful to be part of his final Fall Dance and is looking forward to the rest of his senior year.

Emma Morris is a junior at Elon pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Dance Science. She is from Lexington, Kentucky and is thrilled to continue on her path of becoming a professional dancer here at Elon. At Elon, she has had multiple opportunities to perform in Dancing In The Landscape, Spring Dance Concert & Black History Month Dance Concert. Emma is so excited and grateful for the opportunity to debut her choreography in Dancing in the Landscape this year!

Sarah Parks is a native of McLean, Virginia. She is currently a junior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography. She is delighted to be making her debut at Elon University in the Black History Month Concert and is thankful for the support of her family and friends.

Gia Nguyen is a sophomore double major in BFA Dance Performance and Choreography and BA Sociology. She is from Collegeville, PA where she began her dance training at On Edge Movement as a competitive company member. She is experienced in styles such as hip hop, modern, ballet and many more. Gia is overjoyed to be back for her second year and is thrilled to be apart of another amazing Elon show. This year Gia will be in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert.

Khairi Morrow is a sophomore double major in Dance Science and Public Health with minors in Biology, Exercise Science, and African/African American Studies. She is from Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her dance training at ETD Studios, Carla's Dance Factory, and performing arts through her high school as a competitive company member. This year Khairi will be in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She also serves in various leadership positions on campus and throughout the community.

Zion Middleton is a junior BFA Music Theatre major from McDonough, Ga. His passion for social justice and change in today’s society is what drives his need to perform. Outside of performing he enjoys directing, playing soccer, and working at the Boys and Girl’s Club of Alamance County. Other theatre credits include: Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone, Judas in Godspell. Lucas in Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, and Fortinbras in Hamlet. Special thanks to his mother, grandmother and brother!

Sarah Rothacker is a sophomore Dance Performance and Choreography, and Communication Design double major from Dublin, OH. She has previously trained at Columbus DanceArts Academy and has had the opportunity to perform in Dancing In The Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert last year at Elon. She is so excited to see where her journey takes her and is so grateful for the opportunity to perform in Black History Month Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert this semester!

Candace Rhodes is a senior music theatre major at Elon University. She has played various roles such as Working the Musical, Grand Hotel, Once on this Island, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, and Elon’s workshop production of Movin' On. Candace is thrilled to be a part of the production of Elon’s Head Over Heels. She wants to thank God, her family, and her closest friends for their consistent support. @candace.roseee

Maya Simmons is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia. She will be earning her B.F.A in Dance Performance & Choreography and B.A. in English this spring. She is proud to have performed in the Florence Dance Festival and performances here at Elon: Dancing in the Landscape 2020, Black History Dance Concert: Redemption for our Skin, Fall Dance Concert 2021, Black History Month Dance Concert, Bridging: The Spring Dance Concert 2021 and 2023, and Black in the Theatre. She is grateful to have had her work presented in Fall Dance Concert 2022 and now Dancing in the Landscape!

Kayla Spalding is a dancer and choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a senior at Elon University, majoring in both Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and History (AB). During her time at Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert all four years. Kayla has also presented work during the Dancing In The Landscape and the Fall Dance Concert at Elon. She also performed in both the Richmond Dance Festival and Florence Dance Festival this past year. Kayla is incredibly thankful for all her opportunities throughout her time at Elon!

Renell Taylor is a senior Music Theatre and Arts Administration double major. Renell has been in multiple Elon productions such as Damn Yankees, 42nd Street, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, and more. Renell is super excited to be performing some of his original choreography in his final performances at Elon. He would like to thank his family, his friends, and the amazing mentors and professors that have continued to support him.

Aleah Newman Is a sophomore BFA Dance Major from Chicago who has been dancing from a young age in various styles and spent four years dancing with Inaside Chicago Dance's Pre-professional company. She is so happy to continue her study of dance here at Elon.

Lila Snodgrass is a sophomore at Elon University pursuing a major in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as Mathematics. She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been dancing for 14 years. This semester, along with Dancing in the Landscape, Lila will perform in the Fall Dance Concert and the Black History Month Concert. She is thrilled to be dancing in this performance!

Brooke Goldstein is a first year Dance Performance and Choreography major. She is from Rockland County, New York and is thrilled to continue on her journey of becoming a professional choreographer and dancer at Elon. This year, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape and understudied for the Fall Dance Concert. She is so excited to be dancing in the Black History Month Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert and is on the crew for Clue. Congratulations to the cast!!

Lindsey Goldstein is a sophomore Dance Performance and Choreography major from Boston, MA. She is so excited to be performing in Dancing in the Landscape for her second time! She will also be performing at Elon this year in the Fall Dance Concert and Black History Month Dance Concert.

Nate is thrilled for round two of Collage, this time as a sophmore and is especially excited as his debut directing, choreographing and music directing one of the numbers, Corner of the Sky! Last spring he was able to be a part of new work, Deep Water Ballad and coming up he will be playing Ernst in Spring Awakening here. All the love to his cast and to his family.

Evelyn Ealey is a second year at Elon University pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Strategic Communications. She is from Fort Mill, South Carolina and is so excited to be a part of the Elon Performing Arts community. This year, she will be participating in Dancing In The Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, and the Black History Month Dance Concert.

Tuba/ sousaphone player since 7th grade. Studied at North Carolina A&T and member of the Blue and Gold Marching Machine. Protégé and son to the great Charles Lee Butler.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technological University trumpet major graduate.

Bashir Shakur is a percussionist, composer, performer, educator, and recording artist whose unique blend of improvisational, and traditional percussion can be found on his latest release entitled “Visible”, with acclaimed Zimbabwean dancer Nora Chipoumare. In addition to his work with Nora, Bashir has recorded, performed, and/or toured with an array of diverse artist Including: Chuck Davis, Camille Yarborough (foremother of Rap), DJ Grandmaster Flash, Waley Reyes Jr. (drummer for Santana), The Sunday Special Band, The North Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Bessie award winner Jawole Jo Zollar and Reggae superstar Freddie McGregor. One of Bashir’s latest creations is his youth leadership program “Buckets and Beats”. Created in 2014 with funding from the Alvin Ailey Arts in Education program. Shakur developed a cost effective, empowering and fun 14-week percussion study with 3rd and 5th graders, using just two drumsticks and a bucket. Also playing with his acoustic Jazz, World, and Urban Music band “B-Shak Rhythm and Soul”. This quartet of adventurous musicians was assembled in 2012 and has been described as Be-bop Jazz, meets Afro-Beat, meets trance-inducing Urban Music.Shakur has been an artist-in-residence and or faculty member at many Institution’s including: The Brooklyn Music School, New York University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, American Dance Festival, Williams College and is currently on staff at Elon University. Mr. Shakur would like to thank Allah for all of his many gifts and blessings.

A local to Greensboro, NC, Eli is a professional guitarist, performer and instructor.

Hannah is a sophomore getting her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. Along with a degree in Cinema Arts and Television. Hannah is from Greensboro, North Carolina, and grew up dancing at Greensboro Dance Theater. She has also traveled to many dance conventions and has studied under performers like Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini. Not only did she grow up in dance studios, but she joined a company that partners with Broadway in New York City. There she is mentored by Broadway performers and dances in front of casting agencies and managers. Hannah enjoys choreographing, going to the beach, and being outdoors.

Souleymane Solo Sana is an accomplished traditional dancer from Mali, West Africa. Dedicated to the preservation of traditional dance, music, and culture Solo is committed to continuous research to maintain an accurate representation and disbursement of traditional information, movement, and rhythm.  A former principal member of one of the premiere companies of Mali,  Ballet Du District de Bamako, he is a leader among artists.   Solo’s presence at local ceremonies and festivals in Mali has always been in high demand, performing with renown griots and musicians as well as internationally known artists such as Djeneba Seck and Oumou Sangare.  With an extensive knowledge of traditional dances of the Mande culture he is highly sought after as an instructor for private and group lessons teaching students from around the world including internationally acclaimed dancers, university instructors, and Broadway performers.  Currently Solo splits his time between teaching and performing in the United States and running Kono Gnaga, his NGO in Mali with a mission to preserve traditional dance and music.   Solo made his choreographic premiere in New York City in the Spring of 2014 and has most recently embarked on the creation of Sira Koro, a dance and music ensemble in Mali, where he serves as Artistic Director and choreographer with a mission to bring new perspective to traditions while simultaneously providing opportunities for young artists in Mali.

Michelle N. Gibson is a choreographer, cultural ambassador, educator, performing artist, and present candidate of Katherine Dunham Technique Certification. New Orleans Own incorporates much of the city’s culture in her teaching practice and choreographic aesthetic through  lectures and workshops entitled The New Orleans Original BuckShop LLC. Gibson received her BFA in Dance from Tulane University and her MFA in Dance from Hollins University/American Dance Festival at Duke University. Michelle is also a alum of Xavier Prep High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Gibson is a long time educator, currently serving as faculty member for nine years with the American Dance Festival at Duke University and dance faculty at the Booker T. Washington High School of Performing and Visual Arts. As an freelance artist, New Orleans native, and presently living in Dallas TX Michelle is dedicating her energies, pedagogical practice, and performance based research geared toward cultivating the community and the world aboard.

Aaliyah Pugh is a sophomore from Cary, North Carolina and she's majoring in Digital Marketing with a minor in dance. Holly Springs School of Dance is her home studio and she joined the Springs Dance Company in the eighth grade. Aaliyah also danced in Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker in the sixth grade. She was on the dance team and in Honors dance at her High School for 3 years. This is her first show in the Elon dance program, and she's so grateful that she was given this wonderful opportunity to showcase her talents while embracing black culture.

Sophie Seitchik is a freshman pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Dance Science. From Ellicott City, MD, Sophie danced since the age of 3 at Studio Dans Dance Company on their competition team. Sophie is so excited to continue her training over the next 4 years at Elon! She will be featured in Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She is excited to share her love of dance with you!