Our Staff

A group of people committed to uplifting, advocating and sharing the power of dance.

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore

Founder, CEO & Artistic Director

Wayne
St. David

​Resident Choreographer, Artistic Advisor

William E.
Thomas

Ballet Master & Rehearsal Director Emeritus

Takiyah Nur Amin, Ph.D.

COO & Administrative Director Emeritus

Founder, CEO & Artistic Director

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore

Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore is the Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of Danse4Nia, Philadelphia’s premiere arts organization that is the home to professional project-based dance company Phoenix Danse, youth dance company Nia-Next and arts education/ performing arts training program Danse4Nia Conservatory.

​Resident Choreographer, Artistic Advisor

Wayne St. David

Wayne David ​is the curricular head of Jazz Dance and an alumnus of The University of the Arts where he celebrates over three decades of teaching dance. He has been an ambassador for the arts and culture for over forty years. Mr. Wayne (as he is known to many) is well known for his ability to teach many levels from pre-school to professional

Ballet Master & Rehearsal Director Emeritus

William E. Thomas

William E. Thomas’ concert and commercial dance venues/performances include: Off-Broadway at La Mama E.T.C., The International Theatre Festival of Barranquilla/ Columbia, the National Tour of Sesame Street Live, The Toronto Fringe Festival/Canada and Webster Dancer Theater/US. 

He has performed in regional theatre productions such as: Anything Goes w/ Chita Rivera,The Unsinkable Molly Brown w/ Ann Reinking, and The Black Musical Review.  He has performed in concert works such as: The Green Table (K. Jooss), Don Quixote/ Pas de Deux (after Petipa), and Galena Summit (K. Posin), among others, and sang as part of the Buffalo Philharmonic Community Chorus. 

COO & Administrative Director Emeritus

Takiyah Nur Amin, Ph.D.

Dr. Takiyah Nur Amin is a proud native of Buffalo, NY and the daughter of Karima and the late Abdul Jalil Amin. In May 2011 Takiyah earned a Ph.D. in Dance (with a concentration in Cultural Studies) and certificates in both Women’s Studies and Teaching in Higher Education as a Future Faculty Fellow at Temple University.

 

Notably, Dr. Amin is the 2011 recipient of the Edrie Ferdun Scholarly Achievement Award for excellence in dance studies from the Esther Boyer College of Music in Dance at Temple University.

Production Manager, TD and Lighting Designer: Pamela Hobson/Into The Light Productions

Board of Directors

Wayne St. David- Chair
Adenrele Ojo-Allen Vice Chair
Cathy Finley Hensford- Secretary
Janet King- Financial Secretary (Ad Hoc)
Barbara Williams- Board Advisory Liaison
Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore
Pamela M. Hobson
Diva Richards
Kim Rollins

Advisory Council

Hillary Burdette 
Anthony Burrell
Jacqueline Jonas 
Terrill “YaFav Trashman” Haigler 
Joilet Harris Lawton 
Christina Pierangeli
Kevin Rodgers
John Shasanmi
Candace Smith