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