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.

Takiyah’s research has been shared nationally and internationally and her  writing has been published in Dance Chronicle, the Western Journal of Black Studies, the Journal of Pan African Studies and through the Community Arts Network. 

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.

Prior to pursuing doctoral studies, Takiyah completed a BA in Dance at the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.F.A. in  Arts Administration at Virginia Tech.

Takiyah began her dance training at the age of 3 in Buffalo, New York in the Black Dance Workshop under the direction of Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Takiyah later went on to study at the Barb Denny School of Dance and with renowned international dance teacher and choreographer Matthew R. Clark at the Clark Academy of Performing Arts. Under Clark’s tutelage, Takiyah studied ballet (Cechetti), jazz, tap, modern and musical theatre dance and performed in the school’s award-winning competition company.

Dr. Amin is a former instructor at The Center of Dance in Blacksburg, VA (under the direction of Carol Crawford-Smith) where she taught West African influenced dance as well as performance techniques to both youth and adult learners. Beyond the academy,  Takiyah is a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Association of University Women, Order of Eastern Star (PHA,) Sisters of the Academy (SOTA), past National President of Malika Kambe Umfazi Sorority, Inc. and former Miss Black Virginia USA. Takiyah serves on the Ensemble’s Board of Directors.