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E E x x e e c c u u t t i i v v e e

S S t t a a f f f f

NAJWA I

Founder & Artistic Director Emeritus

 

Najwa’s choreography is like tasting the highlights of rich African- American dance tradition and being immersed in the consuming flame of warm creativity”. Larry Dunn

Najwa I, an internationally acclaimed fire dancer, has danced most of her life. She was born into the deep aroma of Black styles and life in Clarksdale, Mississippi and developed through early dance experiences on Chicago’s Westside. After performing throughout Chicago and the Midwest, she soon entered the international realm, obtaining a berth with Larry Steele’s Smart Affairs, tracking stylistically through Australia and New Zealand. From her travels, she not only became an accomplished and diverse dance artist, but she also gained sensitivity to the expressive powers of other cultures and a greater appreciation for the fundamental human experiences and emotions that inspire self-expression in various forms.
Upon her return to America, Najwa glided through a show business career that included the theatre circuit of the Regal and Tivoli in Chicago, the Apollo in New York, the Howard in Washington D.C and theatres throughout Canada. The performances were with such greats as Dinah Washington, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Arthur Braggs’ Idlewild’ Revue.

Najwa, trained under dance masters throughout the world and has traveled and performed internationally, from Harlem to West Africa. She has continued the tradition of teaching, performing, and experiencing the art of dance through the artistic endeavors of NAJWA Dance Corps.

Najwa is a recipient of the Woman in Dance Award (Thelma Hill Foundation, New York); Paul Robeson Award-(Black Theater Alliance, Chicago); Woman of the Year Award (Chicago.). Among numerous other awards Najwa has received the Black Heritage Award (The Mahogany Scholarship Heritage Foundation, Chicago.) and the Margaret Burroughs Legacy Award (DuSable Museum Women’s Board, Chicago).

In addition, Najwa I, has served as Chief Elder of Dance Africa Chicago and is presently an Enstooled Elder of the Bolozi Wazee Council of Elders

Najwa I was inducted into The History Makers in 2004. “The Video Oral History Interview Of Najwa I Has Been Made A Permanent Part of The History Makers Collection At the Library Of Congress”. History Makers Chicago.

Sheila Walker Wilkins

Executive Director

NDC has evolved into a “live historical archive”, simultaneously producing highly trained dancers and musicians who possess the skills and knowledge necessary to preserve the integrity and authencity of the art of dance.

NAJWA Dance Corps is a company of dancers and musicians dedicated to the preservation of dance styles and techniques of different eras that are reflective of the African American dance heritage and experience. The Company performs dance within a historical context or from a historical perspective that is both educational and entertaining. NDC has grown over the years through presenting traditional and contemporary dances of Africa, the Caribbean, traditional Jazz (Swing) and contemporary Jazz, Tap and nostalgic dances such as Cakewalk-1900’s, Charleston-1920’s and Hip Hop of today.

Sheila is responsible for the overall administrative direction and management of personnel, artists, practicum interns and consultants of the company. She supervises and coordinates administrative support for all artistic activities and manages all monetary activities. Ms. Wilkins duties include grants-writing, financial reporting and are a liaison with the Board of Directors.

NAJWA Dance Corps was selected as a partner and practicum site for the Arts in Youth and Community Development concentration of the Masters in Arts Management at Columbia College. Sheila has provided mentorship and training in the practical skills needed to run a non-profit organization for two practicum students.

Sheila is one of the original founding members and dancer of the company and in addition has over nineteen years experience in finance and management.

She received her Bachelors of Arts Degree at Bethune-Cookman College and a Masters of Business Administration Degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Sheila is the Former Chairperson of the Alvin Ailey Ambassadors for the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University.

Andrea "Najwii" Vinson

Artistic Director

My fundamental belief is that the arts endow its participants to understand life in a broader spectrum.
Andrea “Najwii” Vinson, became the Artistic Director of NAJWA Dance Corps in 2013, after serving two years as the Associate Artistic Director. She has danced and performed with NAJWA Dance Corps (NDC) since its inception. While being the Associate Assistant Artistic Director she was mentored and monitored into teaching and choreographing under the direction and watchful eye of Najwa I. Her earlier professional dance experience was with Julian Swain Dance Theater and Muntu Dance Theater. These companies gave her the desire to further pursue traditional jazz dance and African dance styles. Through NAJWA Dance Corps, whose purpose is to preserve dance styles and techniques, Andrea has acquired in-depth knowledge of various genres of dance. After researching African dance and studying many other forms, her desire led to specializing in African, traditional Jazz and hip hop dance. She is developing her own style of dance called “Afro Fusion”, which mixes different styles and techniques of African, Jazz and Hip Hop. “Confrontation”, “Knowledge Is King” and “Bullet Proof” are choreographic works that depict this style. Najwii, as she is affectionately called has performed in theater productions, “The Regal Theater” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, television and film, such as “The Blues Brother”, “Brewster Place” and “The Chicago Story”. Andrea’s other dance credits include: Teaching Artist with the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (C.A.P.E), Master Teacher with Chicago Public Schools’ All City Dance Ensemble’, Alvin Ailey Chicago Camp, Lead Artist for After School Matters and the Artistic Director of Urban Credo (Columbia College). One of the highlights of her professional dance career was to meet and perform for former dancers of the “Idlewild Review”, whom sanctioned the authenticity of the dances presented. They represent the last of the Black Chorus Line, whose expertise was steeped in traditional jazz and swing. Though Andrea has worked with many great dance artists, she gives special recognition and thanks to choreographers and master dance artists Julian Swain, Alyo Tolbert, Najwa I, Assane Konte, Abdoulaye Camara who has influenced her the most in dance. In addition, Andrea gives a special thanks to Master Drummer, Sekou Conte, her drum instructor and coach who has amplified and enhanced her musical and dance skills.

Brenda (Malika) Moore

Artistic Director
Najwa Junior Corps

I like to describe my choreography as a unique brand of mystical, magical dance in motion.”
Brenda (Malika) Moore has been a member of NAJWA Dance Corps as performer and Dance Director. She is presently the Artistic Director NAJWA Junior Corps (NJC) which is comprised of young dancers and musicians less than eighteen years of age and are committed to the art of dance and music. Malika is also NDC’S Dance Griot, responsible for curating the Company’s dance repertoire. From the Southside of Chicago to Senegal, West Africa, Brenda (Malika) Moore has fashioned a unique brand of mystical, magical dance in motion and considers herself a dance ambassador. She is an electrifying performer, incomparable choreographer and master instructor. Moore’s extensive dance career has spanned across cities, states and continents. Malika’s captivating Caribbean, mesmerizing modern, enticing African, and sizzling fire dances have hypnotized hundreds and thrilled thousands. Ms. Moore was selected by a panel of dance experts to participate as Artist-In-Residence for the City of Chicago, and Northeastern University’s Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies. In addition, Ms. Moore has served on the Dance Program Advisory Panel for the Illinois Arts Council, Technical Advisory Dance Committee for Walter H. Dyett High school for the Arts and an Alvin Ailey Ambassador for the Auditorium /Theater of Roosevelt University. Hundreds of students have been stimulated by Malika’s styles at various venues, such as the Rebuild Foundation, Lou Conte’s Dance Studio, Joel Hall Dance Center, Najwa Dance Corps Studio, Old Town School of Folk Music, CCS Cultural Arts Center, Iowa State University and Illinois State University and The Beverly Arts Center to name a few. Malika’s focus is to develop dancers in the intergenerational transfer of dance knowledge. Malika has toured with the Free Street Theater and has performed with Chicago Dance Medium, Chicago Dance Laboratory, Julian Swain Dance Theater, Ruth Page Dance Series, Ed Wilkerson’s “Flat Earth World Jazz Tour”, Walt Disney’s “Lion King”, and Count Basie’s “Salute to Red Saunders’ 50 Years in Show Business” at the Chicago Auditorium Theater which premiered NAJWA Dance Corps, “A Salute to Black Dance in America “at the Brooklyn (NY) Academy of Music. Other stellar accomplishments include television sitcoms and films, Oprah Winfrey’s “Brewster Place, the “Blues Brothers” and “Cooley High”.