Dance with Shaleena C.

Shaleena began her dance training at Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center in New York at the age of three, where she studied African dance, ballet, and tap. She continued her training in California and later Maryland where her repertoire expanded to include jazz dance. While attending Hampton University, she studied various art forms such as Katherine Dunham, Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham. However, her passion was deeply rooted in African dance. Upon her return to Maryland to continue her education in psychology at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), she began taking West African dance at KanKouran West African Dance studio in Washington, D.C. Shaleena studied under renowned artist such as Assane Konte (Artistic Director of KanKouran) and Kadiatou Conte-Forte (Artistic Director of Balafon African Dance Ensemble). After graduating from UMBC, Shaleena joined Soul In Motion, an African Drum and Dance Company in Mt. Rainier, MD. She choreographed and danced with Soul In Motion for five years and performed at various venues such as Dance Africa DC, Black Rock Center for the Arts, MD, Montgomery County Government in MD and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Presently, she is the Research Director for Soul In Motion. She continued her passion for dance with Adande African Dance & Drum Company in Charleston, SC. She taught African dance classes at Spirit Moves in Charleston, SC. While completing her Masters in Business at Strayer University, she further pursued her passion and joined Wona Womalan West African Drum & Dance Ensemble. For Wona Womalan, she choreographed dances that have been performed at Piccolo Spoleto Charleston, North Charleston Arts Festival, Moja Arts Festival, US Airforce Base, Naval Weapons Station, Charleston Open Arts Expo, Penn Center Heritage Festival in Beaufort, South Carolina Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Florida African Dance Festival, and various schools. As well, Shaleena conducted a co-dance residency at Charleston County School of the Arts. Everyday movement inspires her choreography. Dance is truly her passion, voice, and she speaks through movement!