Dance Education
Our dance education service offers a competitive advantage by providing a comprehensive curriculum in the foundation of dance. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced dancer, our online courses cater to all skill levels, ensuring that you receive a well-rounded dance education. What sets us apart is our deep expertise in black dance, which is evident through our two edited books on the subject. We are committed to sharing the rich history and cultural significance of black dance, allowing students to explore this vibrant and essential aspect of the art form.
Online Dance Education
With our online dance education, you'll have the opportunity to learn from experienced instructors who are passionate about preserving and promoting African and African diaspora dance traditions. Our courses are designed to be accessible and engaging, enabling you to develop your dance skills while also gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural context behind each movement. Join us on a journey of self-expression, creativity, and cultural exploration through the art of dance, all from the comfort of your own home.
Foundations of Dance - An Anthology by Benita Junette Brown, D.Ed.
Discover the basics of dance with this compilation of YouTube videos by Benitta Junette Brown, D.Ed.
Dance in America - The Black Experience
Dive into the rhythms, movements and stories that have shaped the Black Dance tradition.
Poems
Dance as Art: "When the Body Speaks" by Madison Monroe (D100/61/F'25) Virginia State University
In the circle, time bends like rhythm in a drum,
Feet echo stories the tongue can’t hum.
Space becomes memory — wide, alive, awake,
Where energy ripples with each motion we make.
A motif repeats — a shoulder roll, a spin,
History is carried deep under the skin.
From ring shouts to hip-hop, the call and reply,
Movement becomes language, never runs dry.
Ballet whispers grace; jazz stomps loud, unafraid,
Caribbean hips carve truths unbetrayed.
American Indian dancers step on sacred ground,
Each turn a prayer, each beat profound.
Age does not quiet the body’s refrain,
Every joint holds thunder and rain.
Creativity grows where spirit won’t yield,
Every dancer — a story revealed.
When music and motion finally align,
The body remembers — the past, divine.
A Dance As Art Poem by: Hydea Chappell-Jones, Foundations of Dance, (F’25), Virginia State University
Be a guest of Milieu,
Embrace the sun for those around you
One step at a time, health will be made new
Be a guest of the African spirit,
African’s don't retreat
Standing on their feet
Relaxing their minds as they move to the beat
Be a guest of the LGBTQ+,
The fluid community
Created a new identity
From drag show to gender roles, they established unity
Be a guest of womanhood’s power,
The power of being a woman
Sway by sway, crowds are summoned
Finally, seen as something
Be a guest of Time,
Passed through Generations
Dance has created the foundation
Rhythm moved a whole nation
Be a guest where movement aligns and hearts are intertwined.