Our Work
Cultural Legacy: Sankofa Series
Reflections on the study of the African diaspora movement illuminated in "Struggle, Survival, and Celebration." Sankofa Project features reflective dialogues of young adult cultural ambassadors studying folklore movement and the evolution of African diaspora movemnet.
Project Mentors & Teaching Artist
Dance Educator, Instructor, Choreographer. Performer
Dance genres: Modern, Afro‑Modern,
African Diaspora(Africa, Haitian, Afro Cuban), and Jazz
Over 35 years of professional experience as an African Diaspora Culture and Dance ambassador. Knight is focused on utilizing dance as a powerful tool to unite people, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of community. Her ultimate goal is strengthening communities, honoring cultural legacy, and promoting social harmony. She is dedicated to artistic excellence and community engagement. She aims to make a lasting impact by fostering cultural understanding, promoting unity, and empowering individuals through the universal language of dance.
>Founder and director of Seasons Center which hosts multicultural programs that assist women, families, and communities by application of faith, education, and the performing arts.
> Founder and executive director of Cultural Ties Dance Festival: Movement of the African Diaspora and The Cultural Ties African Diaspora Dance, Music and Culture Conservatory.
> Founder and artistic director of Silhouette Dance Ensemble, a community-based multi-generational cultural performance company, Breathe! /A Multi‑Cultural Collective Movement Company, The Ensemble-A Collegiate Dance Community, and Cultural Ties Dance and Percussion Collective
Adjunct Professor Tulane University, New Orleans Adjunct Professor Xavier University, New Orleans Adjunct Professor Loyola University, New Orleans
Amandine
St. Martin
Artistic director, manager, dancer, choreographer, singer, lyricist, author, and illustrator of Global Hip Hop Haïti.
Amandine Saint Martin graduated from the National School of Arts in Haïti. She embodies the unspeakable: sensitive, rebellious, indigenous characters as well as the DOBA and the TIKALFOU styles. She is committed to ethnochoreographic research and the renewal of folk, contemporary, urban Haitian dances and freestyle. In various countries, she has performed works by James J. Celestin, Dieufel Lamisere, Makerson François, Jean Aurel Maurice, Gerda Boisguené, Jeanguy Saintus, the Far From The Norm Company (UK) and collaborated with the Metis’Gwa Association (Guadeloupe).
Zakiya
Cornish
Dance artist, choreographer, and educator
Her innovative Contemporary African dance practice is grounded in her wealth of knowledge and experience of West African dance and music, and African American vernacular dance. Zakiya has had the opportunity to work with Tony-award nominee Jeffrey Page, Bessie Award nominee Lela Aisha Jones, and Ron K. Brown of Evidence Dance Company. Zakiya also worked with world-renowned, Kulu Mele Traditional African Drum and Dance Company where she performed, and has set original choreography on the company. She also had the great honor of studying with Germain Acogny at the École des Sables in Senegal.