Moving Spirits, Inc. Family
Indira Goodwine
(Guest Artist)
Born and raised in Queens, NY, Indira Goodwine began dancing at the age of four. She graduated from Professional Performing Arts High School where she trained at The Ailey School and received several fellowships while attending their Junior Division and Summer Intensive Programs. Indira has had the opportunity to perform works by Camille A. Brown, Earl Mosley, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Max Stone, Millicent Johnnie, Shani Collins, Shouze Ma, Toni Renee Johnson, and Troy Powell, just to name a few. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from The Florida State University and a M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. She has worked as the Associate Artistic & Rehearsal Director for Maverick Dance Experience. Currently, Indira is on the Programming Staff at Harlem Stage, a performing arts center devoted to supporting the creation and development of works by artists of color, and the Company Manager for Camille A. Brown & Dancers.
Mariana Castañeda-Lopez 2012-2013 Company Member
2012-2013 Company Intern
Photo by Eric Bandiero
Photo by Eric Bandiero
Meet our Former Dancers
Harlem born and Brooklyn raised, TARA BROWN (2015-2016) began dancing at the age of three. She graduated from The Professional Performing Arts School in 2009 where she trained at The Ailey School. After high school, Tara continued her training at The University of Massachusetts (Amherst) where she attained her BFA in Dance and BS in Psychology. While at UMass, Tara guided the prestigious Dance Department as the appointed President for two years. She was also fortunate enough to perform the works of world-renowned choreographers including Mark Morris, Ohad Naharin, Pedro Ruiz, Doris Humphrey and Camille A. Brown. In 2012, Tara’s original choreography entitled Whitewash was selected to be adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival. Tara has performed with Boston-based contemporary dance company Urbanity as well as with choreographer Andre Drummond.
LYDIA HEIDT is a Charlotte, NC based professional performer and choreographer. She received her BA in Dance Performance/Theory with a minor in Spanish from UNCC. Heidt is the founder of Metamorphic Dance, a startup that aims to bridge communities through dance. She believes in collaborative work and community engagement. She has worked with Audrey Baran, Joy Davis, Naimah Kioski, Megan Payne, and Marcus White.
Born in Hillsborough, NJ, Solana Hoffmann- Carter (2015-2016 & 2018) began dancing at the Mill Ballet School studying ballet intensively. Before graduating from the University of the Arts, as a dance major and religion and philosophy minor, she had the opportunity to restage and set new works with various choreographers, such as Sidra Bell, Douglas Becker, Doug Varone and dancers, Brian Sanders, Jeffrey Page, and Jillian Pena. Currently based in New York City, Solana works with choreographer Joya Powell, Leandro da Silva and Leah Moriarty in their respective companies and is thrilled to be joining up again with Moving Spirits for their residency at Kaatsbaan in May.
MICHELLE ISAAC (2015-2016) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She has been dancing since the age of 4 in church, and began formal training in high school. Michelle received her BFA in Dance from LIU Post and was blessed with the opportunity to perform the works of Michael Leon Thomas, Karen Arceneaux, Juan Borona, and Fritzlyn Hector. She is currently a member of an Artist Ensemble under the direction of Fritzlyn Hector from STOMP, Ntrinsik Movement Dance Troupe, and is grateful for the opportunity to be a company member of Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits, Inc. Aside from performing, Michelle continues to reach out to her community and teaches dance to children in her church, Ebenezer Preparatory School, Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts and local dance studios.
JASMINE MATTAR was born and raised in Queen, NY who has received her BFA in Dance from the State University of New York at Fredonia May 2017. As an undergraduate, Mattarperformed in theFredonia Dance Ensemble forfour years where she has worked with Jon Lehrer, Sam Kenney, Paula J. Peters, etc. Since graduating she has danced withVashti Dance Theater (NYC); the companyfuses West African and contemporary dance movement. She is excited to be working with Moving Spirits for this amazing residency!
Originally from London, England, NIKYTA MORENO (2015-2016) trained at The Brit School for Performing Arts & Technology and Trinity Laban Conservatoire, where she received her BA (HONS) Dance Theatre Degree. In 2011, Nikyta moved to New York where she furthered her dance training at The Ailey School. Nikyta has displayed solo performance in London, New York and Pennsylvania; she has been published in Trinidad & Tobago's Eastern Times newspaper, Dance Direct blog and Dance London blog. She has performed principle roles in SoulRebel Dance Company and JD/dansfolk. Nikyta has collaborated with videographer, Geoffey Stevens and performed with Buglisi Dance Theatre Company for the "9/11 Table of Silence Project". Nikyta is currently a member of Danial Gwirtzman Dance Company and JD/dansfolk, and is excited to be a member of Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits, Inc.
LEAH MORIARTY (2015-2016 & 2018) is a Brooklyn-based dance artist who began her training at the Educational Center for the Arts High School in New Haven, Connecticut focusing on dance and choreography. She received her BFA in Dance at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst as part of the Five College Dance Department. Since graduation, Leah has worked with choreographers Kellie Lynch, Donna Mejia, Shalewa Mackall, Ni'Ja Whitson, Souleymane Badolo, Brendan Drake and Fatima Logan. She also works as a study abroad coordinator for ThisWorldMusic, a dance and drum intensive in Ghana. Her company beat piece has presented work on Martha's Vineyard, Green Space, Triskelion Arts, Dixon Place, Cedar Crest College, Brooklyn Ballet, The Dragon's Egg, Brooklyn Studios for Dance and Arts On Site. She is currently an artist participating in the New Victory LabWorks program at the New Victory Theater in New York City. She is so looking forward to reconnecting with Moving Spirits at Kaatsbaan this season. She is so grateful to be performing as well as presenting her own work alongside Tamara's brilliant collection of artists.
FREYANI PATRICE (2015-2016) will receive her BFA in Dance Studies in May 2015 from Long Island University C.W Post Campus. Born in Queens, raised in Brooklyn where she had found her true love of dance. She began training at age of 10 in African dance, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Ballet, Hip-hop and Step. Freyani attended Restoration Youth Arts Academy and trained with the Company "STOMP". Freyani has worked with established performers and choreographers including Karen Thorton Daniels, Karen L Arceneaux, Michael Leon Thomas, Darnetha Lincoln M’Baye, and Fritzlyn Hector. She enjoys inspiring and teaching young adults and children for a better future in the dance world.
Photo by Jess Cavender
Photo by Ace Murray
Photo by Toby Shearer
Photo courtesy of the Mint Museum
Photo by Ace Murray
LOGANNE BOND is a graduate of The Ohio State University, with a BFA in dance and a BA in Strategic Communication. Since graduating, Loganne has performed with the Baker/Tarpaga Dance Project, Ming Wong, Laurie M. Taylor/Soul Movement and the Vissi Dance Project. Through Theater Advisor LLC, Loganne facilitated two divisions: Internet and publishing. She managed TheaterAdvisor.com and TheaterAdvisorblog.com, websites devoted to audience reviews and theater news. She also served as head researcher and marketer for a Broadway trivia book.More recently, Loganne has worked with SLAM (Streb Lab for Action Mechanics) where she acts as the interim Executive Assistant to Elizabeth Streb.
Denae Hannah is a former Moving Spirits, Inc. company member and is currently a special guest artist. Denae is a performer, choreographer, videographer and scholar from Fort Worth, Texas. She received her B.A. from Stanford University and her M.F.A. from Florida State University. She is also currently developing her first NYC solo work, 5 Star Chick, and dancing with Jacinta Vlach’s Liberation Dance Theater. Denae is a 2012 EMERGENYC Artist with NYU’s Hemispheric Institute for Performance& Politics and a fall 2013 commissioned choreographer at Stanford University. Denae transitioned from her position as Associate Director of Programs & Development at Urban Bush Women to become Executive Director of Glenda Productions, a video company that specializes in performance documentation and promotion. She is the Founder and Director of DNA Comedy by Denae. Learn more at www.denaehannah.com and follow @denaedance on Twitter.
Photo by Enniorizzzi Photography
Photo by Oron Bell
Meet our Dancers
In 2023, Jameelah MacMillan became an admired member of Moving Spirits. Her artistic trajectory has been marked by a vibrant dance career, during which she mesmerized audiences as a performer with Viver Brasil, a renowned dance company based in Los Angeles, California. Moreover, Jameelah's artistic journey led her to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, where she immersed herself in the study of dance, further enriching her artistic sensibilities and expanding her repertoire of movement. Her multifaceted experiences have endowed her with a unique artistic perspective and a profound understanding of the interplay between diverse cultural influences within the realm of dance.
Monique LeFlore comes to us from NY performing in off broadway, regional theatre, and commercial performances throughout the United States. She has a BFA from SUNY Brockport in Dance and was a scholarship student studying under Garth Fagan Dance Company. Monique also has an MA in Dance Education from Hunter College where she was part of the Lincoln Center Education Program. She currently teaches dance for Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Schools and is thrilled to be a member of Moving Spirits.
Suzi Alila, of Kenyan and Tanzanian descent, shares her passion of singing, dancing and community upliftment through performance. She was connected to the arts at a young age as a pianist and violinist. She has also been a vocalist in various community organizations and programs. Suzi completed her undergraduate degree at Duke University and completed law school soon after. She has studied with master teachers of African-Brazilian culture for many years including Rosangela Silvestre, Vera Passos, and Nildinha Fonseca. She joined Moving Spirits, Inc. in 2020 and has helped to develop company repertoire through collaborative choreography and vocalizations.
Moving Spirits, Inc. Apprentices
DINORA RAMIREZ dance journey began in her youth, influenced by her mother. She obtained a BS in Health and Human Services from UNCC. Discovering African-Brazilian dance during her university studies, she crossed paths with Tamara Williams, igniting her passion. After a captivating performance of "Re-Discovering Cycles" with Moving Spirits, Inc. at the International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference, Dinora joined the company as an apprentice. With elation and humility, she aims to inspire others through the art of movement alongside Moving Spirits, Inc.
Hailing from the vibrant city of Charlotte, NC, Eboni Williams emerges as a consummate artist in her own right. Her artistic journey is characterized by a profound dedication to her craft, she holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from UNC Charlotte. Over the course of years, Eboni has practiced West African dance, an artistic discipline that has come to define her artistic identity. Her unwavering commitment to her chosen art form has propelled her towards numerous performances of distinction, captivating audiences throughout the region with her unparalleled talent and artistic prowess. In 2021, she became a member of Moving Spirits where she continues to explore the boundaries of her artistic expression, engaging in meaningful artistic dialogue, and contributing her unique artistic voice to the collective tapestry of the ensemble.
Photo courtesy of NC Dance Festival
Photo by Carly Vanderheyden
Photo by Dirty Sugar Photography
Kendra Ross is a dancer and teaching artist from Detroit, MI. She started her dance career as a Afro-Cuban folklore dancer with Danys ‘La Mora’ Perez with whom she was an honorary member of the children’s company Adian Mode. She currently dances as a guest artist with La Mora’s New York based company Oyu Oro. She received a BFA from Ailey/Fordham University in Dance where she performed the works of Sean Curran, Alvin Ailey, Nathan Trice, and Jacquline Buglisi. As a dancer in New York City Kendra has worked with Urban Bush Women, Andrea E. Woods/ Souloworks, Genesis Dance Company, Vissi Dance Theater, Ase Dance Theater Collective, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, and Sonic Leroy and Motion Sickness with Monstah Black. She works with UBW's B.O.L.D. network where she co-teaches dance workshops and co-facilitates community engagement workshops. Kendra is Founder and Director of STooPS, a community-building event that brings people outside and promotes social interaction for artist, homeowners, businesses and more in Bedstuy. She is a company member of MBDance and former Moving Spirits, Inc. dancer.
Maxine Montilus has a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance from the University of the Arts and an M.A. in Arts Management from City University London. As a dancer, Maxine is currently a member of KaNu Dance Theater and Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits, Inc.; she has performed with Ase Dance Theater Collective and Balasole Dance Company. Maxine is a 2014 EMERGENYC artist with New York University's Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics. As a choreographer, Maxine has presented work at the "Being Bushified!" culture and community series hosted by Urban Bush Women, The Pearl Showcase, "The Makings of YOU" (at Dance New Amsterdam) and "Epic Narratives" (at The Actors Fund Arts Center) with Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits, Inc., "Shadow of a Pearl" and "Episodes of Haiti" (at Jamaica Performing Arts Center) with KaNu Dance Theater, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club and the inaugural Rex Nettleford Arts Conference in Kingston, Jamaica. In 2014, she choreographed for BallyBeg Production's third play and Equity-approved showcase, "The Taste Of It".
Photo by Travis Magee
IMANI NZINGHA
2014 - 2015 Company Member
Photo by Dennis Manual
Emily Harris
2021-2022 Company Member
Originally from Arkansas, Emily Harris has studied various forms of dance including ballet, contemporary, hip hop, modern, Mediterranean styles, Tanztheater, and Butoh. In 2019, she graduated with a BA in German Studies. She has trained abroad in Italy and Germany under choreographers such as Sabine Fichter, Belinda Winkelmann, Kelvin O. Hardy, Caroline Basagni, and Edan Gorlicki. Emily danced with TeeBoDans and New Creation Dance Company before moving to Charlotte in mid 2021. This is her first season with Moving Spirits, Inc.