Meet The Dancers!
Alana
K. Alana originally from Huntsville, Alabama by way of Columbia, SC. Involved in the arts from a young age. She began Majorette style and hip hop dancing in late 90’s where she attended South Carolina State University. From there Alana began liturgical and African dance. She has choreographed for several high school dance teams and flag lines in SC. Once certified in group fitness she began her own dance cardio workouts, bodies by Black. From singing, to dancing, acting, to modeling, activism ,to creating Alana lives for entertaining and giving a message or as she often says giving magic. Always a willing student she is grateful for every class, rehearsal and experience with Ife Michelle Dance company...”they keep me young and on my toes!” Her motto is “the hardest decision in life is deciding which bridges to burn and which to cross. While on my journey I discover that I am the match.”
Kie
Kiesha “Marie” Jennings started out dancing at the age of 19 years old peaking her interest of dance by teaching herself from YouTube Hiphop videos. From there she expanded her knowledge of the dance world thru her time at Fayetteville State University where she honed and trained her talent and skills under the direction of Avis Hatcher-Puzzo and the underground scene of street dance in Fayetteville. The few years she spent in Fayetteville, Kiesha has been able to explore a multitude styles of dance and performance opportunities while developing and crafting her own. She continues and hopes to inspire movement and the freedom of creative expression by continuing to train and offering community services in communities who otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience the joy of dance and other arts.
Khrys
Dancing is a way of expression for me it’s how release my feelings and emotions. Every time I step on a stage I embody and embrace the style and emotions that need to be portrayed. When performing I step out of myself and own comfort zone and give all of myself to the performance. I have been dancing for many years and it is literally my life. Not to be cliché but I eat, sleep and breathe dance. The journey dancing has brought me on has been amazing even with some hiccups along the way I wouldn’t change it for anything. This journey has molded me into the dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher I am today. I beyond excited about where my dance journey will take me next.
Mia
My name is Mia Perry and dance is my outlet for self expression. I have involved myself in dance since I was 2 1/2 loving it every since. From ballet, hip hop, contemporary, flag work and freestyle dance I wouldn’t change this passion for anything.
I am a business owner of a sustainable design and event company by the name of Momentous Touch Designs. Whether it’s raising my two children, being a wife, or catering to my business, dance always finds it way into the mix of it all.
Thank you to Ife Michelle for allowing to continue to foster this love of dance through her dance company. Dance is life and love!
Zuri
Zuri Presswood started dancing at the age of 7 learning West African Dance under SHAE Movement African Arts where she would later join the dance company at the age of 13. She continued dancing as part of the ensemble at NODA School of Arts, a Summer Theatre Intensive directed by Kellie Brown for 4 years. At the age of 14, Zuri taught Traditional West - African dance to young students as a summer intensive workshop. Through grades 6-11, Zuri performed in the dance ensemble in several musicals, plays, and performances while studying Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Contemporary, Bob Fosse Technique, and Hip-Hop at Northwest School of the Arts and Mallard Creek High School. At the age of 18, Zuri taught a 5 week summer dance intensive that focused on West African Dance at the Charlotte Ballet Zuri has also been able to showcase her dance talents by performing with Life As Art Productions with April Turner, The Chris Thompson Cultural Ensemble, and Sunya Folayan's Psychotherapeutic West African Dance Ensemble. Zuri joined Ife Michelle Dance at the age of 17 and hopes to continue dancing as she prepares for college. Zuri will study Dance at Johnson C Smith University in the fall 2021.