Community Education

In her teen years Jourdan embarked upon her professional and teaching career performing in the New York City, Philadelphia and DC metropolitan areas. During her senior year at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she was awarded the opportunity to write a published article featured in Black Dance Magazine. Upon graduating from Ellington, she went on to study Dance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia PA and graduate from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, NY. At age 17 she began her professional dance career by performing as a company member with Philadanco’s (Philadelphia Dance Company) second company. By age 20 she began performing as a first company member in ASHA Dance Company in New York City. 

Jourdan’s dancing has awarded her international performance opportunities in Canada and Venice Italy. She has also performed on BET Networks and has assisted teaching dance at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Programs. Some of Jourdan’s most recent work has landed her opportunities in academia as an instructor of Dance Arts at Syracuse University, developing and producing dance programming in NYC Public Schools, writing/producing Black Dance Magazine, and managing programs and teaching for the Philadelphia Ballet. 

Soaring a strapping 5 foot 9 inches, Jourdan takes pride in her height and pays homage to pioneer amazonian female dancers such as Courtney Henry, Teresa Reichlen, and the tremendously influential Judith Jamison. “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion” … Martha Graham

During his time there, Jon studied under Donna Faye Burchfield, Thomas F DeFrantz, and Jesse Zaritt to name a few. Jon became a Lecturer in the School of Dance teaching courses such as Junior Seminar, Sophomore Coaching and Performance Projects, Thinking, Making, and Doing courses, and Pedagogies of Dance. Beyond his experience in the collegiate realm, Jon has a passion to work within the walls of commercial dance and has worked with well–known artists and businesses such as Solange Knowles, Adam Blackstone, J. Cole, Gerard and Kelly, and more.

At age 14 Robert was accepted into the Creative and Performing Arts High school (CAPA) as a dance major. While at CAPA Robert performed with the company Brian Sanders “JUNK” at age 15. During Robert’s years at CAPA he also was part of the high school dance company, Eleone EC company, JOVO Dance and Gwen Bye dance company Fusion 2, performing in the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and cherry blossom Parade from 2014-2018. After Graduating CAPA In 2018 he continued his studies in dance at University of the Arts and graduated in 2022 with a BFA in dance. While at UArts he danced with Philadanco company D2 and Grace 2 and done summer work /intensives with Gwen Bye, Earl Mosley EMIA, Philadanco, and New Orleans dance collective (NODC). Robert has trained under Mark Caserta, Kyle and Danita Clark, Wayne St. David, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Kareem Goodwin, Shaylah-vie Jenkins, Gary Jeter, Ndiaye Kaolack, Shawn-Lamere Williams, Donald Lunsford, Michael Sheridan, Uwazi Zamani, and Jesse Zaritt.

As a teaching artist, he has worked with the youth of Philadelphia as an Education Assistant at the Lenfest Center, and a Mentor/Dance Instructor with Upbeat Dance Center, Rain Dance Studio, Elkins Park School, Woodrow Wilson Middle School, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, The Village of Arts and Humanities, Urban Movement Arts and in association with The Philadelphia Ballet has worked with Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School, Conwell Middle School, Bethune Mary McCloud School, Dr. Tanner G. Duckery Public School, Global Leadership Academy, and Paul L Dunbar School.

Darden was granted the opportunity to teach Umfundalai as an adjunct at Temple University for the fall semester of 2018. As a performing artist, Darden danced with D2D: Dare to Dance Co., Kariamu & Company:Traditions, and the Nance Dance Collective. He has performed at New Freedom Theatre in “The Ballad of Trayvon Martin” (2016) and had his choreography featured in the productions of “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope” (2016) and “Black Nativity” (2016), shared the stage with the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble in Kingston, Jamaica (2017-2019) and participated in the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Darden had the privilege to work as an assistant choreographer and be featured in Saleka Shyamalan’s music video “Clarity” (2020) and Kingsley Ibeneche’s music video “So Kind” (2021). Standing on the shoulders of his mentors Oluko C. Kemal Nance and his Mwalimu Monique Newton Walker, Darden received his professional teaching certification of the Umfundalai dance technique in February 2021.

She grew up training at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and went on to earn a B.S in Dance from Drexel University. She is trained in Modern, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz and African Dance techniques. Throughout her time at Drexel, Kathryn performed in works by Sandra Parks, Jennifer Morley, Dinita Clark, Cachet Ivey, Miriam Giguere and Brendan Fernandes. Kathryn has choreographed works for Drexel Dance Ensemble, FreshDance, fusion2, Penn Dance Company and Philadelphia Dance Academy.

She’s attended summer programs at Earl Mosley’s Institute for the Arts, Philadanco and Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute. After graduating, Kathryn spent two years as an ArtistYear Resident Teaching Artist at Samuel Fels High School. She most recently was a member of Academy of Phresh Performance Company directed by Smart Mark and Shanika QP. Currently, Kathryn is a member of Philadelphia Jazz Tap Ensemble, is on faculty with Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and Sound Space Performing Arts.

By the age of 10 she explored various other styles of dance like Hip Hop, Modern, Contemporary, and Horton Technique with BEAUDE Dance Company. Entering High School, she pursued being a dance major along with being a main choreographer for various events such as The African American Heritage Month, Annual Winter Showcases, and Company Performances. Continuing this journey she decided to advance her training in college, and earned her Bachelors of Performing Arts Degree at Stockton University located in Galloway, NJ as a dance major with a concentration in performance. During her time at Stockton University she has had the pleasure of training under Beau Hancock, Blythe Smith, Caitlin Quinn Pittenger, Chandra Moss-Thorne, Rain Ross, Shannon Murphy, Saleana Pettaway and Tiffany Mills for which helped develop her love for ballet and the fluidity and mobility, of movement and technique.

Through her college experience she has also had the pleasure of presenting her work entitled “Love U In Advanced” in the 2021 Fall Choreography Project; Which was about the ideology of family dynamics and the expectations and standards they have. Anodja currently works as a freelance dancer, choreographer, and model creating the space to invest and explore the biological rhythms of the body. As a graduate of Stockton University, she is building her own method of teaching dance to help build confidence, structure, depth, and individualized artistry. Anodja currently performs with the Chocolate Ballerina Company directed and founded by Chanel Pierre-Holland.