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 these four years she was fortunate enough to work and perform in works choreographed and led by Katie Swords-Thurman, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Jesse Zaritt, Sidra Bell, Milton Myers, Meredith Rainey and Kyle and Dinita Clark. Simultaneous to her schooling Mikaela was also an active company member with Philadanco! D/2 second company under the leadership and direction of Donald T. Lunsford. This then led to apprenticeship opportunities for the First Company PHILADANCO! The Philadelphia Dance Company while finishing up her junior and senior year. After graduating in 2017, Mikaela was able to fully transition into a full time touring company member with Philadanco! Led by founder Joan Myers-Brown and mentor and now Artistic Director Kim Bears-Bailey.

While being an active company member she has had the pleasure to tour both nationally and internationally performing and creating works with Christopher Huggins, Milton Myers, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Rennie Harris, Thang Dao, Ray Mercer, Anthony Burrell and Daniel Ezralow. She also is a Masterclass teacher and speaker on behalf of the company while out on the road. Mikaela is an independent artist with Jo-Mé Dance, directed by Joe Gonzalez. Mikaela continues to stay curious and seek out knowledge and new perspectives. Expanding upon her training Mikaela deepens her craft by participating in intensives such as Jacob Jonas the Company first digital Intensive and workshop, Kyle Abraham A.I.M’s first digital Intensive and workshop and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Mikaela also works as a movement director for various filmmakers and projects as well as performance artist for various music videos and short films. Parallel to performing, Mikaela finds joy in teaching and pouring her knowledge back into her community. Currently overjoyed to be teaching with Philadanco! School of Dance Arts, The School at Philadelphia Ballet, The Rock School of dance, Ms. Carols Center for Dance and Esperanza Learning Center. She also had the joy of teaching at City Dance Conservatory in D.C for the last two years as well commissioning her work “Falling Back” for their 2022 season.

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.