Founder & Artistic Director
Yewande Kelley-Johnson
Yewande Kelley-Johnson is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, teacher, storyteller and poet. Yewande, which means “Mother Africa Comes to Find Me”, loves weaving these skills together to express herself in various African, Caribbean and African American dance & arts traditions. She is the Artistic Director of the Iwa L’ewa Heritage Dance Ensemble, a multi-disciplined performing ensemble, a member of the music and spoken word ensemble, Songhai Djeli, a former member of Maimouna Keita School of African Dance, Sabar Ak Ru Afriq and P.A.K.A. (Passing Ancestral Knowledge Along). As a five time and current recipient of the New Jersey Council of the Arts’ Folk Arts Grant, Yewande has been designated a master teacher of traditional West African dance and through this grant is learning Orisha dance and song with Iyalorisha Amma McKen. She is also a recipient of the Mid Atlantic Artist as Catalyst grant and the Washington D.C. Folger’s Library Poetry award.
Yewande sees her work as a djeli; which means “the keeper of culture and history”, through music, dance, song and spoken word. Currently, Yewande conducts ongoing workshops in Montclair and Plainfield, NJ. Drawing from traditional Yoruba teachings, she strives to reach for what she loves to do in life, a vital lesson of Olodumare (God in Yoruba tradition). Originally, Yewande had no intention to be active in the arts, especially for a living. She has a B.A. in Radio, TV and Film with a minor in Journalism from the University of Maryland. She has held several jobs working in television, radio and print and even managed a medical dental bookstore. However, she believes that Olodumare made working these jobs impossible for her. Through many unpleasant zigzag experiences, she has come to a place in her life where she feels blessed to witness children and adults learning how to move in new way and to see them grow in confidence in expressing themselves through a dance or story experience.
Yewande is an Olorisha omo Obatala, a co-founder of the HANDS Rites of Passage for young girls, a former staff writer for Attitudes: The Dancer’s Monthly and author of the children’s book Let’s Celebrate Kwanzaa. She is an active teaching artist and regularly goes into the schools for Iwa L’ewa, NJPAC, Arts Horizons and other arts organizations.
Artists
[* = youth or teen artists; (a) = apprentice]
Yewande Kelley-Johnson, Founder & Artistic Director
Audrey Davis, Assistant Artistic Director
Victor Marshall, Musical Director
Sandra Binns
Kareem Belk *
Leslie Carter
Sylvia Celanges
Kamiylah Eads-Lundy *
Terri Guess
Almetra Lundy
Shelley Morgan
Chandrika Reaves
Zhiraya Reaves *
Sarai Roberts *
Shannel Roberts
Yvette Russell
Naemah Sarmad
Oswald Simmonds
Quran Smith *
Aniyah Eads-Lundy (a)
Staff
Audrey Davis, Assistant Artistic Director
Audrey Davis specializes in traditional West African dance and conducts classes at Rutgers University, Middlesex County College, Synapse Studios, The Drum and Dance Learning Center and Inspira Dance Theatre. She has taught students of all ages and is known for her energetic and interactive teaching style. Ms. Davis has also served as the former choreographer for the Nia Dance Ensemble, a children's performing troupe.
Audrey has performed at the PNC Arts Center, Crossroads Theatre, the State Theatre, as well as countless weddings and cultural events. She has also conducted workshops for the Julliard School, Johnson & Johnson, the Princeton School System and many other organizations.
Ms. Davis takes great pride and joy in sharing the richness of African dance and culture.
Victor Marshall, Musical Director
Victor Marshall's introduction to West African percussion began at the age of sixteen. He studied West African drumming and culture under Steven Lloyd in Nassau County, New York. He later met Jose Rendon who taught him Afro Cuban drumming. Victor continued his musical study at SUNY Old Westbury with Warren Smith and Andre Strobert. He also had the opportunity to study West African drumming with YaYa Diallo, Mama Adouboa Camara and Abdoul Dikite.
Mr. Marshall teaches West African Drumming at Middlesex County College. He has also taught workshops at the American Repertory Ballet Company as well as numerous middle schools and colleges in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Marshall is pursuing the study of the balan/balafon, a Malinke (West African ethnic group) instrument that is the original xylophone.
Education
Workshops & Presentations
As Iwa L'ewa Heritage Dance continues to grow we expand our offerings of presentations and workshops. You can attend our weekly dance or drum class in Plainfield, NJ CLICK HERE. One new workshop is Rocking at the Savoy, where participants explore Swing dance. Our newest concert is African Odyssey, which explores life in Africa and African descendants passage into the New World. We're revamping our program The Roots of Black Dance: from Africa to Hip Hop, so keep checking in to see our offerings.
To learn more about our shows and ceremonies, CLICK HERE and for assemblies, workshops, corporate events and to book the ensemble, visit the African Global Arts website to learn more.