Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore
Founder, CEO & Artistic Director
A native of Philadelphia, PA, Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore is Founder, CEO and Artistic Director of DANSE4NIA REPERTORY ENSEMBLE. During her youth, Antoinette began her dance training at The New Freedom Theatre (under the direction of Patricia Scott Hobbs) and continued her studies at the Franklin Learning Center (with Master Lester Horton Technique Teacher, Faye Snow.) Coward-Gilmore proceeded to hone her skills as a dancer at Pennsylvania Governor’s School of the Arts and in the training program of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO.) Antoinette later earned a BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts and an MA in Dance Education and Performance from the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University before touring nationally and internationally with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre Company. A founding company member of Philadelphia’s Eleone Dance Theatre, Mrs. Coward-Gilmore is a certified New York State Dance Educator and choreographer for the Prince Music Theater’s Rainbow Company. Additionally, Antoinette is a seasoned instructor having taught at Harlem School of the Arts, Norfolk State University (as Director of Dance), University of the Arts, Coppin State University, Grambling State University and Temple University. Currently, Antoinette is Adjunct Faculty in dance at Drexel University and teaching artist in dance at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Notably, Antoinette is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Actor’s Equity Association, and a former Grant Panelist for the Philadelphia Cultural Arts Fund. Mrs. Coward-Gilmore was recently honored as one of Philadelphia’s Leading Women: Movers & Shakers in the Arts. Antoinette serves on the Ensemble's Board of Directors.
William E. Thomas
Ballet Master & Rehearsal Director Emeritus
William E. Thomas’ concert and commercial dance venues/performances include: Off-Broadway at La Mama E.T.C., The International Theatre Festival of Barranquilla/ Columbia, the National Tour of Sesame Street Live, The Toronto Fringe Festival/Canada and Webster Dancer Theater/US. He has performed in regional theatre productions such as: Anything Goes w/ Chita Rivera,The Unsinkable Molly Brown w/ Ann Reinking, and The Black Musical Review. He has performed in concert works such as: The Green Table (K. Jooss), Don Quixote/ Pas de Deux (after Petipa), and Galena Summit (K. Posin), among others, and sang as part of the Buffalo Philharmonic Community Chorus. His choreography has been seen on The Thomas Dance Collection, Jacob’s Pillow Outdoor Choreography Showcase, Buffalo City Ballet, Danco On Danco Choreography Showcase, Zodiaque Dance Company, Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theater, Danza Una and Buffalo Dance Festival, among others. Mr. Thomas’ teaching credits (including summer programs and calendar year) include: Philadanco, Rochester City Ballet, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Buffalo City Ballet, Conservatory and School of the Arts in St. Louis, Empire State Ballet, National University of Costa Rica, American Academy of Dance, Ohio State University, Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School, Florida A&M University, The Black College Dance Exchange, The French-English School in Barranquilla, Colombia, Losdenmedium Danza in Costa Rica, Amsterdam Dance Center in the Netherlands, Instituto de Danzas Espanolas, Ballet Folklorico in Argentina, and the University at Buffalo, as a former Associate Professor and the Director of Dance Program. Mr. Thomas has trained at numerous places including, Hubbard Street Dance Studio, Broadway Dance Center, Dance Theater of Harlem, Jacob’s Pillow, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and John Barker’s Vaganova Teacher Training Seminar, and has studied choreography from Bessie Schonberg, Phyllis Lamhut and Vera Blaine. He has adjudicated for organizations such as NAACP ACT-SO, Winners Talent Showcase Nationals, and Links Inc. International, among others and as a panelist for organizations such as the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Arts Council of Buffalo and Erie County. He also has teaching awards from the University at Buffalo and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and holds a B.A. in Dance from Webster University Conservatory in St. Louis, Missouri, and an M.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Takiyah Nur Amin, Ph.D.
COO & Administrative Director Emeritus
Dr. Takiyah Nur Amin is a proud native of Buffalo, NY and the daughter of Karima and the late Abdul Jalil Amin. In May 2011 Takiyah earned a Ph.D. in Dance (with a concentration in Cultural Studies) and certificates in both Women’s Studies and Teaching in Higher Education as a Future Faculty Fellow at Temple University. Takiyah’s research has been shared nationally and internationally and her writing has been published in Dance Chronicle, the Western Journal of Black Studies, the Journal of Pan African Studies and through the Community Arts Network. Notably, Dr. Amin is the 2011 recipient of the Edrie Ferdun Scholarly Achievement Award for excellence in dance studies from the Esther Boyer College of Music in Dance at Temple University. Prior to pursuing doctoral studies, Takiyah completed a BA in Dance at the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.F.A. in Arts Administration at Virginia Tech. Takiyah began her dance training at the age of 3 in Buffalo, New York in the Black Dance Workshop under the direction of Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Takiyah later went on to study at the Barb Denny School of Dance and with renowned international dance teacher and choreographer Matthew R. Clark at the Clark Academy of Performing Arts. Under Clark’s tutelage, Takiyah studied ballet (Cechetti), jazz, tap, modern and musical theatre dance and performed in the school’s award winning competition company. Dr. Amin is a former instructor at The Center of Dance in Blacksburg, VA (under the direction of Carol Crawford-Smith) where she taught West African influenced dance as well as performance technique to both youth and adult learners. Beyond the academy, Takiyah is a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Association of University Women, Order of Eastern Star (PHA,) Sisters of the Academy (SOTA), past National President of Malika Kambe Umfazi Sorority, Inc. and former Miss Black Virginia USA. Takiyah serves on the Ensemble's Board of Directors.
Assistant to Artistic Director:
Production Manager, TD and Lighting Designer: Pamela Hobson/Into The Light Productions
Conservatory Program Manager and Rehearsal Director for Nia-Next: Dana Nichols
Assistant to Conservatory Manager:
Studio of Danse4Nia Rental Representative: Alewya Taylor
Board of Directors:
Wayne St. David(Chair), Pamela Hobson (Vice Chair), Cathy Hensford (Secretary),
Kenneth Jones (Financial Secretary), Vivian Rowe, Kelli McIntyre, Joan Huckstep, Maureen Booker, Allianda Laniya, Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore (Founder) and Barbara Williams(Board Advisor).
Production Manager, TD and Lighting Designer: Pamela Hobson/Into The Light Productions
Conservatory Program Manager and Rehearsal Director for Nia-Next: Dana Nichols
Assistant to Conservatory Manager:
Studio of Danse4Nia Rental Representative: Alewya Taylor
Board of Directors:
Wayne St. David(Chair), Pamela Hobson (Vice Chair), Cathy Hensford (Secretary),
Kenneth Jones (Financial Secretary), Vivian Rowe, Kelli McIntyre, Joan Huckstep, Maureen Booker, Allianda Laniya, Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore (Founder) and Barbara Williams(Board Advisor).
