Nia Next: The Next Generation of Purpose
Nia-Next, The Jr./Apprentice Company of
Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble
Nurturing the spirit and passionate energy of future generations of purpose...
Nia-Next, the jr./apprentice company of DANSE4NIA REPERTORY ENSEMBLE, fosters artistic growth and networking opportunities for young adults between the ages of 10-18. This program gives youth the opportunity to train and study alongside the professional dancers/staff of Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble. Nia-Next dancers learn and perform company repertoire, as well as work with leading professional choreographers in the Philadelphia/surrounding area. Nia-Next company members gain performance experiences that will prepare them for college level, conservatory programs, the entertainment industry and the professional arena of concert dance.
All Photos by Deborah Boardman
Khalimah Peace, Dance Captain
Khalimah is 17 years old and is a senior dance major at Creative and Performing Arts High School. She began her dance training at Danse4Nia Conservatory at the age of 10 studying the Horton Technique, Ballet, Contemporary Jazz, and Tap. Khalimah begin her tenure with Nia-Next as a Shadow in 2011 and now her 5th year with the company she is dance captain of Nia-Next. In addition Khalimah is currently a member of Grace Dance Theater 2 directed by Theresa Pelicata and Kareem B. Goodwin.
Khalimah is 17 years old and is a senior dance major at Creative and Performing Arts High School. She began her dance training at Danse4Nia Conservatory at the age of 10 studying the Horton Technique, Ballet, Contemporary Jazz, and Tap. Khalimah begin her tenure with Nia-Next as a Shadow in 2011 and now her 5th year with the company she is dance captain of Nia-Next. In addition Khalimah is currently a member of Grace Dance Theater 2 directed by Theresa Pelicata and Kareem B. Goodwin.
Jaida Copeland, Co-Dance Captain
Jaida-Marie is a sophomore dance major at Franklin Learning Center High School. Jaida began dance training at age 3 at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center where she studied ballet for 3 years. Jaida joined the praise dance ministry at Christian Stronghold Church and began to learn to praise dance at age 7. She served on the praise dance ministry for 4 years. Jaida began taking classes at Danse4Nia Conservatory at age 12 studying the Horton technique, Ballet and Jaz. Jaida served as a shadow for Nia Next for 2 years and is currently co-dance captain for Nia-Next.
Jaida-Marie is a sophomore dance major at Franklin Learning Center High School. Jaida began dance training at age 3 at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center where she studied ballet for 3 years. Jaida joined the praise dance ministry at Christian Stronghold Church and began to learn to praise dance at age 7. She served on the praise dance ministry for 4 years. Jaida began taking classes at Danse4Nia Conservatory at age 12 studying the Horton technique, Ballet and Jaz. Jaida served as a shadow for Nia Next for 2 years and is currently co-dance captain for Nia-Next.
Sarah Smith, Nia-Next
Biography To Come.
Biography To Come.
Jordan Dease, Nia-Next Jr.
Jordan is an 12-year-old dance student of Danse4Nia Conservatory under the direction of Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore and Aikan Acts under the direction of Nakia Dillard. Jordan has been studying dance since the age of 2 years where she began her training at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. Currently, Jordan is a member of Reckless Kicks, a Youth Hip-Hop Dance Company under the direction of Nicole Murphy. This marks Jordan's 2nd year as a Nia-Next Jr.
Jordan is an 12-year-old dance student of Danse4Nia Conservatory under the direction of Antoinette M. Coward-Gilmore and Aikan Acts under the direction of Nakia Dillard. Jordan has been studying dance since the age of 2 years where she began her training at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. Currently, Jordan is a member of Reckless Kicks, a Youth Hip-Hop Dance Company under the direction of Nicole Murphy. This marks Jordan's 2nd year as a Nia-Next Jr.
Not Shown:
Dymaune McCoy- Nia Next
Lillian Abner- Nia-Next Jr.
Elise Stroud- Nia-Next Jr.
Uryle Jackson- Nia-Next Jr.
Malia King- Nia-Next Jr.
Patricia Scott Hobbs- 2019 Resident Choreographer
Nia-Next
Patricia Scott Hobbs, dancer/teacher/choreographer/director, started her training with Philadelphia’s dance pioneer Marion Cuyjet at Judimar School of Dance. Mrs. Hobbs holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Temple University. She continued her professional training and performance at PHILADANCO with Joan Myers Brown, has performed with The Sybil Dance Company under the tutelage of Eva Gholson of temple university and performed in numerous New Freedom Theatre main stage and touring productions. In addition, she performed in the Philadelphia’s prestigious Barrymore Award Ceremony in 1996 and was a F. Otto Haas Award Nominee for emerging artists in 1997.
As resident choreographer, at New Freedom Theatre, her works have appeared for over forty years in numerous main stage and Student Season musical productions and dance concerts. Some choreographic credits include: New Freedom Theatre main stage productions: Celebrate: A Holiday Musical, New Freedom Theatre’s Black Nativity, Cooley High, Sparkle, Safety Street and Aesop Bop; Caroline or Change (Arden Theatre Company), Porgy and Bess (Opera Company of Philadelphia). New Freedom Theatre directorial/choreographic credits include: Visions of Broadway on Broad Street, Safety Street, Get Up & Get Into It! and Journey of a Gun. She has received three (3) Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Choreography for New Freedom Theatre’s holiday extravaganza New Freedom Theatre’s Black Nativity in 1995, 1997 and 2000. In New York City in the summer of 1999, Mrs. Hobbs choreographed Celebrations: An African Odyssey, a workshop of a musical being developed to move to Broadway). Her work was also presented during a cultural exchange/performance in Panama City and Las Tablas, Panama during the 4th International Karate Championship 2012.
As a teaching professional, Mrs. Hobbs has contributed to the education of students of all ages through New Freedom Theatre’s on-site and outreach programs. Mrs. Hobbs started as a dance instructor, founded the Dance Program, participated in the documentation of New Freedom Theatre’s Theatre Arts Curriculum and was the Managing Director of New Freedom Theatre’s Performing Arts Training Program. This includes training, supervising and mentoring arts education instructors as well as students in the Youth Summer Employment Program. As an arts educator in the community, Mrs. Hobbs applied her expertise as a participant on the writing committee for The Curriculum Performance Standards in Arts in Education for the School District of Philadelphia. The Curriculum Performance Standards for the Arts set citywide arts academic standards and benchmarks. In addition, she was a jazz dance instructor for Temple University – Dance Department and University of the Arts – Theater Department and a panelist for the 8th International Conference of Blacks in Dance and The National Black Arts Festival.
Presently Mrs. Hobbs works as a facilitator at two historic sites in the neighborhood of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. The responsibilities of the facilitator include using theatre arts exercises to create safe and nurturing environments for audiences to discuss pertinent issues of the day. Example – At Cliveden House revolutionary war freedoms, civil liberties, slavery, indentured servitude and women’s rights are discussed before seeing a play about the Chew family in Cliveden House. At Historic Germantown – The Elephant on the Avenue Project uses various historic sites in Germantown, historians, artists and audience participation in the creation of arts projects to discuss race, class and community.
Nia-Next
Patricia Scott Hobbs, dancer/teacher/choreographer/director, started her training with Philadelphia’s dance pioneer Marion Cuyjet at Judimar School of Dance. Mrs. Hobbs holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Temple University. She continued her professional training and performance at PHILADANCO with Joan Myers Brown, has performed with The Sybil Dance Company under the tutelage of Eva Gholson of temple university and performed in numerous New Freedom Theatre main stage and touring productions. In addition, she performed in the Philadelphia’s prestigious Barrymore Award Ceremony in 1996 and was a F. Otto Haas Award Nominee for emerging artists in 1997.
As resident choreographer, at New Freedom Theatre, her works have appeared for over forty years in numerous main stage and Student Season musical productions and dance concerts. Some choreographic credits include: New Freedom Theatre main stage productions: Celebrate: A Holiday Musical, New Freedom Theatre’s Black Nativity, Cooley High, Sparkle, Safety Street and Aesop Bop; Caroline or Change (Arden Theatre Company), Porgy and Bess (Opera Company of Philadelphia). New Freedom Theatre directorial/choreographic credits include: Visions of Broadway on Broad Street, Safety Street, Get Up & Get Into It! and Journey of a Gun. She has received three (3) Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Choreography for New Freedom Theatre’s holiday extravaganza New Freedom Theatre’s Black Nativity in 1995, 1997 and 2000. In New York City in the summer of 1999, Mrs. Hobbs choreographed Celebrations: An African Odyssey, a workshop of a musical being developed to move to Broadway). Her work was also presented during a cultural exchange/performance in Panama City and Las Tablas, Panama during the 4th International Karate Championship 2012.
As a teaching professional, Mrs. Hobbs has contributed to the education of students of all ages through New Freedom Theatre’s on-site and outreach programs. Mrs. Hobbs started as a dance instructor, founded the Dance Program, participated in the documentation of New Freedom Theatre’s Theatre Arts Curriculum and was the Managing Director of New Freedom Theatre’s Performing Arts Training Program. This includes training, supervising and mentoring arts education instructors as well as students in the Youth Summer Employment Program. As an arts educator in the community, Mrs. Hobbs applied her expertise as a participant on the writing committee for The Curriculum Performance Standards in Arts in Education for the School District of Philadelphia. The Curriculum Performance Standards for the Arts set citywide arts academic standards and benchmarks. In addition, she was a jazz dance instructor for Temple University – Dance Department and University of the Arts – Theater Department and a panelist for the 8th International Conference of Blacks in Dance and The National Black Arts Festival.
Presently Mrs. Hobbs works as a facilitator at two historic sites in the neighborhood of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. The responsibilities of the facilitator include using theatre arts exercises to create safe and nurturing environments for audiences to discuss pertinent issues of the day. Example – At Cliveden House revolutionary war freedoms, civil liberties, slavery, indentured servitude and women’s rights are discussed before seeing a play about the Chew family in Cliveden House. At Historic Germantown – The Elephant on the Avenue Project uses various historic sites in Germantown, historians, artists and audience participation in the creation of arts projects to discuss race, class and community.
"Kiss & Say Goodbye"
Choreography Patricia Scott Hobbs
July 2019
Choreography Patricia Scott Hobbs
July 2019
"Old Landmark"
Choreography Patricia Scott Hobbs
July 2019
Choreography Patricia Scott Hobbs
July 2019
"It's What You Answer To"
Choreography by AC Gilmore
Soloist, Khalimah Peace
June 2019
Choreography by AC Gilmore
Soloist, Khalimah Peace
June 2019
"Magic"
Choreography by Dana Nichols
Soloist, Khalimah Peace
October 2016
Choreography by Dana Nichols
Soloist, Khalimah Peace
October 2016
"In Love & War"
Choreography by A.C. Gilmore
Dancers, Khalimah Peace & Cion Rawls
October 2016
Choreography by A.C. Gilmore
Dancers, Khalimah Peace & Cion Rawls
October 2016
Nia-Next Does Disneyland/California Adventures August 9-12, 2017,
Master Class With Marc Spaulding 8/9/2017, Performance California Adventures
8/10/2017
Master Class With Marc Spaulding 8/9/2017, Performance California Adventures
8/10/2017
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Past Nia-Next Concerts...
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