OUR DANCE CULTURE TEAM

Michelle Cole, is  the founder of Dance Culture LLC. She is a mother, educator, scholar, dancer, and choreographer. She is a current PhD student at UC Riverside in Critical Dance Studies. She received her Master’s degree in Dance Education from New York University, Steinhardt and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University’s Honors College. In 2019, she founded Dance Culture, LLC to conduct independent dance residencies and professional development at universities, and public, private, and charter schools throughout NYC. Her goal for Dance Culture is to cultivate a space for dance educators to professionally develop in order to decolonize teaching practices and root them with the cultural context of the content. 

Photo Credit: BECCAVISION IG:becca.vision

Najah Aldridge (they/she), born and raised in Queens, New York, graduated from NYU’s College of Arts and Science with a degree in Global Public Health and Sociology, and minors in Dance and Spanish. At NYU, Najah mentored students and led organizations that created safe spaces for people of color. They graduated cum laude, earning honors in Sociology for research on underrepresented cultural arts education centers. Najah aims to create a grassroots organization that increases access to dance and dance education for Afro-descendants. Recognized for excellence in choreography and academic achievement, Najah contributes to the dance community through their work with BAM, The REACH Collective, Kofago, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and Ladies of Hip Hop. They are ecstatic to join the Dance Culture team, which aligns with their vision of the future: preserving and showcasing the authenticity of Black dance forms and ensuring access for all.