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Presented by the Kofago Institute in partnership with Lehman College
August 22–23, 2025 | Lehman College, Bronx, NY
The Culture Rising Dance Conference is a two-day celebration of movement, culture, and community hosted by the Kofago Institute in collaboration with Lehman College. Taking place on August 22nd and 23rd, 2025, this event will offer free dance classes and workshops for the Bronx community, highlighting styles rooted in the African Diaspora.
Participants will explore Traditional West African, Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, Hip-Hop, Modern, and Contemporary dance styles, taught by a diverse lineup of professional dancers and cultural educators.
Who Should Attend:
- Middle School, High School, and College Dance Students (MS and HS students must attend with a chaperone – parent or teacher)
- Dance Educators and Teaching Artists
- Community Organizers and Cultural Workers
- Bronx-Based Youth and Families
- Anyone Passionate About Dance, Culture, and Education
Whether you're a student looking to grow, an educator seeking inspiration, or a community member excited to move and connect, the Culture Rising Dance Conference is your space to celebrate dance and cultural excellence.
Registration is free for all Bronx residents.
For more information and to register, theinstitute@kofagoinstitute.org.
Let’s rise—together—through dance.
Culture Rising - Dance Instructors
Tae Gi Kim
Tae Gi Kim is a decorated competitive dancer and professional choreographer. He is a three-time American Smooth Regional Champion and Inter-regional runner-up in the 2022 World Cup Series Dancesport Championships. Kim has trained with Limon Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Althea Dance Company, and Gallim Dance Co. He has studied Bushashe under Mary Waithe, a reconstructor for Pearl Primus’ works. Currently, Kim is a Co-Artistic director of Herbert H. Dance Company (Herbie) and ½ of the CorTae Dance Collective with his partner, Cordelia B. Vohnout. Their choreographic works include: Le Début D’une Révolution 2024, The Anthology of Fabled Kingdoms 2024, Suprises Unknown 2025, and their upcoming work Mad King Arthur debuting Sept.2025
Esther Grant-Walker
Mama Esther Grant has been studying dance for the past 50 years. Her initial seven years of dance training is in traditional dance school genres: ballet, tap, and modern dance. Her first exposure to “ethnic” dance was learning the Quadrille, a Caribbean-style square dance, from her mother. Ms. Grant became exposed to West African Dance and instantly loved the power of the drum and movement.
Beverly Lopez
Beverly has presented independent work in New York City festivals, including Triskelion Arts Comedy and Dance Festival, Collective Thread, HVCCA, and BAAD! ASS Women Festival. She is a company member of the ModArts Dance Collective, and the Herbert H. Dance Company. She recently performed at the Harlem School of the Arts in Harlem Voices and has performed in the off-Broadway production, Bountiful, under Luis Salgado of R.Evolucion Latina. Beverly earned a BFA in Multi-Media and Performing Arts, and is working to inspire children as a modern dance teacher at Cache Dance Studios, and as an education coordinator at the AATT Academy at BAAD!.
Tiffany Rae Beast
Tiffany Rae is a versatile dance artist and performer whose work highlights the stories of Black and LGBTQIA communities. Recognized for her creativity, she has performed with Missy Elliott, Eminem, and Lil Kim, and in stages like Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center. Her artistry has been featured in The New York Times and FOX Soul TV, as well as music videos, tours, and campaigns. Signed with Bloc Talent Agency, Tiffany continues to inspire through her dedication to dance and storytelling.
Nzinga Tull
Nzinga Tull, a Senior Company dancer with KanKouran West African Dance Company, performs traditional West African dance forms originating primarily from Senegal, Gambia, Mali, and Guinea. Nzinga began studying dance at age 3 in her hometown, Washington, DC, with African Heritage Dancers and Drummers. She resumed her dance studies in Atlanta as a Spelman College student by studying with Torkwase Osahene and performing with Ayolowa, the student company of Barefoot Ballet. Nzinga began her professional dance career in Atlanta when she joined Giwayen Mata, with whom she has continued performing and teaching over the years. In 1999, Nzinga began performing with KanKouran and today she is one of the company's principal dancers. Nzinga also teaches classes and workshops in West African dance technique and performance for schools and community organizations across the nation.
Alexandra Jean Joseph
Alexandra Jean-Joseph is a New York based educator, choreographer, and performing artist. She studied Psychology with a focus on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies at New York University. As a performing artist, she has studied under, performed, and collaborated with notable Haitian master instructors Mikerline Pierre, Julio Jean, Nadia Dieudonné, Jessica St. Vil Ulysse, and Adia Whitaker. In 2018 Alexandra co-founded Imamou Lele, to preserve and share the traditional stories of Haiti and its diaspora. As Artistic Director, Alexandra actively engages and collaborates with her community through dance and drum classes, workshops, and performances. She strives to promote dance as an experience where spirit and art meet.
Cory "Nova" Villegas
Cory "Nova" Villegas is a Bronx-born dancer, choreographer, and educator known for her passion for Afro-Latin dance forms and their integration with traditional styles. She's a prominent figure in the NYC dance scene, having trained extensively and showcased her choreography in various festivals and collaborations.
Villegas is interested in combining Afro-Latin forms with traditional dance techniques, integrating them with music and poetry. Her choreography has been featured at events and venues such as the Bronx Arts Festival, the LGBTQ Fuerza Festival, Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse Theater, KoDaFe in NYC festival, The EstroGenius Festival, Jazz Choreography Enterprises, Kulture Kave The Konnecgion, and Clark Center NYC. She has also collaborated with Latin artists like Don Omar. In 2019, she co-founded Soul Dance Co.: The Soul Experience, where she serves as artistic director.
Bakary Fall
Artistic Director of Kofago Dance Ensemble, Bakary Fall is a dancer and choreographer of traditional and contemporary West African, Capoeira, and urban dances from Dakar, Senegal. Bakary launched his career at the Third World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar, originally established by Senegalese poet and president Leopold Sedar Senghor. Bakary notably studied with Bessie award winning dancer Germaine Acogny.
His dancing and choreography have been featured in several documentaries and music videos, including with Grammy award winning artists. He founded the annual Yoon ak Yeen festival in Dakar in 2014 that is recognized throughout West Africa for uniting artists experimenting with the fusion of contemporary and traditional dance. He also founded a dance group, Sunu Percu Dance, in Senegal that works with traditional and contemporary West African cultures.