Mama Donna’s colorful Dance Career extends from the classroom to the stage and various communities for over three decades as director of Dancescape, founder of Chihamba Jr. & Sr. companies and initiating force for Charlottesville,Virginia's African-American Cultural Arts Festival. She has continued to serve as Consultant for schools and community African Dance companies including “Chihamba”, “Nguzu Saba” of Danville, VA and and dance programs in Durham, NC where she currently resides.
Throughout her career she has provided African workshops, residencies and performances in addition to offering community classes. She operated her own dance studio for over 8 years teaching Modern/Jazz, Tap, Dance Movement, African Drumming and Dance. During that time, her students won awards with the Dance Educators of America and Dance Inc. dance competitions. She has over 30 years of Dance Experience, a degree in Education from
Virginia
State
University and 26 years of teaching in public school systems on the secondary, elementary including University and Community College levels. In addition to being listed in Virginia's Bluemont Concert Series for 4 years, she toured 11 years with Young Audiences of Virginia, 5 years with the Virginia Commission of the Arts Tour Directory and served 17 years in Artist-In-Education programs throughout Virginia.
Her knowledge of African dance, customs, and traditions extends partly from her pilgrimages and performances in The Gambia,
Senegal, and
Cote d'Ivoire, in
West Africa. Her update training continues with master classes, workshops, lecture demonstrations and seminars.