MOVED

The Natural Movers Foundation is pleased to present "MOVED: A Celebration of Black History and Culture Through Dance". This full-day event will feature a rich lineup of dance masterclasses, workshops, talks, and performances by local and renowed Black artists. Culminating in an evening concert with premieres of commissioned works by distinguished Black choreographers, this event aims to inspire, educate, and reflect on the profound impact of Black history and culture in the dance world.

Join us for the ONLY event of its kind in Florida.

DAY EVENTS

• Date: February 22, 2025
• Location: Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
• Registration Required.
• Target Audience: All Ages
• Check-in opens at 8:30 AM
• Event Begins at 9:00 AM

Dance Masterclasses: Open-level and Intermediate/Advanced dance class in the Cohen Pavilion (2nd floor) dance studios.

Family Art Workshop + Artist Talks: Open to all ages and located in the Cohen Pavilion (2nd floor) dance studios.

All fees and donations support the MOVED artists and programming of the Natural Movers Foundation.

Registration is required. See faculty and more details below and at naturalmovers.org

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS // DAY EVENTS

Ballet

9-10:20 AM

• Open Level with Paunika Jones, Featured Artist
• Intermediate/Advanced with Jermaine Thornton

Modern

10:30-11:50 AM

• Open Level with Samantha Cyprian
• Intermediate/Advanced Repertoire with Branndi Lewis

LunchBox Chat (w/ Featured Artists)

12-1 PM

• Artist Talk with Buddha Stretch, Paunika Jones and Mama Mo l Featured Artists
• Bring a bagged lunch and chat with our MOVED featured artists

African Dance (w/ Featured Artist)

1:10-2:40 PM

• Open Level Umfundalai with Master Teacher Monique N. Walker (Mama Mo)

Jazz Dance

1:10-2:40 PM

• Intermediate/Advance Repertoire with Herman Payne
  

Hip-Hop

2:45-3:45 PM

• Intermediate/Advanced Hip-Hop with Kenny Fowler

Jazz Dance

2:45-3:45 PM

• Open Level with Garry Q. Lewis

Hip-Hop (w/ Featured Artist)

3:45-5 PM

• Buddha Stretch

Young Artists l Family Art Workshop

4-5 PM

• Taught by local artist Tracy Guiteau, all ages welcome

Intermediate/Advanced Rep: Modern and Jazz Concert Rehearsal

5:30-6:30 PM @ Memorial Presbyterian Church

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS // EVENING EVENTS

MOVED in Concert

Q&A with Commissioned Choreographers

• Date: February 22, 2025
• Location: Memorial Presbyterian Church (performance hall)
• Registration Required.
• Target Audience: All Ages
• Doors open at 7:30 PM
• Concert begins at 8 PM w/ pre-show

MOVED in Concert w/ Q&A

• 8-9:30 PM

Evening Concert: Featuring the premiere of contemporary works by commissioned Black choreographers and dancers, including a special presentation by featured artist Paunika Jones, former Principal Ballerina with Dance Theatre of Harlem.

The concert also features a pre-show by intermediate-advanced dancers from MOVED 2025 jazz and modern repetorie classes.

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MOVED 2025 FEATURED ARTISTS

Paunika Jones

Ms. Jones joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble in 1996, moving on to become a principal dancer after two years. She’s performed leading roles in iconic pieces like John Taras’s “Firebird” and George Balanchine’s “Serenade”. Rejoining DTH’s Ensemble in 2007, she worked closely with Arthur Mitchell in rebuilding the company.

Paunika Jones is a native of Miami, Florida. She is an alumna of New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida. With a diverse background in ballet, modern, tap, and jazz, she’s trained under Suzanne Laliberté (Clark), Ursino Del Ville, Linda Rodgers Albritton, and others. She also studied at the Ailey School and the DTH School’s Summer Intensive Programs.
Her professional journey includes Dance Theatre of Harlem, Oakland Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Collage Dance Collective and more. Beyond dance, Ms. Jones has a passion for instruction, yoga, GYROKINESIS, and well-being, aspiring to launch her own dance/performance art company while continuing to grow artistically.

Buddha Stretch
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Buddha Stretch was influenced by his dad Emilio Austin, Sr. His Dad danced as a youth and provided Stretch with discipline, inspiration, support and motivation, and remained by his side to guide him throughout his career. This foundation carries Stretch, a father himself, throughout his personal and professional career today. Stretch heavily impacted the dance world by bridging the gap between what was termed, Ol’ Skool and New Skool. His dance style, known as Freestyle Hip-Hop, draws from all aspects of Hip-Hop culture, music and dance. These moves during the early days of music videos helped to launch the popularity of dance in this medium, as well as live shows.

His first video was with Eric B & Rakim, Eric B for President. He met the members of his first dance crew, Mop Top, at a music video audition each one had booked for Diana Ross, Working Overtime. They began to hang out at New York’s night spot, The Tunnel, and later formed their crew. Stretch later formed a crew called Elite Force who appeared in documentaries, music videos, live shows and in countless projects overseas. His first choreography job was for Joeski Love (Pee Wee Dance) and went on to work with the likes of Rosie Perez, Will Smith in the Men In Black and Miamivideos; Michael Jackson’s Remember The Timevideo (his most memorable experience) and more. He was nominated for two MTV Awards for ‘Best Choreography’ for the Will Smith videos Men In Black, Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It, and Miami. Recent credits include choreography for Virgin recording artist Thalia (on Good Morning America), Aida, Tony Award Winner, Heather Headley, Hot ’97 Air Personality, Angie Martinez, and rapper Rah Diggah.

Stretch is no stranger to music. An MC and writer himself, he recorded an underground hit called It Don’t Matter by Ten Thieves and continues to make music today. His versatility is also displayed by his participation as a dancer and contributing choreographer for the Dance Theater crew Full Circle, and Co-Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre Company MiddleGround. His trend setting style keeps him in demand as a choreographer, dancer, teacher and performer. His passion for dance is exhibited every time you experience his work.

Stretch believes “music is the universal language; dance is its interpreter.”

Monique Newton Walker
Originally from Chester, PA, Monique Newton Walker has traveled the world as a performer, educator, and choreographer, and living in Maryland since 2003. She specializes in neo-traditional and contemporary African dance and has studied from many dance masters and institutions including Chuck Davis, Walter Nicks, Philadanco!, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and Dr. Kariamu Welsh.
Based in southern Maryland, Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration, is the Administrative Director for the Charles County Arts Alliance, a 2018-2019 NextLOOK Residency Artist, and a certified Master Teacher of the Umfundalai contemporary African dance technique. She teaches Umfundalai at CityDance’s School & Conservatory and The Viva School. She has also taught as a guest lecturer at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne, and Drexel University, and on the dance faculties of North Carolina State University and The School at Jacob’s Pillow.
Monique is the former dance captain and Assistant to the Artistic Director of Chuck Davis' African American Dance Ensemble with additional performance credits including Kariamu & Company: Traditions and original choreography by David Dorfman and Francis Nii Yartey. Her choreography has been presented at the North Carolina Dance Festival, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Dance Place, and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
As a wife and mother of two, Monique continues her mission of using dance, music, and theater as a vehicle for the preservation, promotion, and innovation of African Diasporan dance through her work as the Executive Director for the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT) and a choreographer with her project-based performance company, MoDance Works.

Host or Publisher Natural Movers Foundation