Selected Profiles of Performing Artists

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Selected Profiles of Performing Artists

Sankofa Dance Theatre Maxine Patterson The Royal Dance Ensemble

Priscilla Hancock Cooper & Dhana Bradley-Morton

Sankofa Dance Theatre
The Sankofa Dance Theatre makes its home in Savannah, Georgia. This grassroots organization first came together in 1995 for an annual Kwanzaa celebration held at St. Pius X Family Center, which is a component of the Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority. Sankofa, which consists of dancers, singers and actors, has emerged as a premier theatre ensemble. The group's philosophy is one of respect, encouragement, possessiveness, increased self-esteem and an understanding of one's history.

Sankofa Dance Theatre's mission is to provide accessible outlets to both individuals and groups. The dance troupe aims to broaden, affirm and celebrate African American culture through music, literature, dance and theater. It is committed to youth development in the community and strives to reach each and every youth.

Imagine the moving rhythms of the djembe and the pulsating motions of the islands infused with Lindy Hop's groove, coupled with jazz and modern technique. Sankofa Dance Theatre will excite your body, spirit and soul with its fresh and creative vibe.

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Maxine Patterson
Maxine Patterson, owner of the Maxine Patterson School of Dance, has been a dance instructor for more than 30 years. Today, Patterson is teaching a second generation of Savannah dance students. Many of her students have gone on to perform in college dance companies, and two of her girls danced at the Superbowl in Atlanta. The Maxine Patterson Dancers enjoy performing throughout the community for various events.

Patterson was born in Savannah and educated in the city's public school system. She has lived in Savannah her entire life and studied dance locally. She was a charter member of the Savannah Ballet Guild, now known as Ballet South. In 1995, Patterson was honored at an Alvin Ailey performance for her work with Savannah's youth.

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The Royal Dance Ensemble
The Royal Dance Ensemble is a performance and recruitment dance company from the Savannah Arts Academy. The founder, director and choreographer is LaJune Wise-Wilkerson. The ensemble was founded in 1992.

The ensemble has a very unique blend of extremely talented and sophisticated young dancers. It performs a variety of styles including modern, jazz, ballet, multicultural and dramatizations. This beautiful bouquet of graceful young ladies will win your hearts as they share their body and soul in creative expression that addresses many social issues and spiritual praise and devotion.

Priscilla Hancock Cooper and Dhana Bradley-Morton
Priscilla Hancock Cooper and Dhana Bradley-Morton are spoken word artists whose creative collaboration began in Louisville, Kentucky, more than 15 years ago. Their first "poetic concert," I Have Been Hungry All of My Years, was presented at the 1981 National Conference on the Black Family. In 1984, they co-founded the Theater Workshop of Louisville (TWL), which built a dynamic reputation under Bradley-Morton's guidance as producing/artistic director for 12 years. With TWL, they combined their directing and writing skills on Four Women (1985) and God's Trombones (1991) and performed together in Amazing Grace (1993).

The creative partnership has endured not only over time but over distance. The two women have not lived in the same city since 1985, when Cooper moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Throughout the years, though, they have traveled to perform their poetic concerts on a variety of themes for schools, colleges and national conferences in several states. Both women are also educators, arts administrators and art advocates. They both served with the Kentucky Arts Council--Bradley-Morton as director of special constituencies and Cooper as a board member.

Since 1995, Bradley-Morton has been executive/artistic director of the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati (ACC), the Queen City's respected multidisciplinary African American arts institution. Cooper works as a writer and consultant to arts and education institutions on program development and African American issues.

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