Aqila Norris
Assistant Artistic Director
Aqila Norris was born in North Babylon, Long Island; at 11 she began her multidisciplinary training as a dancer at Venette’s Cultural Workshop. She has studied ballet, jazz, modern, tap and African Dance. Her first professional experience as a dancer was as a 16 year old dancer with Hip-Hop lyricist Princess Ivori at the Apollo Theater. Since then she has performed in various clubs, theaters, and schools throughout the greater New York metropolitan area and has appeared in many music videos. In 1994 she moved to Brooklyn after graduating from Hampton University. Aqila continued her training at Le Roq Bey, Kowteff, Fareta, Arts Horizons, and many others. Her latest work appears in the Arts Horizons Summer Institute Brochure 2009.
Aqila has worked with Shalewa Mackall since 1999 and has been with the MUV from its inception. In 2009 Aqila was named Assistant Artistic Director. Throughout MUV’s journey she has contributed unstinting creative assistance in all facets of its operations. Some of her solo works include The Drum, Mother Her Nature, Down Deep, and Flow. Currently she is a full time dance teacher at P.S. 158 in East New York, Brooklyn, she can also be found teaching dance at the Dance Hut in Queens. Aqila has been making movement into art for almost all of her life and it is her hope to grow art in the hearts of people infinitely. Aqila says, "Being a member of MUV has truly been rewarding. Its concept encompasses my sentiments exactly- where there is dance there is community".
photos by Jaecyne Howell
Dunia Best Sinnreich
Composer
Dunia Best Sinnreich has been putting her own spin on popular music genres for fifteen years. Her first band Agent 99 won worldwide acclaim and is widely acknowledged as a seminal force in Third Wave ska. Dubistry, formed in Los Angeles with her husband, bassist Aram Sinnreich and guitarist Matt Urbania crossed the boundary from dub to breakbeats and back. Their single Roll Away is featured on international compilations in the U.S., South America and Japan. With Brave New Girl, Dunia and Aram teamed up with keyboardist Todd Nocera to create a unique music based in reggae, soul and jazz. Based in New York, BNG has performed with Tamar Kali, Ari Up from the Slits, and Fishbone, among others. They are currently preparing a follow-up to their widely praised EP No One Ever Said. Dunia is also the creator of dubYoga, which combines dub music with kirtan traditions to create healing music for body, mind and soul.
Dunia lives in New York with her husband and their son, Simon. She is extremely proud and honored to be a part of the-Ascendance Project, her second collaboration with Shalewa Mackall.
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