Tilishia Bradley
Born and raised in Trenton, NJ, Tilishia, always loved to move and to be moved by music. A competitive gymnast, her earliest training was in ballet. As a teen Tilishia continued to study modern dance and as a young adult, she began studying West African dance. She has been blessed to have danced with several modern and West African dance companies including KowTeff African Dance Company, where she is currently a senior member. Tilishia has danced with Shalewa for 10 years, was MUVs first guest artist and a company member since 2006. Also an accomplished musician, Tilishia's voice can be heard on a number of scores for MUV. Tilishia gives thanks for powerful teachers and mentors such as Makini Niliwaambieni, Marossa Brown, Esther Grant-Walker, Sewaa Codrington, Aicha Diop, and Shalewa. Tilishia acknowledges her biggest inspirations her daughter and family, "MmmWaaah! I love you the most".
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Photos by Jaecyne Howell
Annie Friedensen
came to get down. A passionate dancer and beautiful performer, Annie started dancing as a curious child growing up in the Blueridge mountains in Virginia. She began a religious practice of ballet at the age of 9 under Nela Nieman and spent her young years in dance class and rehearsals for the Nutcracker. But 13 years of ballet couldnt prepare her for the gorgeous joy she found in African dance class while at the University of Colorado at Boulder studying under Robin Haig, Michelle Ellsworth, Toby Hankin, and Onye Ozuzu. Upon graduation in 2005 with Magna cum Laude Honors and BA degrees in Dance, Environmental Studies, and a Minor in Geography, Annie began training under Fara Tolno, Djeneba Sacko, and Maputo Mensah until relocating to New York, where she pursues a Masters in Africana Studies and Performance Studies at New York University. Annie has performed with West African troupes such as Logo Ligi and Kissidugu and with modern companies such as Mary Wohl Haan/Haan Dances and Open Door Dance Theatre. She spent a summer dancing in Tuscany with ProDanza Italia USA and has performed with new talents like Danica Kalemdaroglu and Heidi Prendergast. When she isnt dancing, Annie is bartending, reading, making travel plans, or eating spicy things. She is happily learning and sweating on the New York dance scene, and is thrilled to join her energy with MUV.
Photo Credit: Paulette Jemmot-Wiley
Perdella Jn. Baptiste
Perdella Jn. Baptiste, a native of St. Lucia, trained under Joan Burroughs and Penelope Kalloo as a scholarship student at Harbor Conservatory andmember of the Ifetayo Youth Ensemble. She has worked with renowned choreographers such as Marie Basse-Wiles, Enrique Cruz, Jean Leon Destine, Abdel Salaam, and Courtney Ffrench of the Vissi Dance Theater. Perdella has been dancing with MUV for two years and is thankful for the wonderful experience to grow as an artist and a woman. Perdella is pursuing a degree in Cross Culture Studies & Dance Education at Medgar Evers College.
Jen Kosky
Jen Kosky, originally from a beautiful small coastal town in Connecticut, is in her fourth year as a New York-based dance and movement artist. Jen has been with Movement for the Urban Village for one year and is grateful to be a part of this challenging and inspiring work. In New York Jen has also performed in works by Emma Cotter, Jamie Graham, Marisa Gruneberg, Mare Hieranimous, Jackie Moynahan, Stephanie Sleeper, Martha Williams and Ellis Wood Dance. Jen is also a creative member of the Zuvuya Collective, a multi-media artist group with which she has begin to show her own choreographic work. A 2004 graduate of the University of Michigan, Jen holds bachelors degrees in dance and film. Jen thanks her amazing supportive and beautiful family for giving her the opportunity to have an artistic life.
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