Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. This year, the theme is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. The DJD organization owes gratitude and pays an abundance of respect to Black Culture and the African-American experience both of which are the architects of jazz dance. In the final weeks of Black History Month we will be offering classes lead by Black artists who are a part of our community. We invite you to participate in these classes and all revenues from the drop in fees will go directly to Calgary Black Chambers, an organization whose objectives are to initiate scholarships and mentoring opportunities for Black students to further their postsecondary education, training and professional development.

Learn more about the people teaching our classes below, and click here to sign up.

Simeon Peters

Teaching Trinidadian Folk Open from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM MST on Saturday, February 24.
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Simeon Peters is a Trinidadian dancer whose desire for the arts, specifically dance came in 2009. After training for 3 years, he commenced an undergraduate degree at the Academy of Performing Arts in Trinidad (UTT). In 2013, he was offered a contract with the UniverSoul Circus in the USA where he toured extensively in over 20 states performing the national dance of Trinidad (limbo). Intrigued by the rich Caribbean history and culture, he went to Edna Manley College of Performing Arts in Jamaica in 2014. His pursuit for bridging the gap of culture continued when he was accepted to the Beijing Dance Academy in China, where he received a one-year scholarship. He graduated with two diplomas, one in Chinese traditional folk dance and the other in Modern dance. It was here where his love for diversity propelled him to teach and choreograph on the junior students at the Academy, earning a silver medal in one of China’s national junior dance festivals. In 2017, Simeon returned to his initial studies at UTT, graduating with BFA in Performing Arts specializing in Dance. While apart of the Northwest Laventille Cultural Movement and Wasafoli T&T, Simeon spent 2019-2021 choreographing and passing on what he had learned over the years. He moved to his sister Isle to join the Tobago Performing Art Company (TPAC) in 2021. While residing there, he spent his time as a cultural researcher and performer with TPAC and giving back to the community. 2023 saw Simeon join DJD, where he spends his days training and performing with the company. Simeon is an aspiring ethnographer who bases his methodology and philosophy from the ritualistic practices of the Caribbean fold aesthetic. He is a creative artist who focuses on cultural sharing through dance education and fourteen years of traditional and cultural experience through the arts. His work pushes the envelope, his teaching style aims to generate dialogue which then is translated through choreographic experiments. Simeon’s work assesses the scared space of the Orisa Palais (a ceremonial space) and the ritual transformation when practiced within the commercial space.

Amanda Okafor

Teaching AfroBeats Open from 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM MST Saturday, February 24.
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Amanda is a born and bred Nigerian Calgarian, with a dance background in the styles of West African, Afrobeats and Afrohouse. Her journey as a dancer began performing with the Nigerian Association of Calgary Youth dance group at the age of 8. Since then, she’s received training from dancers based in Africa and across Europe, and she has also been fortunate enough to perform at several local events over the years. Currently, she’s decided to focus less on performing, and more on sharing her passion for dance with both youth and adult dancers.

Edward Campbell

Teaching Hip Hop Open from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM MST on Monday, February 26.
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Born and raised in Panama City, Panama, Edward Campbell developed his interest in all the arts through his mother. Through his high school years, a love for dance and design flourished pursuing both careers simultaneously as a B-boy and a graphic designer. He attended The University of Panama and completed his bachelor’s degree in their Graphic Design program.

West African Teaching Team

Teaching from 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM MST for Tuesday, February 27.
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Join our West African Faculty (Amanda Bonnell, Ingrid Diaz Cespedes, Simeon Peters and Deanne Walsh), the drumming ensemble & special guests. Come celebrate the community and the joy of West African dance.

Jared Herring

Teaching House Open from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM MST on Thursday, February 29.
Click here to sign up.