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"Being able to learn from Shakia has been one of the most fulfilling and impactful experiences in my life. Her ability to create safe spaces, to support her students and to allow them to grow as artists and people is exemplary. Shakia embodies what it means to be a mentor. Being able to learn from her through classes and rehearsals has continued to inspire me as a dancer, a choreographer and a black woman."

Soukeyna Abbott - Mount Holyoke College ‘20

 
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-06T22:00:37+00:00
"Being able to learn from Shakia has been one of the most fulfilling and impactful experiences in my life. Her ability to create safe spaces, to support her students and to allow them to grow as artists and people is exemplary. Shakia embodies what it means to be a mentor. Being able to learn from her through classes and rehearsals has continued to inspire me as a dancer, a choreographer and a black woman." Soukeyna Abbott - Mount Holyoke College ‘20  
"Shakia has the remarkable ability to create space for her dancers and students to express their individuality as movers. I have seen growth in myself that I did not believe possible because of her guidance and teachings. She gave me the opportunity to be a part of her repertory and to be a collaborator in her work for many semesters. She has inspired me to continue pursuing Hip Hop and to really educate myself and get involved with my community. I am so grateful for her!"

Sarah Maurer - UMass Amherst ‘20

 
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-06T22:03:48+00:00
"Shakia has the remarkable ability to create space for her dancers and students to express their individuality as movers. I have seen growth in myself that I did not believe possible because of her guidance and teachings. She gave me the opportunity to be a part of her repertory and to be a collaborator in her work for many semesters. She has inspired me to continue pursuing Hip Hop and to really educate myself and get involved with my community. I am so grateful for her!" Sarah Maurer - UMass Amherst ‘20  
"As a teacher and choreographer, Shakia has the ability to push without breaking, to encourage and celebrate her students, and to continuously bring new information to the table. All of this is evident after a semester or choreographic process with Shakia because dancers walk away more confident, more knowledgeable. However, Shakia’s magnetism does not allow for dancers to just walk away; we keep coming back for more! As a mentor and a friend, Shakia fosters fun and important relationships with her students. This has been especially poignant for me as Shakia has been an inspiration, a role model, and a consistent figure throughout my college career. I have no doubts that this will not change, even as I move on to the next stage of life."

Amisi Nazaire-Hicks - UMass Amherst ‘20

 
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-06T22:01:39+00:00
"As a teacher and choreographer, Shakia has the ability to push without breaking, to encourage and celebrate her students, and to continuously bring new information to the table. All of this is evident after a semester or choreographic process with Shakia because dancers walk away more confident, more knowledgeable. However, Shakia’s magnetism does not allow for dancers to just walk away; we keep coming back for more! As a mentor and a friend, Shakia fosters fun and important relationships with her students. This has been especially poignant for me as Shakia has been an inspiration, a role model, and a consistent figure throughout my college career. I have no doubts that this will not change, even as I move on to the next stage of life." Amisi Nazaire-Hicks - UMass Amherst ‘20  
"Shakia has been a mentor, teacher, friend and inspiration. She ignited my love of dance and has continued to be someone who I admire in the field. Her charisma, and deep love of the art exudes from the movements she creates herself and contagiously spreads with incredible joy to others. She teaches and loves with a whole heart, always putting 150% into her work and her “kids”. Everyone who crosses her path, is impacted in such a positive and significant way. Shakia will forever be someone who I look up to and someone who creates a safe space for all to create, mess up and find a family and community. I was at home when I was dancing with her."

Maire Frances Psomas-Jackloski - Hampshire College ‘19

 
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-06T22:02:11+00:00
"Shakia has been a mentor, teacher, friend and inspiration. She ignited my love of dance and has continued to be someone who I admire in the field. Her charisma, and deep love of the art exudes from the movements she creates herself and contagiously spreads with incredible joy to others. She teaches and loves with a whole heart, always putting 150% into her work and her “kids”. Everyone who crosses her path, is impacted in such a positive and significant way. Shakia will forever be someone who I look up to and someone who creates a safe space for all to create, mess up and find a family and community. I was at home when I was dancing with her." Maire Frances Psomas-Jackloski - Hampshire College ‘19  
"Shakia’s joyful and caring spirit is infectious and my college dance career would not have been the same without her mentorship and support. By being part of Shakia’s choreographic process, I was connected with dancers from all Five Colleges. Her work has been instrumental in forming a tight community through social dance. Her Hip Hop courses incorporate crucial history and context for the forms of hip hop she teaches. My knowledge of these forms and their history have made me a more knowledgeable dancer, teacher, and sharer of Hip Hop and dance forms of the African Diaspora. I am honored to call Shakia a mentor and a friend."

Sienna Jessurun - Mount Holyoke College '20
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-20T22:09:08+00:00
"Shakia’s joyful and caring spirit is infectious and my college dance career would not have been the same without her mentorship and support. By being part of Shakia’s choreographic process, I was connected with dancers from all Five Colleges. Her work has been instrumental in forming a tight community through social dance. Her Hip Hop courses incorporate crucial history and context for the forms of hip hop she teaches. My knowledge of these forms and their history have made me a more knowledgeable dancer, teacher, and sharer of Hip Hop and dance forms of the African Diaspora. I am honored to call Shakia a mentor and a friend." Sienna Jessurun - Mount Holyoke College '20
"Shakia has really been a pillar for my college dance career as well as an awesome example of being an unapologetic Black woman. She has been and will continue to be someone I look up to as a dancer, teacher, and as a woman. They way she carries herself and demands nothing, but respect is an admirable quality. Throughout my college career, Shakia has always pushed me and almost yelled at me to do better, be better, and dig deeper through dance. That the sky's the limit and there is so much more inside than I think. She may 'come for my life' several times in a day, but I know it's all out of love and her seeing potential in me that I may not see myself. An all around genuine person, whose laugh and spirit is infectious that you can't help but be drawn to! Kia the Key, for the people!!"

Allana Scudder - UMass Amherst ‘21

 
Shakia "The Key"
2020-10-06T22:03:22+00:00
"Shakia has really been a pillar for my college dance career as well as an awesome example of being an unapologetic Black woman. She has been and will continue to be someone I look up to as a dancer, teacher, and as a woman. They way she carries herself and demands nothing, but respect is an admirable quality. Throughout my college career, Shakia has always pushed me and almost yelled at me to do better, be better, and dig deeper through dance. That the sky's the limit and there is so much more inside than I think. She may 'come for my life' several times in a day, but I know it's all out of love and her seeing potential in me that I may not see myself. An all around genuine person, whose laugh and spirit is infectious that you can't help but be drawn to! Kia the Key, for the people!!" Allana Scudder - UMass Amherst ‘21  
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Shakia "The Key"

Featured Image by Sean Elliot

About

Shakia “The Key” Barron is a choreographer, performer, and dance educator whose work is rooted in the African Diaspora, focusing on Hip-Hop, House and other African diasporic dance forms. She is the Class of 1929 Dr. Virginia Apgar Assistant Professor of Dance at Mount Holyoke College and Artistic Director of her own project-based dance company, Kia the Key & Company. Barron values and aims to create possibilities for embodied connection–using movement and music to generate kinesthetic empathy for both members and guests of the cultural forms she practices and teaches.

She graduated with her MFA in Choreography at Wilson College, holds an Associate’s degree in dance and psychology from Dean College, a Bachelor’s in liberal arts from Westfield State University, and received the National Dance Institute’s teaching artist certificate in 2009. She is an alum of Bates Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, and Pioneer Valley’s Performing Arts Charter School.

Barron’s performance and choreography experience is extensive. She has choreographed and directed more than 50 Hip-Hop, Funk Styles, House, and Afro-modern works that have been performed at colleges, universities, and dance institutions throughout the New England area including Bates Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow. She has performed for numerous Hip-Hop events including  opening for concerts by Fat Joe, Jadakiss, 112, Charlie Baltimore, and Kima from “Total” and Omarion. In 2005, she choreographed a Hip-Hop number for the Celtics/NBA half-time show. Barron has toured nationally and internationally, dancing with Face Da Phlave Entertainment, Illstyle and Peace Productions, and as a guest artist with Rennie Harris PureMovement. 

As a dance educator, Barron spent many years teaching at the Bates Dance Festival and taught community classes at Jacob’s Pillow. She is a Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) faculty member who has facilitated multiple professional development workshops around the integration of Hip-Hip dance and history in the curriculum. In 2022, PS Dance! The Next Generation was released, a film featuring Barron and her contributions to the DEL program. She was the 2019 Arthur Levitt Jr. ’52 Artist-in-Residence at Williams College. Barron is also a recent recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award from Bates Dance Festival. Prior to joining Mount Holyoke College Dance Department as a full-time tenure track faculty, she served as an adjunct at UMASS Amherst, Smith, Amherst and Connecticut colleges. 

Contact

Email: shakiathekey@gmail.com

Instagram: @kia_thekey

Facebook: Shakia Barron/The Key