Research

My research sits at the crossroads of choreography, cultural history, performance, and pedagogy, rooted in the embodied knowledge of Street and Club dance forms. Drawing from the aesthetics, philosophies, and lived experiences of Black communities, I use movement as a scholarly module and tool cultural storytelling. I focus on Hip-Hop, House, and Funk Styles, such as Locking, Popping, and Breaking, not only as dance techniques, but as vital cultural practices that transmit intergenerational knowledge, resistance, and joy.

Whether through live performances, lecture-demonstrations, community-centered initiatives, or curriculum development, my work challenges Eurocentric frameworks in dance education and scholarship. It broadens the definition of research to include embodied practice and collaborative processes, affirming Street and Club dance as rigorous and transformative fields of inquiry. Through Kia The Key & Company, my project-based dance company, I generate and test choreographic research in conversation with community, culture, and history, extending my scholarship beyond institutional boundaries.

This page offers an in-depth look at my multifaceted research portfolio, organized into six areas:

Choreographic Research (Major Works):Original creative works that serve as scholarly contributions, including The Gathering, Concourse, and The Intelligent Black Woman, which merge Street and Club dance vocabularies with performance structures to illuminate cultural memory, lived experience, and systems of power through embodied practice.
National Commissions: Works created in partnership with institutions such as Bates Dance Festival, Springfield College, and the University of Minnesota, where I develop site-engaged performances that respond to local histories and communities.
Research with Student Collaborators: Projects developed in dialogue with undergraduate dancers, showcasing my commitment to mentorship, co-creation, and research-based learning through movement.
Programs & Initiatives: Community-based and pedagogical initiatives like RACE AND…Dance, Black Beauty Dance, and Lecture Demonstrations, use dance as a tool for education, healing, and cultural affirmation.
Performance in the Works of Other Choreographers : Engagements where I have contributed as a performer, offering my expertise in Street and Club forms to support the vision of other artists and expand the visibility of these practices in diverse creative contexts.
Selected Works Prior to Mount Holyoke: Foundational projects that shaped my artistic and scholarly voice, providing historical context for my current research trajectory.

Collectively, these categories demonstrate how I integrate choreography, pedagogy, community engagement, and cultural research into a unified scholarly practice. Through this work, I aim to shift how dance is understood, taught, and valued within higher education and the broader field. My research continues to evolve through collaborative, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary approaches that enhance the role of Street and Club dance within academia and beyond.