In the Spring of 1999, Nsaa Dance Ensemble began as the vision of four Howard University students: Mylah Garlington, Lesina Martin, Mesi Walton and the late KiShawnda McRoyal. The organization received its official recognition from Howard University on November 13, 2000.
Founders
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| Mylah Garlington |
Mylah Garlington is a student at Georgia State University pursuing a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy. She began studying African Dance at the age of 15 with Mawakana Dance Company in Albany, Ga. She later co-founded Nsaa Dance Ensemble in Washington, D.C. Mylah is currently a member of Injabulo Leta Dance Company in Atlanta, Ga and a guest artist in the Mawankana Dance Company.
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| Lesina Martin |
Lesina Martin was born into a family diligent in the study of West African cultural traditions. At the age of ten, she joined the African Family Ballet, a children's performing group in Detroit, MI. One year later, she choreographed her first work. Since then, she has performed in two other companies, Sabsabu Youth Dance Theatre and Black Folk Art, Inc. both in Detroit, MI. Lesina is a student, teacher, performer and choreographer, in these various roles she has traveled to the countries of Guinea and Senegal to study dance. In the spring of 2003, Lesina received a B.S. in African Studies from Howard University.
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| Founders after Nsaa's 1st Annual Spring Concert (l-r): Lesina, KiShawnda, Mesi and Mylah |
The late KiShawnda McRoyal was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. While attending Howard University she majored in Television Production, with the goal of becoming a Television/Film Director. KiShawnda credited her dance knowledge to Joel Hall Dance Studio, Sundance under the artistic direction of Danny Hines, Fred Baker and the West Indies Folklore Dance Company and Muntu Dance Theatre under the artistic direction of Amaniyea Payne. As a founder of Nsaa Dance Ensemble, KiShawnda's personal mission was to uphold the excellence and recapture the essence of movement and spirit that were once danced by her ancestors to liberate and free the mentality and souls of her people; Black people.
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| Mesi Walton |
Mesi Walton was born in Chicago, Illinois where she first began to love movement. At the age of 4, she learned her first African dances at school and soon, Mesi was a part of Alyo Children's Dance Theatre under the artistic direction of Kimosha Murphy. Her love of performing led her to create Imani Dance Troupe and to perform with the Muntu Dance Theatre and Minianka Dance Ensemble. Mesi has a B.A. and a M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Howard University. Presently, Ms. Walton is a Kindergarten teacher at Betty Shabazz International Charter School in Chicago, Illinois.
