The Fruits of Our Labor

Kwadjo Bediako is a native of Queens, NY, and holds a BA in Psychology from Stony Brook University. A proud Ghanaian educator, he brings the high-energy Azonto dance style to schools and studios across the tri-state area. Kwadjo began his step training with Francis Lewis High School’s nationally ranked Nu Gamma Psi Step Team and later performed with Stony Brook University’s Cadence Step Team. He expanded his Afro training as a member of Stony Brook’s L’Afrique Dance Team before joining the professional Afro dance company Afro-Afrique. He is also a member of P.L.A.Y.E.R.S. Club Steppers and has worked on projects with artists including Davido, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Koffi Olomide. This is Kwadjo’s second season with the Company.

Nya Christian is a native of Cleveland, OH, and holds a BA in Political Science with minors in Sociology and Dance Arts from Howard University. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she has served as Parliamentarian, Step Mistress, and Stroll Captain of the Alpha Chapter. Nya has choreographed for the White House Initiative on HBCUs and Howard University’s 2022 Homecoming Step Show. She is formally trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, and West African. Nya was a member of ELEVĀTED Dance Crew’s award-winning National 1st Place Championship team at the World of Dance competition, and she has performed on Good Morning America as part of the Black History Month segment “The Story of 9 Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities.” This is Nya’s third season with the Company.

Jerod Coleman is a native of Columbus, Georgia, and holds a BA in History from the University of South Alabama. While in college, he crossed into the Theta Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he served as Step and Stroll Master. Jerod has performed with the entertainment teams of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons, and has competed in Red Bull Dance Your Style and DreamHack ATL. He also taught at Thomas H. Brewer Elementary School in Columbus, GA, where he founded and led an all-boys step team called the B.L.U.E. Steppers. This is Jerod’s fourth season with the Company.

Ariel Dykes is a native of Gainesville, FL, with an Associate of Arts in Musical Theatre from Santa Fe College and a BFA in Dance from the University of Florida. She is a member of the Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she choreographed step routines for her chapter and UF’s National Panhellenic Council. Ariel has trained in ballet, jazz, West African, and post-modern dance, as well as voice and acting. She has worked with notable artists such as Ailey Dancers Nathaniel Hunt and Samantha Barriento; Tony Award winner Scott Coulter; and Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist Smokey Norful. This is Ariel’s fifth season with the Company.

Terrence Johnson is a native of Broward County, FL, and holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Central Florida. He has over a decade of stepping experience, serving as a founding member of Hazard Step Team in Orlando, FL, and previously performing with the Adimu Men of Excellence, Inc. Step Team. In 2015, he was inducted into the UCF Chapter of Progressive Black Men, Inc. Terrence began his journey with Step Afrika! in 2023 as a guest artist and now enters his third season with the Company as a full-time artist.

Conrad R. Kelly II is a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL, who studied Criminal Justice at Florida A&M University. During his time at FAMU, he performed with the Marching 100 and The Strikers. Conrad later became a soloist for The Rolle Project in Las Vegas and a dance instructor at Studio 305, where he taught hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. He has won numerous awards as a choreographer and dancer, including being a two-time recipient of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities’ prestigious Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program. A longstanding member of the Company, Conrad serves as Step Afrika!’s Assistant Artistic Director and recently choreographed The Movement, an epic tribute to Black Lives Matter and the wave of activism in 2020. This is Conrad’s ninth season with the Company.

Jayden King is a native of Miami, FL, and a graduate of Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Physical Therapy. She has trained extensively in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop at Artistic Soul, ICTalent Dance Studio, Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, and New World School of the Arts. Jayden is a former member of Mahogany Dance Theatre under the direction of Shepiro Hardemon, where she served as Assistant Rehearsal Director, Rehearsal Director, and President. She has performed works by Conrad Kelly, Tyrelle Rolle, Christopher Huggins, Clarence Jones, Allyne Gartrell, and others, and has trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem through summer intensives. This is Jayden’s second season with the Company.

Jemeema S. Montrose is a native of Brooklyn, NY. She attended ASA College, where she studied Health Information Technology. Jemeema is a proud member of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Incorporated, and has served as the Chair Facilitator of the National Step and Stroll Committee. She has led performances on numerous college campuses across the country, and Jemeema has also served as a step coach for middle and high school students. This is Jemeema’s third season with the Company.

Keondre Pascal is a native of Broward County, FL, and an alumnus of Dillard Center for the Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Florida A&M University, where he was a member of the world-renowned Marching 100 and Images Modeling Troupe, later serving as Trainer. A proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., Keondre held multiple leadership roles and also served as Mr. Alpha Kappa Alpha and the university’s beloved mascot, the FAMU Venom. His dance training includes mentorship from Shepiro Hardemon and Manny “Fresco” Acosta, with performance credits including World of Dance, Kenny Haiti, and EverythingArlon. An educator and mentor, he launched a business to train young dancers, and his work has been recognized in Shoutout Miami and Bold Journey. This is Keondre’s second season with the Company.

Keanu Powell is a native of Decatur, GA, with a BBA in Management from Howard University. While at Howard, Keanu became an active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., serving as 2nd Vice President and Step Master. He is also a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Inc., through the Eta Omega Chapter, and served as Drum Major for the 2021-2023 seasons. Keanu was prominently featured on Good Morning America representing Howard University. He has also performed nationally with Howard’s band at major events, including Nike Headquarters and the inaugural NBA HBCU Classic. This is Keanu’s third season with the Company.

Ericka Still is a native of St. Petersburg, FL, and holds a BS in Health Science, Pre-Occupational Therapy, with a minor in Rehabilitation Management from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She previously stepped with AKAdemy Exquisite Gems and trained under Paulette W. Johnson at SADA and Shepiro Hardemon as a member and Co-Assistant Artistic Director of Mahogany Dance Theatre. This is Ericka’s fifth season with the Company.

Joseph Vasquez hails from Guttenberg, NJ, and has a BA in Exercise Science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. In college, Joseph danced with the Rutgers Bachata Performance Team, where he choreographed and led the team for four years. He is a member of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Incorporated—the first Latin fraternity to step and stroll—and The Revels Stroll Team, where he was led by former team captains Francisco Pozo and Carlos Zapata. This is Joseph’s fifth season with the Company.

Pelham Warner Jr. is a native of the Bronx, NY, and holds a BA from Dutchess Community College. Pelham is a member of The Order of the Feather Fraternity, where he served as the team’s Step Master and captain for five years, and he has previously danced with The Players Club Steppers. Pelham has worked as a dance instructor in the greater New York City area and recently performed in the a cappella musical The Movement by Kathy D. Harrison at The National Black Theater Festival. This is Pelham’s eighth year with the Company.

Robert Warnsley is a native of Chicago, IL, with a BS in Information Technology from Illinois State University. A member of the Eta Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Robert served as the step and stroll master for four years and has organized, competed, and placed first in numerous step shows. He has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to teach stepping, and he actively participates in community service projects in Chicago. Robert also studies, practices, and teaches dancehall and various Afro styles in the Chicagoland, DMV, and NYC areas. This is Robert’s eighth season with the Company.

Agyei Keita Edwards is a professional drummer, percussionist, and choreographer whose dynamic debut began at the age of three. With more than two decades of experience in West African percussion, he has performed on premier stages including the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Agyei has appeared alongside legendary artists such as Sheila E. and, in 2021, showcased his triple-threat talent—choreographer, dancer, and drummer—at the MTV Video Music Awards with Busta Rhymes. He serves as co–Musical Director of Farafina Kan, touring nationally and internationally, and coaches performers of all ages through his enterprise, Top Notch Training Facility. A graduate of Frostburg State University with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Agyei also holds a Pain-Free Performance Certification (PPSC) and is a Stick Mobility specialist, blending physical training with performance artistry to inspire holistic excellence.

Jakari Sherman (Director/Choreographer, The Fruits of Our Labor) is a passionate choreographer, ethnochoreologist, and performer whose experience extends over 20 years. Rooted in the African American tradition of stepping, his work pushes the boundaries of percussive dance using technology, storytelling, and diverse musical scores. Jakari served as Step Afrika!’s Artistic Director for seven years. He directed Drumfolk, Green is the New Black, and Symphony in Step, among others. Jakari received an M.A. in Ethnochoreology from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and is undertaking groundbreaking ethnographic work related to structural analysis, teaching methodologies and historical archiving of stepping in the U.S. Jakari has lectured on stepping throughout the world, including Greece, Kazakhstan, the U.K., and Belgium.

Conrad R. Kelly II (Assistant Artistic Director, Step Afrika! & Choreographer, The Fruits of Our Labor) is a native of Fort Lauderdale, FL, who studied Criminal Justice at Florida A&M University. During his time at FAMU, he performed with the Marching 100 and The Strikers. Conrad later became a soloist for The Rolle Project in Las Vegas and a dance instructor at Studio 305, where he taught hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. He has won numerous awards as a choreographer and dancer, including being a two-time recipient of the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities’ prestigious Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program. A long-standing member of the Company, Conrad serves as Step Afrika!’s Assistant Artistic Director and recently choreographed The Movement, an epic tribute to Black Lives Matter and the wave of activism in 2020. This is Conrad’s ninth season with the Company.

Vusi Mdoyi (Artistic Advisor, The Fruits of Our Labor) is an arts entrepreneur, dancer, choreographer, educator, artistic director, and creative activist dedicated to advancing the South African art form of isiPantsula. He is the founding director of VAP Dance Academy Theatre and Studios, Katlehong Township's first dance academy and studio, which trains young artists in traditional dance forms. He is also a co-founder of Via Katlehong Dance Company and Impilo Mapantsula Global Movement, an advocacy organization that promotes, researches, documents, and strengthens the isiPantsula industry through coordinated leadership, education, and artistic practice. Inspired by his upbringing in Katlehong Township, Mdoyi's work explores the history, culture, politics, fashion, music, and language embedded within isiPantsula. A leading voice in expanding the art form's reach, he has introduced isiPantsula to traditional theatre, academic, and experimental performance spaces while championing its recognition on the global stage.

Colleen Doty has been the Scenic Charge Artist at Arena Stage for the past two seasons and is thrilled to be making her debut as the Set Designer with Step Afrika!’s The Fruits of Our Labor. Previous Scenic Charge Artist credits include Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Actors Theatre Louisville. She’s worked as a scenic artist in the New York/New Jersey and Chicago areas and has a BFA in Scenic Design from Boston University.

Cierra Coan is the Associate Costume Director at Arena Stage and is proud to be the Costume Designer for Step Afrika!’s The Fruits of Our Labor. Previous design credits include Heathers: The Musical at Red Branch Theatre and Hold These Truths at Arena Stage. She has previously worked on TV shows such as Turn: Washington’s Spies and Mercy Street. She was the Allen Lee Hughes Costume Fellow at Arena Stage in 2015. She has a BFA in Costume Design and Technology from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Yannick Godts is a lighting designer based in Washington, DC, working in theater, opera, and dance. His designs in DC have been seen at Theater Alliance, Imagination Stage, In Series Opera, Step Afrika!, and GALA Hispanic Theatre. In New York, his work has been seen at the Joyce Theater, Catapult Opera, La MaMa, Fall for Dance, and the New Victory Theater. He previously toured with renowned modern dance company Pilobolus as their Lighting Supervisor, and in his time with them designed lighting or props for three repertory works as well as innumerable special projects. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Lighting Design from the University of Maryland.

GW Rodriguez has a BA in technical theatre from Cal State San Bernardino and a MFA in sound design from Boston University. He has worked at such places as Utah Shakespeare Festival, PCPA, South Coast Repertory, Children’s Theater of Madison, Forward Theater, and other assorted theaters across the country. Currently he works as the Sound and Video Supervisor at Arena Stage. www.gwrodriguez.com

Christi B. Spann has been working as a stage manager in DC since 2011. Recent productions include Damn Yankees and Inherit the Wind. She previously spent 12 seasons on the stage management staff at the Denver Center Theatre Company and has also worked with The Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN, and Virginia Repertory Theatre in Richmond, VA.