Thank you for visiting PPA. We've updated the schedule for 2020/2021 PPA school year.

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MEET OUR TEAM

Founder & Artistic Director

Nina Klyvert-Lawson, a dance educator, and performing arts manager is the founder and artistic director of Project Performing Arts, located at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Center in Harlem. An Emerson College graduate, she holds a BA in Theater Education, specializing in Dance, and a MA in Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. 


As a Performing Arts Administrator at Boys and Girls Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts under the direction of Ramon Rodriguez, she served as dance instructor, Dance Program Director and Artistic Director of the Conservatory. She was responsible for creating, developing and implementing various programs for after-school, Saturday Enrichment, Boys and Girls Harbor camp, and GESTURES Dance Ensemble. Nina was also responsible for the design and implementation of the performing arts “Contracted Services” for Public and Charter School institutions. In addition, her creative efforts were instrumental in the performance elements of the Conservatory’s annual fundraiser “Winter Heat” in collaboration with Career Transition for Dancers, and in Boys and Girls Harbor’s annual “Salute to Achievement”. 


Nina's dance education began with creative dance and theater classes at a Bronx community center. Her pre-professional training started at Juilliard School’s Saturday Preparatory Program, and  continued as a scholarship recipient at The Ailey School. Additional dance training included Clark Center, Joy of Movement (Cambridge), Boston Ballet, and Broadway Dance Center. Nina has been a dancer with Alvin Ailey’s Third Company (Director Kelvin Rotardier), Ailey II (Director Sylvia Waters), Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company (Director), Impulse Dance Company (Director Adrienne Hawkins), and Rael Lamb’s Dance for the New World. Her film and Off-Broadway credits include Secrets of Sahara, The Eddie Files “Welcome to Math: You Gotta Start Somewhere”, and with Ty Stephens’ Shades of Harlem and Jazz Alley. As a master teacher/instructor, she has taught in Italy, at Yale University, Teaneck High School, Rye Arts Center, Mind Builders and as an adjunct instructor at Bergen Community College.


A former NYSCA panelist, Nina also served on the Archdiocese of New York's Entertainment Committee for the 2008 Papal Visit. She is currently a member of the CMOM (Children's Museum of Manhattan) Dance Advisory Board and a member of Fractured Atlas. Nina has been the Director/Choreographer of the Liturgical Dance Ministry of St. Charles Borromeo, Chapel of Resurrection and All Saints Church since 1993. 


As the founder of Project Performing Arts, Nina trusts that PPA will expand every child’s and teen's horizons, that the classes will feed their curiosity and passions, and will afford each to discover a different part of themselves and be empowered through the arts.

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FACULTY

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Blanca Alonso

Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

Modern (Limon) Technique

IMANI Dance

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Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

 Building the Actor

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Emilio Cabrera

Ashleigh Awusie

Emilio Cabrera

 Assistant to the Director

Second Position

Ballet



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Aatifa Drayton

Normal W. Lawrence

Emilio Cabrera

 West African Dance

Afro-Zumba

Afrobeats

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Keith Guerrant

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Substitute

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Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Program Consultant

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Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

 Bucket Drumming

West African Drumming

Djembe, Djun Djun & Conga

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Brittany Miller

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

  Sing Out 

Hip-Hop

Body Conditioning

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Maxine Montilus

Khary Kamau Matthews

Maxine Montilus

 Haitian Dance 

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Prashant Sitaram

Prashant Sitaram

Maxine Montilus

Bollywood

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Damazi Williams

Prashant Sitaram

Damazi Williams

 Jazz

Broadway Dance

BOYS2MEN Dance Fitness

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Isiah Williams

Prashant Sitaram

Damazi Williams

Step

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Blanca Alonso

Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

Blanca Alonso, born and educated in Argentina, began studying at the Dance School of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. She joined the ballet company of such institution and also performed as a guest Soloist for Ballet de Camara Mendoza and Ballet Arte. Upon arriving to New York City in 1982, she studied dance at the Alvin Ailey American D

Blanca Alonso, born and educated in Argentina, began studying at the Dance School of the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. She joined the ballet company of such institution and also performed as a guest Soloist for Ballet de Camara Mendoza and Ballet Arte. Upon arriving to New York City in 1982, she studied dance at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Peridance Center, and the Limon Dance Institute, with masters such as Zvi Gotheiner, Igal Perry, Risa Steinberg, Carla Maxwell, and Jennifer Muller among others. As a dancer Blanca has performed works by Igal Perry, Ze’Eva Cohen, Jennifer Muller, Ronald K. Brown, Martita Goshen, Patricia N. Nanon, and other independent choreographers. 


Ms. Alonso has choreographed works for the Gestures Dance Ensemble, the faculty of the Harbor Conservatory dance division and for the Yard at Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The works have been performed at Aaron Davis Hall, Dancing in the Streets, Lincoln Center Out-of Doors, Miller Theater (Columbia University), Hostos Center for the Performing Art, The Field Gallery (MA), Kids Café, Alvin Ailey Theater and The Yard. Her teaching experience includes Master Modern classes at Dickinson College (PA), Company Ballet classes and Community Dance classes at the Yard, Ballet Classes at Harkness Dance Center (92nd Street Y) and at Brooklyn Ballet. She was a faculty member at the Harbor Conservatory for over 20 years, teaching Ballet, Pointe Variations, Partnering, Modern (Limon Technique). She was also the Ballet Mistress for Gestures Dance Ensemble. Ms Alonso have been a faculty member at Project Performing Arts since 2013.

Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

Ashleigh Awusie

Instagram | IMDb


Ashleigh Awusie is an actress, teaching artist from Harlem and recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. UK credits include: Kasimir & Karoline at The Gate Theatre in London, Machinal at the Richard Burton Theatre and the solo play, ANANSI at the Caird Studio Theatre in Wales. Other credits include: Drea

Instagram | IMDb


Ashleigh Awusie is an actress, teaching artist from Harlem and recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. UK credits include: Kasimir & Karoline at The Gate Theatre in London, Machinal at the Richard Burton Theatre and the solo play, ANANSI at the Caird Studio Theatre in Wales. Other credits include: Dreamprints: A Conversation with Harriet Tubman at Syracuse Stage, Ain't Never Been Easy at Castillo Theatre, and Shakespeare in the Boroughs with the Public Theatre. Film: the indie feature, 'Naz & Maalik' (Netflix, Hulu) and upcoming short, 'Hush.' Ashleigh is excited to join the Project Performing Arts team and collaborate with fresh young talent. 


“Be great! Create on purpose."

Emilio Cabrera

Ashleigh Awusie

Emilio Cabrera

Emilio Cabrera, born in the Dominican Republic, was raised in New York City. His dance training began at Boys and Girls Harbor Conservatory in Spanish Harlem, and continued at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, and the Perry Mansfield Performing Arts Camp. Emilio continued his Ballet training at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, PA as a danc

Emilio Cabrera, born in the Dominican Republic, was raised in New York City. His dance training began at Boys and Girls Harbor Conservatory in Spanish Harlem, and continued at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, and the Perry Mansfield Performing Arts Camp. Emilio continued his Ballet training at La Roche College in Pittsburgh, PA as a dance major, and was the dance coach at the YMCA National Gymnastics Training Camp for over six years. Throughout his dance career, Emilio has had the opportunity to work with such choreographers as Darrell Grand Moultrie, Camille A Brown, and Ronald K Brown, among others. He has danced as a member of the Rangeela Dance Troupe, and is also an accomplished choreographer and experienced dance instructor. Currently, Emilio is Assistant Director of Project Performing Arts, and instructs ballet, acting classes, and choreographs for IMANI Dance. 

Aatifa Drayton

Normal W. Lawrence

Emilio Cabrera

Aaatifa Drayton is a performer and teaching artist with over six years of experience teaching, choreographing, and performing, and a current member of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation's dance company. She was a former dancer with A Touch of Folklore Dance Company where she trained in the techniques of West African and African American d

Aaatifa Drayton is a performer and teaching artist with over six years of experience teaching, choreographing, and performing, and a current member of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation's dance company. She was a former dancer with A Touch of Folklore Dance Company where she trained in the techniques of West African and African American dance, music, history, art, theater, and culture for ten years. Additionally, she was a performer with the Forces of Nature Dance Theater where she trained with their Traditional African company, and the Bokandeye African American Dance Theater where she trained in the techniques taught at the LaRocque Bey School of Dance Theater Inc. in the styles of West African, Calypso, and Afro Caribbean. As a performer with these institutions, Aatifa has performed in various ballets, concerts, educational programs, cultural festivals, demo lectures, and social occasions.  


As  a teaching artist, Aatifa is a dance instructor, choreographer, team leader and facilitator with Sesame Flyers, and  teaches West African dance and music with Project Performing Arts where she plans and  implements end-of-year performances as a choreographer and costume designer. She also teaches and performs in various dance styles such as  AfroBeats, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and creative movement, as well as being  experienced in singing, acting, and visual arts. 


Additional performance credits include the music video “Shea Butter Baby” by Ari Lennox ft. J Cole, performer for Eddy Kenzo and Young Paris at the One Africa Music Fest, Paul Winter’s Solstice Celebration, and appearances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Apollo Theater. 

Keith Guerrant

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Keith Guerrant is a college graduate from the University of Connecticut and has had over 10 years of professional dance experience. He began his training at the Ruth Williams Dance Studio where he trained in the dance styles of tap, hip-hop, ballet, and jazz. Additionally, he has worked as Camp Counselor and Tap Instructor at the PPA KIDS

Keith Guerrant is a college graduate from the University of Connecticut and has had over 10 years of professional dance experience. He began his training at the Ruth Williams Dance Studio where he trained in the dance styles of tap, hip-hop, ballet, and jazz. Additionally, he has worked as Camp Counselor and Tap Instructor at the PPA KIDS Summer Arts program. His favorite styles of dance are tap and hip hop, and he often enjoys combining the two styles in his classes.

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence

Normal W. Lawrence, is a dance educator, creative consultant, teacher and coach. An Honors graduate from the College of New Rochelle in 2010, Mr. Lawrence returned to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Social Science after 33 years. Having been instrumental in preparing countless young students for entrance into performing arts high schools

Normal W. Lawrence, is a dance educator, creative consultant, teacher and coach. An Honors graduate from the College of New Rochelle in 2010, Mr. Lawrence returned to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Social Science after 33 years. Having been instrumental in preparing countless young students for entrance into performing arts high schools and colleges while at Boys and Girls Harbor for the Performing Arts, he found it incumbent upon himself to complete his own education.


Not having discovered his passion for dance until he was 21, Mr. Lawrence, upon seeing the Alvin Ailey American Dance had his very own “revelation” and his life was forever changed. With much work to do, Mr. Lawrence moved quickly through the ranks as a paying student, work exchange student, work scholarship student, and finally was awarded a full scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and entrance into the “third” company after four years of intensive training. Leaving the Ailey School after six years Mr. Lawrence was awarded a full scholarship at the Martha Graham School of Dance where he was also a member of their workshop company.

While his performing experiences were limited to the workshop companies of both the Ailey and Graham schools and a limited engagement performances with Dr. Pearl Primus at Lincoln Center, it was clear to him that his passion was not performing but rather teaching and artistic development.


Mr. Lawrence owes a debt of gratitude to Nina Klyvert-Lawson while working under her tutelage at Boys and Girls Harbor for the Performing Arts. Having given him the opportunity to join the Harbor family as a two day a week teacher in the after school program Ms. Nina saw fit to appoint him as Assistant Dance Director. During his tenure at the Harbor Mr. Lawrence was successful in administrating and guiding three students to receive Congressional Medals for dance where the resident dance company of the Harbor, Gestures, performed with Mariah Carey in which Major Colin Powell Ret. was the keynote speaker in celebration at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.


He has once again reunited with Ms. Nina and colleagues, some of which are former students at PPA. A humble servant Mr. Lawrence is pleased to be in the service of young people

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau is a multitalented percussionist and storyteller, a passionate teacher of West African and Pan-African music and culture. Raised in Queens, NY he began playing and studying at a very young age. Over many years and travels he accumulated a wealth of knowledge of the history and customs of the many cultures of the African diaspo

Khary Kamau is a multitalented percussionist and storyteller, a passionate teacher of West African and Pan-African music and culture. Raised in Queens, NY he began playing and studying at a very young age. Over many years and travels he accumulated a wealth of knowledge of the history and customs of the many cultures of the African diaspora. He has trained under notable master djembefolas such as Baba Joseph Barnes and Ade Love. He is as a member of the legendary Bambara Dance and Drum Ensemble, and the Pan-African neo-folk group Akoko Nante Ensemble. As such he is frequently featured in Brooklyn Academy of Music's DANCE AFRICA, the International African Arts Festival in NYC, and many other world music venues around the New York metropolitan area. 

Brittany Miller

Khary Kamau Matthews

Khary Kamau Matthews

Brittany Siobhan Miller is a teaching artist and choreographer who has immersed herself in teaching young bright stars at various dance academies and schools throughout New York City such as Project Performing Arts, Ailey Camp NY, Urban Arts Partnership, and Harlem School of the Arts. She studied performing arts at the Harbor Conservatory

Brittany Siobhan Miller is a teaching artist and choreographer who has immersed herself in teaching young bright stars at various dance academies and schools throughout New York City such as Project Performing Arts, Ailey Camp NY, Urban Arts Partnership, and Harlem School of the Arts. She studied performing arts at the Harbor Conservatory and went on to study music and vocal performance at Georgia Southern University. Her mission is to encourage fitness and nutritional literacy, as well as create a safe space for creative expression. 

Maxine Montilus

Khary Kamau Matthews

Prashant Sitaram

Instagram | Website


As a choreographer, Maxine Montilus has presented work at various institutions, including The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, and Harlem School for the Arts with Haiti Cultural Exchange for their annual Selebrasyon Festival. Maxine is also a member of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE, throu

Instagram | Website


As a choreographer, Maxine Montilus has presented work at various institutions, including The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, and Harlem School for the Arts with Haiti Cultural Exchange for their annual Selebrasyon Festival. Maxine is also a member of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE, through which she has presented choreography in their annual New Traditions Showcase from 2015-2017. In 2014, she choreographed BallyBeg Production's third play and Equity-approved showcase, "The Taste of It", and was a 2015 nominee for Outstanding Choreography/Movement in The New York Innovative Theater Awards for her work in the production. In 2017, Maxine served as an Afro-Cuban/Haitian Folklore consultant for Camille Brown in her work for the Broadway musical “Once On This Island”. In 2019, Maxine founded MV Dance Project, a dance company that aims to be of service to others through public performances and dance education programming. In June 2019, the company performed its first evening-length production “Strength in Spirit” at Brooklyn Studios for Dance.

Prashant Sitaram

Prashant Sitaram

Prashant Sitaram

Prashant Sitaram was born and raised in Bronx, New York and attended Lehman High School where he fell in love with dance. He later pursued his training at Harbor Conservatory for Performing Arts along with a Master’s degree in Dance Education from Hunter College. Prashant danced for several Bollywood dance companies where he learned India

Prashant Sitaram was born and raised in Bronx, New York and attended Lehman High School where he fell in love with dance. He later pursued his training at Harbor Conservatory for Performing Arts along with a Master’s degree in Dance Education from Hunter College. Prashant danced for several Bollywood dance companies where he learned Indian Folk styles as well as basic traditional forms. He later created his own company named Rangeela and continues to develop choreographic skills, performing at religious and social events all over New York. Today, Prashant is a certified NYS teacher at a Bronx High School and gives back to his community teaching dance to an underserved population. He hopes to grow further as an artist and make a difference in the world of performing arts.

Isiah Williams

Prashant Sitaram

Isiah Williams

Isiah Williams has been a longtime Harlem resident and is the only boy in a large family of four children. While living in Harlem he came across the Order of the Feather Fraternity in 2010 to which he pledged and crossed, and it was through this organization that he discovered stepping. Throughout his 7 years of stepping experience he has

Isiah Williams has been a longtime Harlem resident and is the only boy in a large family of four children. While living in Harlem he came across the Order of the Feather Fraternity in 2010 to which he pledged and crossed, and it was through this organization that he discovered stepping. Throughout his 7 years of stepping experience he has performed in over 100 shows and has won various stepping and stroll competitions as well as participated in numerous parades. He’s currently stepping while attending college, and enjoys teaching children and teens the dance form of stepping. 

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