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| Aisha Rivers |
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Aisha Rivers: Aisha was born and raised in Brooklyn New York. She began dancing at two years old and join her first dance company at seven years old. Aisha studied Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Caribbean, Tap, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop/Jazz, South African, Nigerian, Ivory Coast, Senegalese, Ghanian, and Guinea West African dance. She also does Cheer Leading, Stepping, and Sing. Aisha traveled all over the United States, Europe, Ghana, and Guinea West Africa. Having the opportunity to dance and perform with members of the world renowned Ballets of Guinea West Africa. Earlier on in Aisha career of dance she studied and performed with Forces Of Nature Dance Company, Nanette Bearden School Of Dance, Marie Brooks Caribbean Dance Theatre, Calabash African Dance Theatre, Children Of The Diaspora, Mamadou Dahou Ivory Coast Dance Theatre, New Experience Dance Ensemble, Crown Heights Youth Collective, Sounds Of Time Dance Theatre and with Sanga Of The Valley, Former lead drummer for Baba Olatunji over 25 years. Because of her love for dance at age thirteen she introduced hip-hop and African dance to her middle school I.S.390 in Brooklyn, New York. Aisha auditioned and got accepted to attend the Academy of Performing Arts High School, Erasmus Hall. During her high school years, along with dance she continued to sing and write songs, run track, joined the Double Dutch team and maintain the co-captain position of the basketball team while attending Erasmus Hall H.S. Aisha senior year of High School she was voted "Best Dancer", class of 1992. Aisha was the first person to introduce African dance to her High School, "Academy of the Performing Arts Erasmus Hall ". Also her senior year of high school, Aisha received four dance scholarships to attend Stony Brook College, Ohio State University, Alvin Ailey School of Dance and Long Island University. Aisha decided to attend Long Island University with her mind set on achieving her goals-which were to pursue her dance career and enlighten the lives of everyone through all mediums of dance and education.
In 1992, Aisha founded Ayoluwa African Dance Theatre in New York City: as the Artistic Director and Choreographer. She was very well known for her unique style of dance along with her unique choreography. She performed at the Apollo Theatre with Ayoluwa African Dance Theatre winning first place three times., Lincoln Center, United Nations, African Street Festival, Cornegy Hall, June Balloon Festival, Brooklyn Children Musuem, Medger Evans College, Stony Brook University, American Craft Musuem, Crown Heights Youth Collective she also performed at the Adelco Black Arts festival for Mayor David Dinkins, awarded for "Being a great role model for the youth and was featured on New York News 1.
In 1993, Aisha was compared to the world-renowned dancer and educator "Katherine Dunham", in Black Women's Newspaper. Aisha performed with Ossie Davis and Rubie D at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Ayoluwa was also the opening act for Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and KRS 1. Aisha has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Africa, and Europe performing and teaching her skill as a dancer. Aisha Special Achievement Awards consist of 1995-HRA'S African-American History Month Celebration, 1995- Adelco Black Arts Festival awarded by Mayor David Dinkins NYC, 1993- Certificate for best African and Modern Dance Choreography, from Sherise Drumgoole School Of Dance. 1992- Received a savings bond from Brooklyn Union Gas Company for best dancer of the Academy of Performing Arts Erasmus Hall.1992- Received four Dance Scholarships, Long Island University, Stony Brook University, Ohio State University and Alvin Ailey School of dance. 1992- Excellence Modern Dance Award Erasmus Hall H.S. 1992- Best Choreography Ethnic Dance Award Erasmus Hall H.S.1992- Best Choreography Ethnic/Modern Dance Award Long Island University. 1992- receievd two "Alvin Ailey" Dance Cluster Award for Achievement in Dance Choreography, Modern and Ethnic/African Dance.
In 1997, Aisha relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where she formed Africa Sogaye Guinea West African Dance Theatre while she still maintain her position with Ayoluwa as the Artistic Director and Choreographer. Aisha performed at Coca Cola at the Georgia World Congress Center, Harriet Tubman Museum, Apex Museum, Music Midtown Festival, CNN Center, Underground Atlanta, Clark Atlanta University, More House College, Spelman College, Sapelo Island, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech College, Dogwood Festival, Agnes Scott College, Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park, Ingunoko Festival in Charlotte North Carolina, Kuumba Festival in Knoxville TN, 3 Rivers Festival in Columbia South Carolina., West End Performing Arts Center, Malcolm X Festival, and much more. Also featured on Tallahasse Newspaper, The Telegraph newspaper, AIB TV station, Fox 5 Atlanta, WRFG radio station and more. Aisha also worked with Queen Latifah, Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, and Mario Van Peebles in "Mama Flora Family".
Aisha taught African dance workshops and performed at The Mountain dance and drum camp in Highland, North Carolina, for Djoliba Don dance company and Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, URSA African dance and drum camp in Charlottesville, Virginia, around the State of Georgia and the metro Atlanta. As a independent artist, Aisha continues to teach Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Caribbean, Praise Dance, African Fusion Aerobics, and Guinea West African dance.
Currently, Aisha Rivers is based in Savannah, GA., a wife, mother of five girls, continuing to pursue her goals, through all meduims of dance, art, culture and education. In Savannah Aisha was featured in Savannah Morning Newspaper four times, The Connect Newspaper, The Tribune, also featured on WSAV, WTOC & Georgia Community Broadcast. Mrs. Rivers continue to share her gift of the Art, by teaching several dance styles at Aisha Rivers School of Dance & Performing Arts- as well as exposing youth and adults to additional "Arts Forms" every month!, Aisha is also a Dance Professor/Instructor at Savannah State University, a Guest Dance Instructor teaching Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Carribean and African Dance at Bloomingdale Elementary, Guest Instructor teaching Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, African at Shuman Middle, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Island Dance Academy, Choreographed Tradtional Senegalese and Guinea West African dance for a Play "Let My People Go", Choreographed a Play "Epic In Aiken" Aiken SC, Sponsors WAH WAH "Lets Unite" Annual African Dance & Drum Conference and International Dance Concert Performance the (2nd weekend in July), Tour, Perform and Teach with Ayoluwa African Dance Theatre, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit community base outreach educational performing group Aisha Founded and Directed for sixteen years. Aisha will continue in her efforts to provide educational dance workshops, residencies, performances, and pursue the aspirations of generations, past, present and future.
More Information will be added, Click on Ayoluwa on the left to find out more information about "Aisha Rivers School of Dance & Performing Arts" or Email ayoluwa92@hotmail.com
Dance Workshops, Residencies, and Performances call Aisha Rivers 912-844-2582 Office 912-335-7155
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