Amar Goodman

Bass-baritone Amar Goodman has been singing since he came out of the womb and has been privileged to sing with diverse choirs ranging from gospel, classical to musical theatre. He has sung and toured with honors choirs including the New York All-State Mixed Chorus, Queens College Concert Choir, Andrews University Singers and is currently singing with the Choral Society of the Grace Church in New York City. As a soloist, Amar has trained with some of New York City’s best vocal teachers and received acceptance to the nation’s top conservatories of music including New England Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, Boston University School of the Arts and Westminster Choir College. He was also admitted to the prestigious Tanglewood Institute and has won numerous vocal and talent competitions. Currently pursuing a bachelor of music degree at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College with additional studies at the Juilliard School, Amar also works as a freelance stylist and visual merchandiser as well as a bartender.

Maija García

Harlem-based movement artist, Maija Garcia is making waves as director of OrganicMagnetics, a transformative theater collaborative binding creativity and sustainability.

Associate choreographer of FELA! A New Musical, premiering on Broadway in 2009, Maija has toured internationally, performing with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company since 2004. Making her directorial debut with Volcano's Birthright{s}, a multi-media/one-woman play, Garcia's choreographic works have been staged all over New York City, in La Habana Cuba, San Francisco/Los Angeles CA, and Ann Arbor MI. Maija Garcia teaches classes and facilitates workshops worldwide, sharing a contemporary movement style inspired by afro-latin rhythms, and infused with yoga, martial arts and theater dynamics.

A sustainable development graduate of California Institute of Integral Studies, Garcia's work transforms inspiration into activism; building bridges across borders through artistic collaboration.

YK Hong

YK Hong has been doing trainings in organizational change, liberation and community organizing since 1996. Through her work abroad and nationally, she has been committed to developing a radical political education curriculum and organizing for marginalized communities. She works as the lead trainer for Freedom Trainers, a national training collective and also travels independently talking about her experiences, lessons and work.

In her other time she is also a freelance writer, web and graphic designer, certified Mac techie, certified personal trainer, certified bartender, cultural worker, and awesomer currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. You can learn more about YK’s Journey at www.ykhong.com

Shireen Dickson

Shireen Dickson has been involved in dance education for over 20 years.  She has been an independent arts educator and created middle school programs as a licensed NYCDOE educator, conducted workshops and taught at residencies in higher education (including LIU, Hofstra, and SUNY-Purchase locally), and currently performs in lecture-demonstrations in world folk dances with the Okra Dance Company.  Shireen also makes dresses to dance in and is the Production Director for the city’s most diverse and engaging event,NY Dance Parade (May 22, 2010)!

Hanifah Walidah

Hanifah Walidah is a musician, playwright and social arts activist. Her rich 20 year career has taken an ethnographic approach to the arts and social change. Her most recent project is the feature length award winning LGBT rocumentary U People. U People was the first LGBT focused film to be screened at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis creating a much needed bridge between the gay rights movement and its relationship with the larger black-american populace. The all pervading humanist approach to her work provides a path for those outside of the choir to discover meaning and commonality while simultaneously creating sanctuary and inspiration for those who need it. In addition she has just released a new album “Watcha Playin’” with multi-national neofunk band the Brooklyn Funk Essentials and is currently scoring and recording an audio play version of her play/musical Bloom. Hanifah Walidah is easily defined as one of the hardest working renaissance women in the independent arts. You don’t ask Hanifah Walidah what she does, but how?