“My mission was to create a relevant company that would educate and empower dancers and the audience while also bringing a positive influence to inner-city youth through education and community initiatives.”
–
Iquail Shaheed, Director
DANCE IQUAIL! brings artists and resdients together to open up about their autobiographical stories.
Together they become a conduit for sparking innovation in the hearts and minds of changemakers in historically disenfranchised communities impacted by these same issues of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, mass incarceration, systemic racism, and lack of resources. These efforts allow Black and brown artists to engage with work that is specific to them and tells their story.
Upcoming
Philadelphia, PA
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA
Programs
Celebrate Mantua
Celebrate Mantua (CM) is a one-day annual festival showcasing and celebrating the creativity, talent and culture of Mantua. All of DI!’s programs are involved in the production and performance aspects of this event, which showcases many of the performance works developed throughout the year. CM provides youth with an accessible outlet to express vulnerability without embarrassment, despite stigmatization around mental health and emotional sensitivity. Participants have opportunities not only to explore these components for themselves as individuals, but are able to communicate with their family members and community members in the audience, and the audience, in turn, will have opportunities to engage with the performers. Each year CM grows in scale and engages more of the community, drawing over 2500 community audience members in 2023.
Mantua's Most Majestic
MMM is a 50-week percussive dance program for up to 100 Mantua youth. The goal is to teach the value of personal excellence through the precision of movement, rhythm and percussion. MMM will provide a safe haven, offering mentorship opportunities and positive relationships that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The creative process cultivates a host of life skills important for positive youth development.
These include:
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Confidence and a positive sense of self from performance
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Discipline and self-control through practice
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Problem solving, critical thinking, and expression through movement creation and refinement
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Determination and persistence from the challenges of choreography and the expectation of performance excellence
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Teamwork and accountability through rehearsal and performance.
Dream
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