Since the fall of 2007, the Performing Arts Program has provided intense instruction for over one hundred young people in Washington, DC metropolitan surrounding area.

TYA training includes: Vocal music, strength training, dance classes in modern, ballet &, hip-hop, Brazilian drumming, West African, South African gumboot, and Taratibu- a Pan-African drill. We also provide workshops in Leadership, Mindfulness and Health & Wellness.

TYA has performed at such esteemed venues as the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, The Smithsonian Discovery Theater, Anacostia Museum, Folklife Festival, Museum of African Art, The Arena Stage in Washington D.C, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the National Portrait Gallery; the Wolftrap Children’s Theater in the Woods, and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, South Africa. TYA has also performed for the late Maya Angelou and with Grammy Nominated Carolyn Malachi.   

“TYA helped with giving each member greater discipline and responsibility in the home and school environment.” (TYA Parent)

TYA’s has two performing companies:

Bantu - 9 to 18 years old

All youth must audition, even though previous performance experience is not a requirement.

Maasai - 19 years old and up.

TYA Maasai is a new young adult company formed in 2022. The TYA Maasai, a group of young adults, continue the mission and vision of TYA at a seasoned and professional level.

REPERTOIRE

“With eclectic and diverse musical influences, this sensational ensemble of young artists performs modern dance, hip hop, and African dance at diverse venues around the Washington, DC metropolitan area and internationally.“ Washington Post

When the Bantu and Maasai work and perform together, they cultivate positive connections and interdependence fostering a deeper understanding of historical narratives among youth. This synergy is evident in TYA productions such as Tulsa, which recounts the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre; Anarcha, Lucy & Betsey, which exposes the brutal medical exploitation of enslaved women by Dr. Marion Sims; Sistahs Against Apartheid, highlighting South African women’s resistance to apartheid; and Baianas, a Brazilian piece honoring enslaved women who secured their freedom through the preparation and sale of acarajé, a traditional Brazilian dish.

TYA’s work, challenges dominant narratives and reclaims agency over historical truths. By learning and engaging in these performances, both artists and audiences confront the legacies of oppression, fostering a renewed sense of identity, resilience, and empowerment within themselves and their communities.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Confidence.

• Self Discipline

• Poise

• Teamwork Skills

• Leadership Skills

• Critical Thinking Skills

• Cultural Identity

• Mastery

• Independence

• Self Awareness

• Social Awareness

• Self-management

• Goal-directed Behavior

• Personal Responsibility