Nicolea grew up in Orange County, California. She took dance and musical theater classes off and on as a child, but it wasn’t until she was an adult that she discovered Samba and Afro-Brazilian dance styles. She fell in love with the culture and has dedicated the past 10 years to learning and studying the roots & origins, as well as performing, teaching, and competing. She has won national titles in Samba that include; USA Samba Diva, USA Samba Princess, Samba Queen USA and Female Malandro Champion 2020. In 2018 she was ranked as one of the top Samba Dancers worldwide and was recognized by the International Samba Congress for her determination, discipline, and development in the Samba culture. She has danced for talented artists from Sergio Mendes to rapper B.O.B. and she even got to teach some steps to Venus Williams along with the entire USA Summer Olympic Team of 2016 as they prepared for their road to the Rio Summer Olympics.Nicolea is excited to join the Extra Ancestral cast for this performance and would like to thank her family and friends for all their support throughout the years. Muito Obrigada!Feeling Social? Keep up with Nicolea via these platforms. IG: Nicolea.Pettis | Web: www.NicoleaPettis.com
Born in Frankfurt, Germany and raised in Washington DC; Daunte Fyall is a passionate dance instructor, performing artist, choreographer, motivational speaker and Founder of the Multifaceted West African Performance Company DAANSEKOU “wise son”.His Roots began with the World Renowned Assane Konte, Founder/Artistic Director of Kankouran West African Dance Company of Washington, DC. As a Senior Company Member, Daunte’s performance venues/credits include: The Kennedy Center of Washington DC, the Trinidad & Tobago Emancipation Festival, The Smithsonian Museams of Washington DC, and The White House of the United States of America to name a few!Most Recent, Daunté had the privilege of performing on the Oprah Winfrey Network hit show “Iyanla: Fix My Life”; and in the “Aries” Musical Project with Mike WiLL Made-It feat. Pharrell Williams. Daunte currently leads the only Donation-Based Traditional West African Dance Class in the City of Los Angeles, facilitates corporate health workshops and private/group lessons.
Born and raised in Springfield,Ma
Kashana began dancing at the age of 10. She began her training at Community Dance Enrichment Program and Shooting Star Dance Center. Years later she taught at multiple dance schools in the New England area.
Kashana now resides in Los Angeles, Ca and works as a professional dancer/choreographer. She is currently in two dance companies, Stroll Groove and LA Samba Dancers. She has studied and trained in Jazz, ballet, Broadway jazz, samba , Hip Hop and Stepping. Some of her credits include The Masked Dancer, Mary J. Blige, Jidenna, Daddy Yankee, BET Awards 2016 & 2019, NBC World of Dance , and So You Think You Dance.
Jahanna Blunt, a native of Los Angeles, California, began her dance career as a seven-year-old with Abalaye African Drum and Dance Ensemble. While majoring in acting, she continued to dance throughout her time in high school at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and in college at UCLA's School of Theater Film and Television. Jahanna has taught African Dance courses for the Los Angeles Unified School District and for the University of La Verne, as well as workshops and studio classes. She has choreographed for the University of Southern California's theater department, for the Lower Depth Theater Ensemble, and for the renowned JazzAntiqua Music and Dance Ensemble. Jahanna’s performance credits include Global Soul Night at the Hollywood Bowl, the BET Awards at the Kodak Theater, and various concerts at the Ford Amphitheater. Most recently, she has collaborated with her close friends to create Le Ballet Dembaya, a brand new West African drum and dance company.