SALEANA PETTAWAY, EDM

Saleana Pettaway is a Philadelphia-Based artist, educator, choreographer and dancer. She is recognized in the Tri-state region for her hard-hitting training practices and her

active pursuit to empower dancers to embody the historical, social-cultural and aesthetic traditions of African-based dance forms. She holds a BFA and M.Ed from Temple University, 2007 and her masterclasses and lecture-demonstrations are noted in publications and national conferences/festivals such as ACDA (American College Dance Association) and the National High School Festival. Her roots in dance and theater began at the New Freedom Theater and Philadanco where she trained in Jazz, Ballet and Modern dance with many renowned artists like Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women and Deborah Chase of Alvin Ailey to name a few. Mentored for over 20 years by international artist and scholar, Dr. Kariamu Welsh, she has served as a senior company member of Kariamu & Company: Traditions performing principal works with iconic artists and diasporan legends including the late Nii Yartey of National Dance Company of Ghana and the late Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis of the African American Dance Ensemble. She continues to be an active teaching artist in the Tri-state region with ties to universities, schools and dance communities including Princeton, Temple University, Rowan Medical School, Muhlenburg College, Germantown Friends School, West Chester University, and more. Embracing dance as a means for transformative cultural education, Saleana designs workshops and Masterclasses to serve many artistic and educational groups with the simple mission of empowering dancers/movers to build community, expand their training and honor the traditions of African-based dance forms.