Terrie Ajile Axam - Creative Movement, Mojah, Beginning Tap, Body Sculpting, African Dance
Principal Player, Dancer, Performer, Choreographer

Master Classes & Workshops by Ajile

MOJAH is a dance technique conceived by Ajile in 1993. Mojah means "one." It is a blend of Horton technique, Dunham technique, Jazz and West African Dance. A transforming and healing technique, Mojah is also spiritual and evokes the connecting synergy between mind, body, and spirit, and between artist and audience. Ajile offers Mojah Basics, The fundamentals of MOJA; MoJazz, Mojah with a Jazz emphasis; Mojah, Mojah with Modern influence; Mojah, Mojah with West African influence; Mojah Experience, Technical warm-up and combination with a blend of all forms. For the intermediate and advanced student only.

Oginga Love - Drumming, Afro Dance Rhythms
Performer, Master Drummer

Greyling Oginga Love - A master drummer, Oginga combines traditional Afro-Jazz rhythms with contemporary rhythms. His performances include the Epcot Center's Grand Opening, Disney World, Grover Washington, Jr., Najee, Dennis Miller, the Essence Music Festival, the World's Fair, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Oginga studied at the Katherine Dunham Performing Arts Center in East St. Louis, Illinois under the tutelage of Senegalese Master Drummer MorThiam and other master percussionists. He has performed for 15 years as a percussionist, dancer, actor, and pianist and throughout the U.S. in the national college tour production, "FUSION" with Total Dance Company. He has also taught and performed at Edna Manley College in Kingston, Jamaica. Oginga received his B.S. degree from St. Louis University and is the son of Clayton Love, a famous blues pianist and vocalist of St. Louis.

Dawn Axam Hocker - Modern

Choreographer, Performer, Dancer, Instructor, Actor

A native of Atlanta, Dawn has over 30 years of experience as a performer. Dawn received her BFA in dance from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She has served as director of Musical Theatre at Brenau University and Bethune Cookman College. Her credits include choreographing for The Wiz, Dreamgirls, Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Evers Boys, Little Shop of Horrors, and Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope. Her theatre performances include Jomandi's Black Nativity, West Side Story, Pippin, Raisin in the Sun, Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery, The Wiz, and Women Hold Up Half the Sky. Dawn has studied under Milton Myers, Liz Lerman, Otis Salid, Robert Small, Ohad Naharian, Bill T, Jones, Harry Bryce, Nadia Creamer, Kay Cummings, and William Densmore. She has mentored hundreds of students each year through the Governor's Honors Program and Tri-Cities High School where she was director of the Visual and Performing Arts Dance Department. Dawn is resident instructor and choreographer at Total Dance / Dancical Productions, Inc.

Kikora Austin Franklin - Associate Member

Performer, Dancer, Choreographer

Kikora has trained since childhood under the direction of Terrie Ajile Axam.  She was a member of the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team where she also choreographed.  Kikora has performed with Us Theatre Company and has appeared on national television and in local plays.  In 1998, Kikora graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University where she was the student director of the Howard Dance Team.  She received a JC degree and M.A. in Public Administration from Georgia State University.  She is currently an associate professor at Penn State University, an artist with the Pennslyvania Arts Council, and an associate member of Total Dance. 

Yasmine Axam - Gymnastics & Hip Hop

Performer, Dancer, Instructor

With training since childhood under the direction of Terri Ajile Axam, Yasmine has performed with North Atlanta School of the Performing Arts and was instrumental in the formation of a dance team at Lithia Springs High School. She currently serves as a member of the Total Dance Company and has been an instructor for Beginning Ballet, Gymnastics and Fitness. Yasmine is currently teaching Modern Jazz and Hip Hop. 

Sahar Langston-Coleman - Tap, Int. Jazz

Choreographer, Dancer, Performer, Instructor

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Sahar began her dance training at the age of six with a neighborhood African Dance troupe called Rob-Shante.  She continued her dance education with local dance schools including Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Broadway Dance Center.  She moved to Atlanta in 1994 where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Financial Management.  While in Atlanta, Sahar has been a performer in the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics, Total Dance's Production, "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" and Dance Moves Dance Studio rendition of "The Lion King" called "Pride Land".  Sahar is also a talented choreographer.  Her choreography credits include Megafest 2004, Bronner Brothers' Hair and Fashion Show, and Black College National Cheer and Dance Competitions, winning titles as a dancer and choreographer.  As an instructor, Sahar has taught Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, and Beginning Tap.

Aldawana "Al" Morrison Jr. - Adv Beg & Int Ballet/Pointe

Instructor, Dancer, Performer

Al comes to Total Dance with an extensive background in both performing and teaching dance throughout the United States.  Al has performed with a variety of dance companies for the last fifteen years including Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance Company in Denver, Co; as well as Complexion, Elisa Monte, and Donald Byrd - The Group all based in New York City.  More recently Al has been a performer with Atlanta Ballet from 1997 - 2005.  In addition to  his performance experience, for the last fourteen years he has taught dance with Donald Byrd - The Group, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, and the Price Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.