Ajara believes strongly that music and dance are important modes of communication -- allowing us to be part of a collective rhythm of life in which young and old, rich and poor, men and women, are all invited to contribute. Fusing traditional and contemporary music and dance in her style she flourishes in creative environments that allow her to express these concepts and ideas.

She has studied with the likes of Marie Basse-Wiles, Assane Konte, Mouminatou Camara and Tatiana Campelo, all renowned African dance aficionados. While Ajara continues to travel to faraway places such as Brazil, Japan and Senegal to further her skill, she believes there’s no place like Detroit.

Currently the Managing Director of TeMaTe Dance Arts (@tematdance), it is her personal mission to preserve traditional music, dance, and history through her dance programs. She is a member of the Collegium of African Diaspora Dance at Duke University, consults at Detroit School of the Arts, and holds community classes in the hopes of promoting STEAM instruction into school programming.



Photo Credit: Asia Asiatic Hamilton