Black Diaspora: Sekou McMiller

Black Diaspora events are open to a Black- or Afro-Latinx-identifying audience only.

Afro-Latin Jazz and Soul Experience with Sekou:

Sekou’s “Afro Latin Jazz and Soul Experience” takes a rhythmical journey through the African American, Afro-Latino, and other African diaspora cultures looking at varying similarities, past intersections and explore new and exciting fusions. Deeply rooted in the Caribbean dance and music culture (Salsa/Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, etc…) while blending with African American Jazz, African modern dance, as well as other traditional and social dances from West Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. This class will explore the fundamental elements and movement principles of Embodied Africanist Aesthetics while recognizing their undeniable connection to our basic movement practices for surviving life of this planet.

About Sekou McMiller

At the forefront of a new movement in the dance world, Sekou’s of Afro-Latin dance rich with Afro-Caribbean (Salsa/Mambo, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Yoruba, etc.) with urban dance, modern, jazz, and contemporary styles combined with his explosive energy on and off stage, has earned Sekou broad recognition worldwide. Sekou has performed and choreographed for top Latin artists such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Colon, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Tito Rojas, Tito Nieves, PitBull, and the pop icon MADONNA. A recent recipient of fellowship with The Alvin Ailey Foundation’s New Directions Choreography Lab and the City University of New York (CUNY) Dance Initiative, Sekou’s choreographic works have been featured throughout North America and abroad in over 30 countries. Sekou has received training certificates from the prestigious Danza Contemporanea de Cuba in Havana, Cuba, and Ecole de Sables in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal.

Sekou can be seen in the Warner Bros theatrical feature “In the Heights” (2021), directed by Jon M. Chu, and in the newly released documentary “Uprooted: the journey of Jazz Dance.” Currently, Sekou is a faculty member at Marymount Manhattan College, The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispánico, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. In addition to being a Curator and Project Director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

Over 20 yrs Internationally performed/choreographed/instructed in over 30 countries and over 120 cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dakar, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, Mumbai, Shanghai, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec, Manchester, Warsaw, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Rome, Paris, Istanbul, Monaco, Brussels and many other international hubs of dance.

About Black Diaspora

Conceived by curator Eva Yaa Asantewaa during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter uprising, Black Diaspora launched its first activities in September 2020 as a Zoom-based peer support program serving up-and-coming, Black-identified dance and performance artists from various cultural backgrounds and aesthetic traditions.

With the support of Gibney, Black Diaspora has offered numerous peer group discussions, workshops led by notable guest artists, and conversations between artists. We celebrate the resourcefulness, accomplishments, and generous wisdom of Black creatives, educators, and activists.

Photo of Sekou McMiller by Marisol Diaz