Komansé Dance Theater Team
Artistic Director | Raianna Brown
Raianna Brown, 2018 BSIE alumna, exhibits the dynamism of the modern young professional through her multidisciplinary work. While at GT, Raianna studied dance through dual-enrollment at Emory University. She served in many leadership positions which prepared her for her first major career undertaking. While still in undergrad, she founded Komansé Dance Theater. Komansé’s sold-out shows integrated technology and the arts in partnership with the GT Industrial Design School (projection mapping) and GT Invention Studio (3D printed costumes).
Raianna has been featured in Teen Vogue, Elle, The Cut and has been interviewed on NPR about her work combining social activism, engineering, and the arts.
Her artistic work has been described as powerful, groundbreaking, innovative, empowering, and genius. A heartfelt dance artist adept in a range of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and modern, Raianna Brown crafts movement that is thoughtful and cutting edge.
An Atlanta native, Raianna began studying dance at the Spelman Summer Dance Institute in her youth and went on to further her training at Price Performing Arts Center. Since then, she has trained throughout the country with world renowned companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York and Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco.
Raianna’s work has been commissioned by organizations such as the NAACP, Flux ATL, City Gate Dance Theater, Anthony Burrell’s Center for Dance, and Dare Dream Dance. In 2015, while still in school, she took her work abroad as a guest choreographer with Staib Dance Company in Sorrento, Italy. Soon after, she became the youngest choreographer to be selected to present work in the Dance Canvas Introducing the Next Generation performance series. Throughout her career, Raianna has had the pleasure of working with prominent artists such as Rennie Harris, Anthony Burrell, Jaquel Knight, George Staib, Earl Mosley, Gregory Sinnacori, Chloe Arnold, Jason Samuel Smith, T. Lang, Galen Hooks and Otis Sallid, among others.
Raianna continues to hone her craft and further her promising career through her work in the arts. Serving as the founder and Artistic Director of Komansé Dance Theater, she has choreographed and produced 4 sold out shows for audiences of over 1000 people, including a show commissioned by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. The shows centered on the narratives of marginalized people, using technology to amplify the performance. The most recent production was created in partnership with Covenant House, a homeless shelter servicing at-risk youth. Raianna’s other accomplishments in the world of dance include choreographing commissioned pieces for the NAACP, Grammy-nominated artists, and international dance companies, and dancing alongside Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in Super Bowl LIV, as well as the 2022 Oscars with Beyoncé Knowles.
Outside of dance, Raianna has taken her industrial engineering knowledge into the field of software development, serving as the lead software developer for Lean consulting firm CMB Global Partners.
Raianna seeks to create work, in both the arts and engineering, that uplifts and empowers her community.
Ta Nycia Wooden has been in love with art since the beginning of time. In her childhood, you could find her with many different colors in her hair and ideas in her notebook. She believes in the beauty of everything and dedicates herself to showing others. Ta Nycia has a passion for photography and creative direction. Her work is featured on our site! She uses her creativity and business skills to manage the internal affairs of Komansé.
Internal Affairs Director | Ta Nycia Wooden
Company Photographer | Chelsea Burks
Chelsea Burks is a Business Administration graduate with a minor in Law, Science and Technology at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a recipient of the Georgia Tech Prestige Scholarship, in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools, and the Atlanta Mayor’s Youth Scholarship as well. While in college, Chelsea has served as the Overnight visitations chair for the African American Recruitment Team through Georgia Tech Admissions and on the executive board for the African American Student Union as the Black History Chair. She has a passion for photography and has recently become a small business owner/founder of her own company, CDNB Photography. She has always been in love with art and photography through dance since she could remember. Along with growing her small business, when Chelsea graduates from Georgia Tech she plans to attend law school to become a patent attorney, and go on to one day own a law firm. She enjoys traveling, advocating for the rights of ALL black women and binge watching Netflix when she’s not being a photographer.
image by CDNB photography
Choreographer in Residence | Tony Berry
Concert dance has been a huge part of Tony’s training and artistry development. Dancing for companies such as Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dancing Wheels dance company, a physically integrated dance company, Verb Ballet, Davis Contemporary Dance Company, NU-World Contemporary Danse Company, Komanse Dance, Duffy Liturgical, and City Gate Dance Theater. Every company has instilled knowledge and skills into their artist and help mold them. Giving them more then just dance but community. That’s why Tony gave back to his community by doing outreach with the cities department of recreation to provide free dance classes to inner city children that can’t afford dance opportunities. Also, doing outreach in local city schools and the Boys and Girls Club of America. Just providing the children with different avenues of expression. Giving back has afforded Tony the opportunity to dance for the NAACP, and to be acknowledged by the United Black Funds and the Mayor of Denver , Michael Hancock.
“The experiences that I am bringing is one like no other; passion, authenticity, and creativity are just a few words to describe my approach to my students and to my artistry. Not only am I an educator through movement of dance but through inspiration and integrity. The imprint and influence I hope to bring is undeniably captivating.” — Tony DeBerry.
Digital Media Director | Akeem Edwards
Akeem Edwards is a published creative entrepreneur, digital media specialist, and Jacksonville, Florida native. His passion for visual storytelling began in high school, where he served as a senior photographer and editor for the school newspaper and journalism club. There he developed foundational skills in photography, copy editing, layout design, and content creation.
For over five years, Akeem has furthered his digital media expertise as a producer, editor, and website manager for PandaKo Media, contributing to projects ranging from creative development and branding to post-production editing and multi-platform social strategy. He has also managed social media for various companies, with strengths in digital design, copywriting, analytics, audience engagement, and content optimization.
In addition to digital media, Akeem is an accomplished multidisciplinary artist. He began his dance training at Jacksonville Centre of the Arts and is versed in various dance styles from Ballet to West-African.
After earning his B.A. in Psychology, he relocated to Atlanta, where his performance and creative work have reached major platforms including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, BET, Showtime, Paramount+, Tyler Perry Studios, Debbie Allen, Garth Fagan Dance, and BOSE’s global ad campaign. Akeem’s blend of digital expertise and creative versatility positions him uniquely within the arts. He is excited to serve as Digital Media Director for Komansé Dance Theater, where he aims to elevate the company’s visual voice, storytelling, and digital reach. Connect with Akeem | @akeemjedwards.
Teacher, Dancer, and Choreographer Antonio DeBerry better known as Tony Berry. Graduated from Bowling Green State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Education with a focus in Dance. Over 10 years Tony has been an educator, dancer and choreographer in the industry. Training and creating in the styles such as Jazz, Contemporary Modern, Hip Hop and Heels. Working with a wide range of artists such as Kanye West, Rico Nasty, LaLa Rai, Savannah Cristina , Lisa Yaro, Diamond ATL, Todrick Hall, Big Freeda, Teyana Taylor, Jill Scott, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyage and more.
Although dance has been Tony’s main identifier, his talents didn’t stop there. Following his love for musical theater Tony has appeared in popular Broadway plays such as Chicago, Dreamgirls, and Westside Story. The excitement of musical theater was what lead Tony into Television and Film. Casted as the lead, Matt, in Foul Play, on Amazon Prime. Then having the opportunities to work with Disney and Marvel Studios on the show Tag Team, Genius Aretha on National Geographic, With this Ring on Lifetime movies , and season 2 of PValley on Starz, to name a few. It was clear Tony loved the screen.
Rehearsal Director | Lindsey Renea
Lindsay Renea is a Choreographer, Dancer Performance Coach, and Movement Director with a background in concert dance, musical theater, and Dance on Screen. She earned a BFA in Dance from Howard University and joined the Tony Award Winning Choreographer, Garth Fagan’s dance company, Garth Fagan Dance in upstate New York. While exploring her own creativity and choreographic endeavors she earned a MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University. She has choreographed dance companies including Komanse Dance Company, Muda Africa Tanzania, as well as her own company, Notnebia Dance Company based in South Eastern region. She has been nominated for Broadway World’s "Best Choreographer" award for creating movement to support scripted musical storytelling on theater stages including the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Production of "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Nina Simone: Four Women”. Visually, no matter the setting, Lindsay’s choreography is a blend of vivid storytelling through complex melodies and grounded syncopations that intrigues even the most trained eye and ear. Lindsay has also served as the Artistic Director and an Assistant Professor of Dance at Alabama State University. She is the Founder of Dance On Screen Alabama(DOSABAMA) training program and festival. She choreographed the internationally broadcast 2022 Olympic World Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. She can also be seen as a featured dancer in several movie productions including “Coming 2 America”
KDT Assistants
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Rochelle L. Philips
Rochelle L. Phillips is a fourth-year Dance Performance and Choreography major who has begun to flourish at Spelman College. Phillips was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and has been training since she was two years old. Phillips started at the Conservatory of Dance and Fine Arts where she trained in ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, lyrical, tap, and acrobatics. After graduating from Dekalb School of the Arts, she attended the University of the Arts on scholarship, where she also completed her freshman year of college. Phillips has applied her knowledge by interning at the Infinite Dance Theatre, performing for Jade Nova’s Live concert, and performing with Komansè Dance Theatre.
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AC A. Wilson
AC Wilson is a native to Minneapolis, MN and has been training in tap, ballet, and musical theater for nearly 7 years. AC began his dance journey as an actor that just respected and love the art of dance. Eventually leading to a more in depth relationship. He found himself in Atlanta, GA by way of Clark Atlanta University, perusing a degree in public relations. While in school he has been fortunate enough to work and study under creatives such as Anthony Burrell, Debbie Allen, Dyllon Burnside, as well as Tyler Perry. He plans on being a full time writer, actor, and artistic director and Komanse Dance Theater has given him the space to peruse those outlets simultaneously. He looks forward to his first full season as a company assistant.
