The Komanse Dance Theater Team

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.

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

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” 

Tony Berry - Choreographer in Residence

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.

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.