In this first part of our Oral Tradition series, Ms Amaniyea Payne will take us on a journey from west Africa to the Americas, painting the connection between Jazz and traditional west African dances. Despite the different contexts of existence, the strong cultural ties to tradition persisted in the new world thanks to the transmission of oral history, stories, music and dance.

Ms Amaniyea Payne is a viable force in the field of dance, recognized for her many talents as performer, director, producer, choreographer, educator, designer and humanitarian.
Her style of dance, evolving from natural rhythmic movements, is based and informed by the dances & cultures of the African Diaspora. She has studied, performed and toured globally with prominent companies and well known music and dance legends, such as Stevie Wonder, Cab Calloway, and Ben Harper, as well as with Lindy-hop innovators Norma Miller, Frankie Manning & Momma Lou Parks, Reggae icons Third World, Rita Marley & Bunny Wailer (to name a few) and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago) where she served as Artistic Director for 3 decades. Amaniyea has collaborated with and choreographed for international artist and arts organizations throughout the diasporas, focusing on finding new ways to translate dance for the stage while also preserving & respecting traditional parameters for performance.
Known as a “National Treasure”, Ms. Payne is the recipient of many awards, which speaks to her outstanding career achievements. Having a deep sense of responsibility, she is committed to preserving & honoring the legacy of great expressions as well as aid in the development of a future generation of dancers who carry the aesthetic and spiritual base of Black Dance.