Where fitness meets Culture!
Eric L. Williams - President/Owner
International Sports Sciences Association Certified Fitness Trainer
Wellness Coach
American Red Cross Certified CPR/AED
Marathoner
Marathon Kayak Racer
Ever since his High School days as a three sport athlete (Basketball, Fencing, Track), Eric has embraced his role as an ambassador of fitness. After several years of mentoring as a Cub Master with the Boys Scouts of America and Coach of three district champion Little League Baseball teams, Eric decided to re-enter the competitive arena by racing in marathon kayak races, including the Adirondack 90 mile classic three times. Not one to rest on his laurels, he then began his career in road racing by running the London Marathon and also the ING NYC Marathon four times. His passion for competition is only bested by his desire to help others enjoy the great benefits of fitness and the peace that comes with obtaining total wellness.
Kofi Osei Ababio Williams - Director, Asase Yaa African-American Dance TheaterKofi Osei Ababio Williams started drumming at the young age of four years old. He began studying under the tutelage of the late Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu. His travels to Guinea and Ghana West Africa on numerous occasions enabled him to study with master musicians. He also studied the traditions and culture of the indigenous people to get a better comprehension of their music. At the early age of eight years old, he traveled to Trinidad and Tobago. In May 2001 he traveled to Amsterdam, Holland to participate in the Bang The Drums Festival. In Belize, he was part of The Garifuna Settlement Day Festival in November 2002. Kofi participated in the Grenada National Dance Festival in May 2004. At the renowned Jacobs Pillow he was part of the Cultural Traditions Dance Workshop led by Chuck Davis and Donald Mcayle. As part of a 22 city tour during the 2002-2003 season Kofi was a premiere drummer for Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and the Maafa Suite. To add to his many endeavors, he produced his first CD in 2001 named Anukwale, which was a collection of traditional Ghanaian Akom music. He also co-produced a CD with Mbemba Bangoura named Wofabé, which contains songs and traditional Guinea Djembe music. Currently he is an artist in residence at Medgar Evers College and The New York City Department of Education. Kofi is also the Executive Director of Asase Yaa entertainment group, the Artistic Director of Africa: A Journey in Dance concert series, and a musician for Forces of Nature
Leticia Monteiro - CapoeiraAs time passed her passion for the art of Capoeira grew and Leticia took her training abroad. Her travels to Brazil has allowed her to train in Sao Paulo, Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro, Victoria and Aracaju. Leticia has also participated in Capoeira workshops in Brussels, Belgium and in Barcelona, Spain.
Currently, Leticia is training under the instruction of Professor Lampreia, founder of Motumbaxe Capoeira and Artistic Director of Allied Capoeira Arts Initiative (A.C.A.I), a non-profit organization. Leticia sits on the Board of Directors of A.C.A.I. as Secretary, helping to meet its mission to promote, foster, and develop an understanding and appreciation for the Afro-Brazilian martial art, music and dance form of Capoeira. Leticia completed her B.S. in Physical Education in May 2003 and her M.S. in Physical Therapy at Hunter College CUNY in May 2007. She currently works as a physical therapist with the Department of Education. Leticia is also Assistant Director of a nonprofit organization called Project HAPPY (a Hunter College Saturday sports program for people with special needs). In her work as a physical therapist, she often incorporates Capoeira movements into her patients' treatment plans. Leticia also teaches Capoeira at the Dodge YMCA after school program located at P.S. 38
Funmilayo - Congolese Dance
Olga El - Belly DanceThough she recently received her BFA in writing, Olga El is an avid fan of world dance particularly the dances of the Middle East, North and East Africa (also known as belly dance). She has studied with notable instructors such as her main teacher and mentor, Oya; Somalian Fulbright Scholar, Arianna Al Tiye; the world-renowned Morocco and many others. Her personal fusion style not only takes elements from her background in various world dances but draws from her experience in the fields of theatre and martial arts as well.
She regularly performs with a musical group called The Sounds of Taraab, which plays East African music from Zanzibar. She has danced in a Bollywood movie, worked with Congolese dance company FUSHA, and has played a small role in Desert Sin's Musée des Femmes: Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque. She helped form the experimental belly dance troupe, Bastet, in the summer of 2008 and directs its charitable sub-division called "Belly Dance for Change." Olga teaches at the MNG Arts Studio in Queens and recently joined the Indian Dance Company, Naach Sensation.
Allyson (Miss Al Boogie) Lynch
miss al boogie has been practicing various street dance styles for over 23 years. Raised in Albany, NY and Ft. Lauderdale, FL, she moved to NYC in 1998 to study and graduate with her Bachelors in Music Business at NYU. Now a Brooklyn based full time dancer, singer and teaching artist, Allyson has performed in theaters, clubs, and videos and teaches all ages across NYC and the Northeast. Her credits include work with Comedy Central, MTV, the film The 25th Hour, What About the Move (Staplecrops), Ladies of Hip Hop Festival (Philly) and in Shalewa Mackall’s Movement for the Urban Village dance company and JoiLynn Productions. She began and is currently working on her first EP entitled miss al boogie’s lo-fi sci-fi mixtape. Bobbito Garcia from Vibe magazine has called her “one of the best dancers in NYC.”
Sister Montez Teferi , LMT
A graduate of The Swedish Istitute in NYC, Montez has been a licensed massage therapist for over 12 years and has studied various body work styles, including classical swedish massage ,shiatsu, prenatal and Thai massage. Her yoga experience includes practice in India, New York ,and Washington DC where she completed her first teacher training. Various styles, alignment techniques and breathing exercises are incorporated for stress reduction, better posture and improved flexibility. A regular class includes these techniques, and a long or short meditation
