Ama Schley

Ama Schley was born into dance. Her mother was a dancer with the famed Arthur Hall Dance Troupe. Since the time she was a baby, Ama has moved to the drum and, at ten years old, she was already teaching and choreographing dances for the children in her neighborhood. Always a teacher, and more importantly a student, she has danced with Kulu Mele African Dance Ensemble since 2001. She began teaching African dance with Omo Kulu Mele (children of Kulu Mele) in 2015 and also teaches African Dance to kindergarten through senior age groups. Through her teaching, Ama works to share not only the movement of the dances, but also the rich cultural histories and origins of the West African and African Cuban dances that are performed.   
 
 

Ama and Payin will travel to Guinea, West Africa with members of the Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble to study dances and rhythms. They will learn a new piece based on Guinean dance traditions that will become a part of Kulu Mele’ s repertoire. This process will help the participants to become stronger artists, teachers, and community leaders. Once they return home, they will use their learnings to train other members of the ensemble and neighborhood youth.