This St. Louis native has been exposed to the performing arts from a young age, but did not discover her own passion for dancing and performing until her collegiate years in Washington, DC. Aysha began studying rhythm tap with Heidi Scultz at American University and joined a local tap company, DC ARTistry, under the direction of Artis Mooney. Soon after, she began teaching tap at the Joy of Motion Dance Center. She has worked with Ayodele Caselle, Ted Levy, Robert Burden, Diane Walker, Will Gaines and, Van "The Man" Porter. She recently joined the City Dance Center at Strathmore dance faculty teaching rhythm tap to teens and adults.
Aysha expanded on her love of rhythm and movement and began studying hip hop, a dance form close to her roots and heart. She was a member of Jam Crew, a hip hop and modern dance fusion company, from 2001 to 2004 under the direction of Vanessa Edwards. She performed ensemble and solo work in sold-out company concerts at the Jack Guidone Theatre, the DREAM nightclub, and as the opening act for the R&B arts Mario and Nivea at the National Mall in Washington, DC. She has studied various styles of hip hop, from street jazz to breaking, and trained with Jennifer Archibald, Ronnie Reddick, Maurice Johnson, Ryan Webb, Mr. Wiggles, Rhapsody, Brian Friedman, and Marty Kudleka. Aysha is a hip hop instructor at Joy of Motion Dance Center, teaching all levels and performance classes.
Locally, Aysha has participated in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Dance outreach program with Jam Crew and City Dance Ensemble as a teacher, choreographer, and performer in schools throughout the DC area. Her choreography has been showcased at the DC Metro Dance Awards Nomination Party and Joy of Motion Hip Hop Concert. Tap and hip hop have also given Aysha choreography, performance, and teaching opportunities throughout the country in Virginia, Philadelphia, New York, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
Outside of her life as a dancer, Aysha earned a B.A. and M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University and has worked professionally as an author, educator, and children's rights advocate.
