GRIOT / STORY DESIGNER / WRITER / PRODUCER

Emmy Award-winning dancer, recording artist, and actor Wyatt Jackson began performing throughout the New England region with his own hip-hop crew and worked with the acclaimed Boston Youth Theater for seven seasons. He was later cast in the European tour, Body and Soul, where he worked with Tony Award-winner, George Faison, Mercedes Ellington, and European avant-garde producer and director, Andre Heller. Upon finishing the tour, Jackson landed a recording contract with Warner Brother Records, under the corporate direction of actor, Michael Douglas. The chart-climbing hip-hop/R&B duo, Here and Now, mixed vaudeville-style storytelling with popular music production. He has composed and produced music for: CBS, PBS, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the soundtrack to the Paramount Pictures release, Losing Isaiah, starring Samuel Jackson, Halle Berry, and Jessica Lange. Website and Social: wjstorydesign.com @wjstorydesign

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER

Robby is an entrepreneur, economic empowerment advocate, poet, and writer. He is the author of two books of poetry, Introspective Voices and Afro-Caribbean Son, and has served as a columnist and contributing editor for several publications. As an empowerment advocate, he has worked as a Community Banking officer and adjunct professor. He has also served as Chairman of several organizations, including the Black Business Chamber in Las Vegas. In addition to his work in poetry and advocacy, Robby has also been involved in the music, television, and film industries. He has co-written several songs on the Gospel album Kingdom Journey and the rap single The Rona. He was also associate producer of the 2017 motion picture Misguided Behavior and executive producer of the Las Vegas-based television show Vegas Speaks. He is currently co-writer, co-creator, and executive producer of the Musical Revue, We Move in Color.

ORIGINAL MUSIC / IMAGES / QLAB DESIGN

Gen is a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, artist, engineer, animator, photographer, and videographer with a diverse body of work spanning Pop, R&B, Latin, Rock, Gospel, Dance, and Soundtracks. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Luis Fonsi (on their Grammy-winning song Aqui Estoy Yo), Paulina Rubio, and Diana Ross. His work has been featured in major motion pictures, TV shows, and commercials. He has gotten multiple artists signed through his production company to major label deals. Gen is now taking the leap into the metaverse, creating NFTs of new works blending all his skills for his new Web3 label, Plan Zero Records. He is grateful to Wyatt and Robby for the opportunity to lend his musical and visual talents to We Move in Color. Website: genrubin.com

PAINTER

Paul Goodnight is a painter and sculptor born in Chicago in 1946. He was drafted into the Army and served two years in Vietnam, an experience that left him unable to speak for 2 years. After the war, he began painting and enrolled in the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. He earned his B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1976. Goodnight's work has been featured in television shows such as The Cosby Show, Seinfeld, ER, and Living Single. He has also traveled the world, studying the art of the Caribbean, Africa, Russia, and Asia. He is the founder of Color Circle Art Publishing, which is dedicated to the perpetuation of the art and imagery of the African diaspora. Goodnight's work is collected by such notables as Maya Angelou, Wesley Snipes, and Samuel L. Jackson. He has also been commissioned to create artwork for the 1996 Olympic Games and the World Cup. He is the recipient of the U.S. Sports Academy Artist of the Year Award. Goodnight's biggest inspiration is his daughter, Aziza.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Lou Jones is a photographer and his eclectic career has evolved from commercial to the personal. It has spanned every format, film type, artistic movement, and technological change. He maintains a studio in Boston, Massachusetts and has photographed for Fortune 500 corporations, international companies and local small businesses including Federal Express, Nike, and the Barr Foundation. He has completed assignments for magazines and publishers all over the world such as Time/Life, National Geographic, and Paris Match, has initiated long term projects on the civil wars in Central America, death row, the Olympics Games, and pregnancy, and published multiple books.

MOTHER AFRICA

Anita is a dynamic singer/songwriter, voice actor, designer, and philanthropist. She has recorded multiple projects and worked with Grammy-winning producers, including the legendary Betty Wright, who penned the song All of the Above for Anita's Kingdom Journey album. Her first gospel project, R U Willing (produced by Detroit's Bill Moss Jr.), was nominated for Independent Best Gospel Album of the year. Anita is credited with the historic first ever rendition of the Negro National Anthem sung live at a Major League Baseball game. 

GRIOT 2

Kalala is a dynamic and versatile actor whose work spans film, television, and stage, bringing depth, nuance, and emotional truth to every performance. On screen, she has appeared in a range of independent and academic productions, including OURS: Delilah (Dir. Vanessa Bazile), Ugly Ducklings (Dir. Grant Herson), Cotton Fever (Dir. Daniel Brandt), and FAKES (Dir. John Hayeck). Her performances reflect a commitment to storytelling that centers complex characters and bold narratives. She has also contributed to projects such as Tesphyn, One Night Only, and Five Twenty-Eight, collaborating with emerging filmmakers and production companies across the country.

Kalala holds a B.A. in Theater and Dance from Macalester College and has trained extensively at prestigious institutions including the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and the National Theater Institute. Her artistic development has been shaped by renowned practitioners such as Richard Digby Day, Patrese McClain, Malik Work, and companies like Complicité and Dewey Dell. Grounded in rigorous training and driven by a passion for meaningful storytelling, Kalala Kiwanuka-Woernle continues to emerge as a powerful voice in the next generation of performers.

TAP DANCER

Grant has a famed dance career that spans over three decades. Under the direction of legendary director George C. Wolfe, he was an original company member and the dance captain for Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk at the Public Theater and on Broadway, and he also starred in the first national tour. He created the critically acclaimed show Imagine Tap! and was coartistic director of Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Festival. Other notable choreography and performance credits include the Apollo Theater’s Get on the Good Foot and its national tour; the Kennedy Center’s African Odyssey; and his own production on the history of tap, A Night Out: Tap. He is the recipient of a Helen Hayes Award, Princess Grace Award, and two Los Angeles Ovation Awards. He has taught internationally, including in Japan, Russia, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and France, and has also taught for Jacob’s Pillow, the American Tap Dance Foundation, and at Steps on Broadway in New York City for 18 years.

TAP DANCER

Khalid Hill, a professional actor and tap dancer from Boston MA, now residing in Harlem NY, boasts 33 years of tap dancing experience and a Masters Degree in Performing Arts Administration from NYU. Trained in the Meisner technique, Khalid has performed as a featured artist nationwide and abroad, including in the US, Canada, and Germany. As an educator, he has taught master classes at various institutions and tap classes for Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. His credits include national tours and performances with acclaimed artists such as Savion Glover and Debbie Allen. Notably, he was part of the first national tour of Bring in Da’ Noise, Bring in Da’ Funk under the direction of George C Wolfe. Khalid's signature "rapid-fire" footwork continues to captivate audiences nationwide.

DANCER

Janine N. Beckles is a New York City native who began her dance training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem at six. A fellowship scholar for eight years, she continued her studies at LaGuardia High School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and earned a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Sociology from Southern Methodist University. A National Foundation for the Arts awardee, she has performed iconic works like Memoria, Hymn, and Revelations.
Now in her 14th season with Philadanco, Janine serves as lead principal dancer, Graham teacher, and Associate Artistic Director. She also serves on the board of the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers Association (PVLA), is a National Urban League Emerging Leader, and recently earned an MBA. Her leadership and artistry were recognized in Dance Magazine’s February issue as a new Black leader in dance.

DANCER

Jameel M. Hendricks is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA), where he trained as a dance major and served as Dance Captain in his senior year. Upon graduation, he received the Dance, Humanitarian, and Congeniality Award presented by LaDeva Davis. He continued his training at Eleone Dance Unlimited as a scholarship student and Dance Captain of Eleone Connections, and further developed his craft at The Rock School for Ballet and intensives such as Dance Creates New Stars and Breaking Barriers. Jameel later attended Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, majoring in Dance Education, before joining Eleone Dance Theater and subsequently becoming a company member of Philadanco.

DANCER

Jelena Bates, is a 15 year old well rounded dancer and student from Boston, Massachusetts. Jelena has trained at many dance summer intensives around the world such as, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Anthony Burrell’s Breaking Barriers, Earl Mosley Diversity of Dance, and Complexions Dance Intensive. Jelena has been training at Stajez Cultural Arts Center since the age of four and counting. Due to Stajez’s rigorous and supportive program it has assisted her to build connections, like performing at Gillette Stadium , DCU Center, and receiving awards like Bostons NAACP ACT-SO 2025 competition bronze medalist. Jelena would like to pursue this career path for her whole life including some others. goes here

DANCER (Virtual)

Zak is a multi-talented artist and student from Eswatini who recently relocated to NYC to pursue his passion for dance. As a long-time member of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble and a top-rated US teen Breaking competitor, Zak loves sharing his passion with others. He has represented the US in Breaking at the ISF Gymnasiade in Normandy, France, and performed in the show choreographed by Maurice Chestnut, Beats+Rhymes+Tap Shoes at Little Island, NYC. Zakhele also enjoys playing and creating on guitar, bass, and piano.

DANCER

Desirae is a Boston-born dancer whose movement tells a story of resilience, culture, and self-discovery. Beginning her dance journey at the age of four, she was introduced early to the rhythms that would later define her artistic voice. Rooted in Hip-Hop, Afro-Caribbean, and Reggae, Desirae’s dance is more than technique—it is a living expression of history, identity, and community. Hip-Hop gives her the language of freedom and authenticity, Afro-Caribbean grounds her in ancestral rhythm and cultural pride, and Reggae allows her to move with spirit, resistance, and soul. Each form she embodies carries a legacy, and through her body, those traditions continue to speak.

DANCER

Isabella Wright is a powerful and dynamic young dancer whose passion for movement and expression has been cultivated through her training at the Stages Cultural Arts Center in Randolph, Massachusetts. With a strong foundation in multiple dance styles, Isabella has quickly emerged as a vibrant performer, captivating audiences with her energy, precision, and emotional depth. Her artistic journey continues to grow as she embraces dance not only as a craft, but as a form of storytelling and personal expression.

Isabella has performed with We Move in Color for the past two seasons, appearing on notable stages such as the IMAX Theater at the New England Aquarium and the Strand Theatre during the 2025 production. She also dances as part of the youth liturgical dance ministry at Bethel AME Church of Boston, where she blends faith and artistry in powerful ways. Proficient in hip-hop, jazz, modern, and freestyle, Isabella brings versatility and authenticity to every performance, establishing herself as a rising young artist to watch.

AFRICAN DRUMMER

Stephen P. O’Neal began his drumming journey at the age of five at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he studied under the legendary Babatunde Olatunji. He is the original and now lead drummer for the National Center of Afro-American Artists’ annual production of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, the longest-running show of its kind in the country. For over five decades, Stephen has served as a cultural vessel through rhythm—communicating spirit, ancestry, and story with each beat. To him, drumming is more than sound; it’s a sacred form of storytelling, and through his performances, he’s helped preserve African drumming traditions for new generations.

CHOREOGRAPHER

Sheryl Pollard-Thomas is a dancer, choreographer, and internationally recognized dance educator with over 30 years of experience. She has trained with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School and taught Horton dance technique in Italy, Germany, and the US. She has served as Co-Chair of the Dance Department at Boston Arts Academy and Adjunct Professor at Harvard University. She is currently the Founding and Lead Instructor of Dance at Maurice J. McDonough High School.

COSTUME DESIGNER

Eileen started her sewing career at the kitchen table at age 10. Her mother’s guidance, direction and knowledge helped turn sewing into a lifelong passion. Her 20 + year friendship with Wyatt’s beautiful wife Marcia brought her to We Move in Color. Eileen is honored to be a part of this amazing team.

Production Manager

Candis is an actor, playwright, and stage manager. She has performed in several roles, including Elizabeth in Elizabeth Keckley Freedom Tailored by Hand, Affifa in A Shift Interrupted, Kibriya in The Black Mind, Angela in Final Road Trip, and Portia in My Four Wives. She has also had her plays Hope Cove and Green Thumb produced. Candis would like to thank God for this gift as well as her family and friends for their continued support in her acting endeavors.