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

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.

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

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

Shelda Caddeus is a rising star in the world of African Diasporic dance and a proud student of the Stajez Cultural Arts Center in Randolph, Massachusetts. Having begun her dance journey at the age of five, Shelda has blossomed into a prodigious talent known for her expressive storytelling through movement. For Shelda, dance transcends words, allowing her to convey the depths of her experiences and emotions in ways language cannot.

DANCER

Ja'Bowen Dixon is a performance and visual artist from Chicago, IL. Since the age of six Ja'Bowen has been training and performing in the art forms of tap dance, acting, music, writing, and design.
He is most notably known as one of the founding members of the world-renowned tap dance company M.A.D.D. Rhythms. As a tap dancer, he has performed at venues all across the United States, events and projects such as halftime for the Chicago Bulls, featured roles in major motion picture films, national and international television spots, and more.
Currently, Ja'Bowen is working on his latest project entitled "Potential Energy" in which he incorporates tap, acting/spoken word, and original music production. As Ja'Bowen takes his many years of training and experience and expands beyond just tap dance, and back into other art forms, he is poised to parlay his already successful career as a tap dancer into bigger success as an interdisciplinary artist.tion goes here

DANCER

Boston-born dancer Joe González started young at the Roxbury Center. After graduating from Boston Arts Academy, he honed his craft at prestigious programs. González's choreography has been commissioned by various institutions, and he has toured extensively with renowned companies like Philadanco! and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He also founded Jo-Mé Dance Arts and continues to perform and teach. Learn more at gonzalez.dance.

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

Liberty, an 19-year-old dancer and student from Boston, is passionate about using her skills to make a difference. After 13 years of dance training at Stajez Cultural Arts Center in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, and Hip Hop, she is now a nursing major and dance minor at the University of Hartford and an instructor at Stajez. Liberty loves teaching dance to the next generation.

DANCER

Josh Johnson is an internationally recognized inspirational performer and speaker. A Harlem native, Josh Johnson's story of tap dancing on the trains of NYC to pay for college at Penn State University has inspired audiences around the world - from Asia, to Africa and across the United States. Josh has performed for the NY Knicks, Ellen Degeneres, Nickalodean Children's Choice awards and more.

DANCER / GRIOT 2 UNDERSTUDY

Desirae is a 29-year-old dancer from Boston, MA. She started dancing at 4, and her main genres are Hip Hop, Afro-Caribbean, and Reggae. After a gap in her training from 2005 to 2017, she began dancing again in 2018 with Originations Cultural Arts Center. She is passionate about using dance to empower herself and her community. Her goal is to continue dancing and to inspire others to love and embrace themselves.

DANCER

Tayquan Pomare-Taylor, widely known as “LandMine” in his communities, is a dynamic 29-year-old entertainer whose talents span videography, acting, music, comedy, and international professional dance. His passion for working with youth and inspiring creativity is at the heart of his work, encouraging young minds to grow and express themselves. LandMine’s impact on his community earned recognition from the White House and First Lady Michelle Obama, who honored him with an award on behalf of the Boston Children’s Museum for his dedication to family engagement and community leadership. His artistic journey reached new heights when he had the extraordinary opportunity to perform alongside Emmy Award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar in the 2025 Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.

LandMine is not only an entertainer but also a philosopher, engaging in deep conversations about ideas, metaphysics, and the human experience. He thrives on meeting new people, building relationships, and bringing authenticity, positivity, and love into every space he enters. Through his art, mentorship, and outreach, LandMine remains a firm advocate for the power of community, creativity, and genuine connection.

DANCER

Aiden Williams is a high school junior at Boston Arts Academy, studying classical ballet and modern dance. Aiden trained for eight years at Stajez Cultural Arts Center, and is currently a student at Jo-Me Dance.

Aiden recently performed at the Kennedy Center as a cast member of the musical revue We Move in Color. He has won numerous scholarships and awards, and aspires to become a professional.

DANCER

Isabella Sofia Wright began her dance journey with Stajez Cultural Arts Center (SCAC) in 2021, and at just 14 years old has trained in jazz, tap, liturgical, hip hop, ballet, and modern dance. As a member of the SCAC dance company, she competed across Massachusetts at several dance competitions, including the acclaimed Spirit of Dance Competition, and performed in the Mega Praise production, where she had the honor of opening for renowned gospel artist Jekalyn Carr. Isabella was one of two dancers from her team selected to attend prestigious dance intensives in New York City and has also trained under acclaimed choreographer Anthony Burrell. She was also one of five dancers chosen from her team to compete at Hip Hop International in Los Angeles, where the team advanced to the finals in Phoenix, Arizona.

In the fall of 2025, Isabella will begin high school, eager to continue her growth as a dancer through her school’s rigorous dance program. Although she is no longer a principal dancer at SCAC, Isabella looks forward to reuniting with some of her former teammates for the upcoming We Move in Color production and pursuing her passion for dance. She extends heartfelt thanks to her family and Ms. Sophia Haynes-Cardwell of SCAC for their unwavering support and for helping her become the dancer she is today.

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.

Beyond performance, Stephen is a passionate educator and cultural ambassador. In 1990, he co-founded INTA AFRIKA, a troupe of drummers and dancers that has toured nationwide, and has since taught African history through music in schools and universities throughout Greater Boston. His rhythmic storytelling has taken him from the neighborhoods of Boston to Senegal, where he performed with the Senegalese Ballet, and to national stages, including performances for Nelson Mandela and at the Washington Monument. He performed with Babatunde Olatunji at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. He has also composed music for an adaptation of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. Whether in a classroom or onstage, Stephen’s legacy lives in the rhythms he shares and the students he inspires—gathering all, like the Djembe he reveres, in a healing circle of memory, connection, and joy.

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.

CHOREOGRAPHER

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.

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 ASSISTANT

Kaia is currently a musical theatre major at Emerson College. She’s thrilled to be working on her first production in Boston, and she’s incredibly thankful for her family, and for Wyatt, Marcia, and the entire We Move In Color team.