The Team

Michelle Rivera,  Director of Community Engagement & Education

Born and raised in Queens and a lifelong dancer, Michelle comes to CABD with a wealth of experience in arts administration. She has spent years supporting people of all ages, developing arts and education programming for community-based organizations in all 5 boroughs and NYC public schools, as well as overseeing arts programming in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Michelle’s leadership, experience, and expertise in the non-profit sector includes strategic and programmatic growth, program retention, cross-functional collaboration, budget management, data driven analysis , and community outreach. Since stepping into her role as the Director of Community Engagement & Education at CABD, she has spearheaded and executed innovative strategies that have driven substantial expansion of the community engagement initiative; as well as identifying untapped opportunities and creating targeted outreach initiatives, resulting in significant increases in overall community participation. Under her direction, Every Body Move has expanded its reach and increased programming by over 1,000%.

A former dance studio owner, Michelle’s previous experience in nonprofit leadership and management also includes roles at St. Nicks Alliance, Harlem Children's Zone, and Dancing Classrooms NYC, where she designed and implemented its first series of projects around dance, civic engagement and social justice, in addition to implementing the company's very first series of dance workshops for Black History Month.  Michelle holds dual degrees in English, a B.A. from NYU, and M.A. from CUNY. She embraces her role as a member of the CABD team, where her passion and expertise can merge with the organization's  overall vision and success.

Malaika Holder, Community Engagement/ Every Body Move Program Associate

Malaika Holder is a Hip Hop dancer born and raised in The Bronx. She trained under many Hip Hop crews such as Hip Hop Theory, Heartbreak Crew, Femme Fatale, and many others. She received her BA in Dance from Hunter College, where she studied modern and contemporary forms to inform her own artistic style. Malaika has presented choreography in NYC in showcases such as MODArts’ Collective Thread, Amalgamate’s Artist Series, and in Fertile Ground.

Upon graduating Hunter College, she began working at Hunter as an Administrative Assistant and Production Manager in the Music Department, where she expanded the department’s audience and increased their digital engagement.

Malaika Holder is also a recent M.A. Arts Administration graduate of Baruch College. She left her position in the Music Department, to support dance in NYC. Malaika serves as the Company Manager of BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance and is pleased to join the staff of Camille A. Brown & Dancers as its Community Engagement Program Assistant.

As a BIPOC artist and administrator, Malaika has developed a keen interest in the ecology and equitability of art organizations in NYC. During her time at Baruch, she focused her studies on strategies to cultivate sustainability in organizations through fundraising and collaborations to fully support the communities’ organizations she serves. Her dedication to dance in NYC has led her to move into leadership and support roles outside of her profession such as a Board Member of MODArts Dance Collective and freelance Grant Writer/Consultant for various street style focused organizations.

Ethel A. Calhoun, Community Facilitator

ETHEL CALHOUN…dancer…vocalist…actor…ARTIST. Holding degrees from Lincoln University and New York University, Ethel has over 20 years of performance and dance instruction, from the community level to the New York stage. She choreographs and teaches the full range of dance styles from West African Dance to liturgical dance.

Regularly lending her instructional talents to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and to Camille A. Brown & Dancers as an Every Body Move Teaching Artist/Community Facilitator, Ethel also serves as a movement therapist and counselor to the health care community delivering rehabilitation remedies that restore, rejuvenate and renew.

A member of Abyssinian Baptist Church, Ethel lends her voice in the choir and is a primary soloist there. She has toured in many Gospel groups and was featured in Germany and Austria for three consecutive summers. A certified Personal Trainer with the American Council of Exercise, Ethel is also a fitness professional who customizes client routines for populations from the young to the aged, from the infirmed to the empowered, promoting wellness and fitness through motion.

A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Ethel has entertained in 12 countries spanning 5 continents, has appeared in 8 stage productions and worked on episodes of “Law and Order” and various films. In October of 2019, she became a member of Equity and is excited about performing more in theater. Lastly, Ethel was recently recognized for her artistic contributions to the community by being awarded Omega Psi Phi’s 15th Chapter’s anniversary laureate. Her humanitarian efforts are numerous and continue to keep her as a popular and sought-after artist.

Ekiuwa Asemota, Community Facilitator

EKIUWA ASEMOTA also known as “Eki”, is a choreographer and designer, teaches children and adults to follow their dreams through self- esteem building and performing arts initiatives. She is a proud Hofstra University graduate, B.A. Fine Arts with a minor in Dance. Eki is both a teaching artist/community facilitator for Camille A. Brown and Dancers’ Every Body Move program and has served as a lead teaching artist for over a decade at the Center for Arts Education. In 2015 Eki founded Your Queens, a theatrical company that teaches the historic legacy of African Queens such as Queens Amina of Zaria-Nigeria, Queen Makeda of Ethiopia, Queen Nzingha of Angola, as well as Queens Cleopatra, Nefertiti, Goddess Isis and King Tut of Egypt through storytelling, song, and dance. Each Queen and King adorned in royal costume, share their dynamic history with the audience, while bringing joy, building self-esteem and confidence through beauty, legacy, and power. In the past 5 years, under Eki's creative directorship, Your Queens has provided its services to over 200 organizations including public schools, counseling centers, special events, art/music festivals, colleges and more. It has been featured in NY Newsday, Elle Magazine, The Village Voice, YV Magazine, The Huffington Post, Essence, The Root, Hot97, Cuny TV, CBSN, News 12 and various online articles through social media.

Maxine Montilus, Community Facilitator

MAXINE MONTILUS is a native of Brooklyn, New York and a first-generation Haitian-American.  Maxine has a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance from The University of the Arts, an M.A. in Arts Management from City University London, and an M.A. in Dance Education from Hunter College via the Lincoln Center Scholars program.  

As a dancer, Maxine has performed with Ase Dance Theatre Collective, Balasole Dance Company, KaNu Dance Theater and Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits. Maxine performed with SpeakDance Collective in the Festival of Art and Folklore in Santiago de Cuba in April 2016. She was featured in the theatrical production “La Sirene: Rutas de Azucar” produced by Lukumi Arts in December 2016 at JACK Art Space, and in February 2017 at HERE Arts Center.  She also performed in Jean Claude Eugene’s production “Zatrap: HaitiTrauma” at The Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland in October 2017 and Queens Museum Theatre in May 2018.

As a choreographer, Maxine has presented work at the "Being Bushified!" culture and community series hosted by Urban Bush Women, "The Makings of You" (at Dance New Amsterdam) and "Epic Narratives" (at The Actors Fund Arts Center) with Tamara LaDonna Moving Spirits, "Shadow of a Pearl" and "Malgre Tout" with KaNu Dance Theater at Jamaica Performing Arts Center, The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, Harlem School for the Arts with Haiti Cultural Exchange for their annual Selebrasyon Festival, and the inaugural Rex Nettleford Arts Conference in Kingston, Jamaica.

Maxine is also a member of Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE, through which she has presented choreography in their annual New Traditions Showcase from 2015-2017.  In 2014, she choreographed BallyBeg Production's third play and Equity-approved showcase, "The Taste Of It", and was a 2015 nominee for Outstanding Choreography/Movement in The New York Innovative Theater Awards for her work in the production. In 2017, Maxine served as the Afro Cuban/Haitian Folklore consultant for choreographer Camille A. Brown in her work for the Tony-Award winning musical “Once On This Island”.

Pia Monique Murray, Community Facilitator

PIA MONIQUE MURRAY is known as a jack of all trades in the dance industry, having been a choreographer, performer, teacher, arts administrator, stage, tour/company manager, and rehearsal assistant. She has worked with nora chipaumire, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Paloma McGregor, Dianne McIntyre, Blondell Cummings, Vangeline, Katsura Kan, Pedro Ruiz, and Michelle Gibson in various capacities. Pia has been a teaching artist for Urban Arts Partnership, Dreamyard Project, Brooklyn Arts Council, Dancewave, and Mark DeGarmo & Dancers. As a Lincoln Center Scholar she obtained a master’s degree in dance education from Hunter College and graduated with high honors as a member of the National Honors Society for Dance. She performs contemporary dance company with RAKIA!, traditional dance from Côte d’Ivoire with Vado Diomande’s Kotchegna Dance Company, and leads Pia Monique Murray Dance Collective (PMMDC). As an educator Pia’s pedagogy combines art education (expanding student experiences through various art media) and aesthetic education (engaging with works of art through various learning modalities). By creating, performing, responding to, and connecting to dance, students learn to apply tools, skills, and concepts in various situations in order to achieve a goal or express an idea. Pia’s classes don’t just develop strong and flexible dancers, but more importantly smart dancers that can apply their acquired skills to any endeavor they pursue in life.

Unique Clay, Community Facilitator

Unique Clay is a dance/choreographer born & raised in NYC. Dancing for 10+ years, Unique is stylistically versatile and constantly honing his craft. Currently he serves as a Co-artistic director/choreographer of HeartBreak Crew, performing alongside the Queen of house music Crystal Waters, in addition to lending his talents to multiple underground artists. He has choreographed & danced for shows such as Prelude Dance Competition, SoB’s, Sybarite, the Peridance bi-annual showcase & more. Unique’s ultimate goal is to share his creativity & knowledge of dance with the world.

Dalmar Nation, Community Facilitator

Dalmar Nation is a young entrepreneur who has worked with organizations like BuildOn, KR3T’S, Bloodline Dance Theater, and many more. After helping build schools in third world countries he started to exercise his talents for the arts more directly. His dream is to become a well rounded entertainer and to teach youths healthy ways on how to achieve their dreams. Bronx born, Brooklyn bred, creative who is trained in the styles of krump, West African dance, & dancehall. Having many trades in other modalities such as being a holistic healer, musician, & teacher. Nation invests most of his time in his art of dance aspiring to further develop his dance skills & professional work. As a creative he combines his holistic remedies in his dance techniques to incorporate a healthy lifestyle for other dancers and artists as well.

Fatou Diouf, Community Facilitator

Fatou Diouf is a multi-faceted Black creative, whose expertise and passion are in dance, theater,poetry, arts management, and community leadership. She was born and raised in the Bronx and is of Senegalese descent. Fatou's work relies heavily on social justice, uplifting others, and celebrating her West African heritage and culture. She is a recent graduate of Purchase College, where she earned dual degrees in Arts Management and Theater & Performance, along with an award for Distinguished Black StudentLeader. She also trained in musical theater at DreamYard Art Center, Shenandoah University and Manhattanville College.

As a community leader, Fatou pioneered, organized and facilitated informal and formal events at Purchase College for Black and Brown students varying from Afro-Fusion Dance Club, in which she founded, to becoming the co-chair/artistic director of Afrodisiac Arts Festival. Fatou is excited about joining the Camille A. Brown & Dancers company as a community facilitator/teaching artists to further her craft, artistry and to inspire and be inspired.

Carmen Carriker, Community Facilotator

Carmen Carriker is a distinguished alumna of the Fordham University Alvin Ailey BFA program, showcasing her exceptional talents as a professional dancer, actress, and educator in the vibrant heart of New York City. Her passion for the arts extends beyond the spotlight, as she actively contributes to the enrichment of her community through her involvement with esteemed institutions like Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy and NIA Community Outreach in Brooklyn.

Having honed her skills as an apprentice for renowned ensembles such as Urban Bush Women and Obediah Wright Balance Dance Theater, Carmen's artistic journey has graced prestigious stages, including The Cotton Club with The Sophisticated Ladies. Her artistic ventures have also extended to producing remarkable showcases like CeCeBrown Sugah Revue, and her creative contributions have been featured on acclaimed platforms like the HBO Series Random Acts of Flyness and the captivating film Passing on Netflix. 

Carmen Carriker is also a certified Kemetic Yoga instructor, a 200hr registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance, and a Pilates mat and prenatal pilates expert. As a Kukuwa African Fitness Instructor, she leaves a lasting impact on her students. Carmen's holistic journey includes certifications in chakra healing, emotional freedom techniques, and Reiki. She is the founder of Crown Soul Yoga and the creative force behind Crown Soul Creations, a crochet fashion line featured at NY Fashion Week Swimwear Edition 2022. Carmen's workshops, like "Find Your Inner Goddess" and "The Maat Series," inspire self-discovery and justice-seeking. Grateful for her successes, she eagerly seeks to empower communities worldwide with her profound wisdom and talent, and is thrilled to become part of the CABD family as teaching artist for Everybody Move.