Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, PT, DPT, OCS, CFMT

Interim Director of Therapy Services at Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation and CEO of Synthesis Physical Therapy. Licensed physical therapist for 20 years. Has worked with Ailey School staff, students, Ailey II, Ailey I and several Broadway shows. providing in-house and backstage coverage.For 10 years she was part of Biomechanic research team at the Analysis of Dance And Movement (ADAM) Center conductiong movement and epidemiologic research to aid in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injury in dancers.

Dr. Danelle Dickson, PT, DPT, OCS

Owner at Performance Plus Physical Therapy in Washington DC. Licensed physical therapist for 14 years with specialty in sports, orthopedics and performing arts. Has worked in the clinical, research and educational fields with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Little Dancer Musical, local DMV dance companies, University of Maryland, Howard University and University of Delaware

Dr. Marissa Schaeffer, PT, DPT, CSCS

Owner of Marissa T Schaeffer Physical Therapy, PC in NYC. Licensed PT & NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Has worked with dancers from Broadway to ballet serving such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, José Limón Dance Company, Doug Varone and much more! Has written and contributed to dance articles in Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine & Dance Studio Life

Renee Robinson, Dancer, Lecturer, Educator

Ms. Robinson is a lecturer at Yale University where she teaches a course she developed entitled “Embodying Story”.  She is guest faculty at The Juilliard School and serves as assistant to Irene Dowd, anatomy/kinesiology faculty. Ms. Robinson is an Irene Dowd Teaching Fellow. Ms. Robinson is also faculty at The Ailey School and Master Teaching Artist with Ailey Artsin Education teaching Ailey dance repertory in, The Ailey School, Italy, and Paris. Amongst the many dance techniques Ms. Robinson teaches, she is a Floor-Barre mentors, and sits of the board of the Zena Rommett Floor-Barre Foundation.

Bradley Shelver (South Africa)

Trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and at The Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK) and in projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 11th season as a principal dancer with the The Metropolitan Opera Ballet.Jazz Academy (Russia) among others. He is a certified ballet teacher with the ABT National Training Curriculum. He was a contributing writer for Dance Spirit Magazine and His book, “Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton” is available worldwide.

Alexandria Johnson

Alexandria “Alyxx” Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist and native of Dallas. TX. She graduated from the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University BFA program in Dance with a minor in Mathematics, and holds an MFA in Performance and Performance Studies from Pratt Institute. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, movement educator, and a certified Zena Rommett Floor-Barre®️Instructor.

Clifton Brown

Clifton Brown (Goodyear, AZ) began his dance training at Take 5 Dance Academy and continued in the first class of the Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance program. Mr. Brown began his professional career when he joined the Ailey company in 1999 and served as choreographic assistant to Judith Jamison. He has also danced with Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and was a founding member and rehearsal director for Jessica Lang Dance. He was nominated in the U.K. for a Critics Circle National Dance Award for Best Male Dancer and received a Black Theater Arts Award as well as a New York Dance and Performance Award (“The Bessies”). As a guest artist Mr. Brown has performed with Miami City Ballet, Rome Opera Ballet, Nevada Ballet, and Parsons Dance Company. He has set the work of Alvin Ailey, Earl Mosley, and Jessica Lang on various companies around the world. Television appearances as a guest artist include So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. He has had the privilege of performing at the White House for President Obama. Mr. Brown rejoined the company in 2017.

Akua Noni Parker

Dancer, teacher, model, and chef, Akua knew she wanted to pursue a career in the artistic field at an early age. After graduating high school, Akua would be invited to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she would embark upon what would become a lifelong career in dance.
Akua has performed as a leading company member with prestigious dance companies such as: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet San Jose.
During her dance career, Akua also took on the role of teaching professional company class for Jessica Lang Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and subsequently coaches young, aspiring dancers.
Along with having an artistic inclination, Akua has always had an interest in the business aspect of being an artist. Her tenacity landed her the appointment of AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) Union Representative where she assisted her fellow artists in administrative work and contract negotiations.
As Akua also has a profound appreciation for health and wellness. Her travels landed her in Spain, where she studied at The Vegan Gastronomy Institue and became a Certified Vegan Chef.
Akua uses her artistic experience, knowledge of wellness and love of all things DIY to guide others as a health and lifestyle coach.

Dr. Sheyi Ojofeitimi, PT, DPT, OCS, CFMT

Interim Director of Therapy Services at Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation and CEO of Synthesis Physical Therapy. Licensed physical therapist for 20 years. Has worked with Ailey School staff, students, Ailey II, Ailey I and several Broadway shows. providing in-house and backstage coverage.For 10 years she was part of Biomechanic research team at the Analysis of Dance And Movement (ADAM) Center conductiong movement and epidemiologic research to aid in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injury in dancers. She is co-author on several dance medicine related peer-reviewed journal articles.A Certified Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT),Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)Dr. Ojofeitimi has received advanced level training in The Thoracic Ring Approach. She is also trained in visceral mobilization, craniosacraltherapy,and integrative dry needling (IDN). Dr. Ojofeitimi is a specialist in the treatment of lumbo-pelvic/sacro-coccygeal dysfunctions and has a passionate interest in connection between dysbiosis (gut dysfunction) and chronic pain/disease.Using awhole-body functional approach that incorporates nutrition, Dr. Ojofeitimi treats each client as a unique individual.

Dr. Danelle Dickson, PT, DPT, OCS

Owner at Performance Plus Physical Therapy in Washington DC. Licensed physical therapist for 14 years with specialty in sports, orthopedics and performing arts. Has worked in the clinical, research and educational fields with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Little Dancer Musical, local DMV dance companies, University of Maryland, Howard University and University of Delaware

Dr. Marissa Schaeffer, PT, DPT, CSCS

Owner of Marissa T Schaeffer Physical Therapy, PC in NYC. Licensed PT & NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Has worked with dancers from Broadway to ballet serving such companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, José Limón Dance Company, Doug Varone and much more! Has written and contributed to dance articles in Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine & Dance Studio Life

Renee Robinson, Dancer, Lecturer, Educator

Ms. Robinson is a lecturer at Yale University where she teaches a course  she developed entitled “Embodying Story”.  She is guest faculty at The  Juilliard School and serves as assistant to Irene Dowd,  anatomy/kinesiology faculty. Ms. Robinson is an Irene Dowd Teaching  Fellow. Ms. Robinson is also faculty at The Ailey School and Master  Teaching Artist with Ailey Artsin Education teaching Ailey dance  repertory in, The Ailey School, Italy, and Paris. Amongst the many dance  techniques Ms. Robinson teaches, she is a Floor-Barre mentors, and sits  of the board of the Zena Rommett Floor-Barre Foundation.

Bradley Shelver (South Africa)

Trained at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg and at The  Ailey School in New York. He has danced with the Ailey II, Elisa Monte  Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca  Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater (UK) and in  projects with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance,  The Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, and in productions with the  Mark Morris Dance Group. He is in his 11th season as a principal dancer  with the The Metropolitan Opera Ballet.Jazz Academy (Russia) among  others. He is a certified ballet teacher with the ABT National Training  Curriculum. He was a contributing writer for Dance Spirit Magazine and  His book, “Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton” is  available worldwide.

Alexandria Johnson

Alexandria “Alyxx” Johnson is a multidisciplinary artist and native of  Dallas. TX. She graduated from the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University BFA  program in Dance with a minor in Mathematics, and holds an MFA in  Performance and Performance Studies from Pratt Institute. She is a NASM  Certified Personal Trainer, movement educator, and a certified Zena  Rommett Floor-Barre®️Instructor.

Clifton Brown

Clifton Brown (Goodyear, AZ) began his dance training at Take 5 Dance  Academy and continued in the first class of the Ailey/Fordham BFA in  Dance program. Mr. Brown began his professional career when he joined  the Ailey company in 1999 and served as choreographic assistant to  Judith Jamison. He has also danced with Earl Mosley's Diversity of  Dance, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, and was a founding member and  rehearsal director for Jessica Lang Dance. He was nominated in the U.K.  for a Critics Circle National Dance Award for Best Male Dancer and  received a Black Theater Arts Award as well as a New York Dance and  Performance Award (“The Bessies”). As a guest artist Mr. Brown has  performed with Miami City Ballet, Rome Opera Ballet, Nevada Ballet, and  Parsons Dance Company. He has set the work of Alvin Ailey, Earl Mosley,  and Jessica Lang on various companies around the world. Television  appearances as a guest artist include So You Think You Can Dance and  Dancing With The Stars. He has had the privilege of performing at the  White House for President Obama. Mr. Brown rejoined the company in 2017.

Akua Noni Parker

Dancer, teacher, model, and chef, Akua knew she wanted to pursue a  career in the artistic field at an early age. After graduating high  school, Akua would be invited to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she  would embark upon what would become a lifelong career in dance.
Akua  has performed as a leading company member with prestigious dance  companies such as: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), Dance  Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet San Jose.
During  her dance career, Akua also took on the role of teaching professional  company class for Jessica Lang Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin  Ailey American Dance Theater, and subsequently coaches young, aspiring  dancers.
Along with having an artistic inclination, Akua has always  had an interest in the business aspect of being an artist. Her tenacity  landed her the appointment of AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists)  Union Representative where she assisted her fellow artists in  administrative work and contract negotiations.
As Akua also has a  profound appreciation for health and wellness. Her travels landed her in  Spain, where she studied at The Vegan Gastronomy Institue and became a  Certified Vegan Chef.
Akua uses her artistic experience, knowledge of  wellness and love of all things DIY to guide others as a health and  lifestyle coach.