Jemilah Jones

The arts have always been a part of Jemilah’s life. Her father was a musician, so she was always around artist, at concerts, studio sessions, band rehearsals, sound checks, and traveling with her father. In first grade, Jemilah’s mom wanted to enroll her in dance but she couldn’t find any classes with teachers that looked like me or taught any dance forms of my culture. So, she started her own business called the Health Connection now Ashanti Cultural Arts it was a place for children to take dance classes in tap, ballet, jazz, African dance, karate, modeling and music lessons. They also offered aerobics and nutrition classes for adults.

Jemilah started dancing at 8 years old. In Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and West African dance. Jemilah was a part of the Ashanti Performing group (still in existence today) traveled throughout S. Florida performing. They appeared on National television shows and other media outlets. Jemilah was a child performer for the Florida Opera Company Productions, the Brazilian Ballet Company, and the Tony Lodge Dance Company.

Jemilah started teaching dance at 15 years old. She continued to teach and choreograph for different arts programs while in college, and for College Pageants and Campus events. She also started the first Collegiate Dance Ministry in Tallahassee at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church- Vessels of Virtue was composed of colleges students from Florida State University, Tallahassee Community College and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Jemilah choreographed for different groups and schools for competitions. For eight consecutive years, her dance programs won 1st place for Black Heritage Talent Contest for the 11th District Young Peoples Department for African Methodist Churches. She also received numerous awards for dance and in competitions. In Atlanta, Georgia Jemilah was an Instructor/Dance Leader for New Life Dance all levels. She continued to teach as an educator and teach dance in Atlanta for five years.

Jemilah currently is:
-The Artistic and Programs Director for Ashanti Cultural Arts -Co-Partner for Kuumba Dance Academy for the City of Fort Lauderdale -Dance Leader with The REIGN Dance Company
-Author of Dig Deep Dance Workbooks and Biblical Curriculum

-Dance Consultant for AME Churches in the South East Region District 7

Dance Style Experience- Praise Dance and Pageantry, Ballet, ECE Early Movement and Learning, West African, Modern Dance,

Education Florida A&M University- Tallahassee, Florida- Bachelor of Science Education

State of Georgia Certification for Early Childhood Education Directors in Fort Lauderdale, currently the Artistic and Programs Director for Ashanti Cultural Arts, Inc. and Dance Curriculum Author of Dig Deep.