LAKIESHA'S ARTISTIC BIO


ABOUT LaKiesha:

LaKiesha Golden has a performing artist for more than 15 years with a specialization in Congolese, Central African Dance. Ms. Golden returned as an Artist in Residence, teaching dance in Oakland Unified School District high schools via Dimensions Dance Theater. At the end of each school year, she co-produces a community concert that's performed by the high school students. LaKiesha was one of the core members for six consecutive years (until 2006) of "Fua Dia Congo" Dance Company, which means "heritage of the Congo", directed by the late Malonga Casquelourd in Oakland, CA. Among many performances in the local area, she has performed for events such as Carijama, Art and Soul Festival, Collage des Cultures Africaines, Black Choreographer's Festival and SF Ethnic Dance Festival. Also, LaKiesha was featured in a contemporary Congolese (Soukous) music video that was released in the summer 2005 entitled "Knockout" by Shimita El Diego, she was the choreographer for the production as well.

Previous to residing in Oakland, CA, LaKiesha's dancing career was dedicated to Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theatre, which means "dancers of the Congo", directed by Biza Sompa in Ann Arbor, MI. Here, she begin her journey of studying Congolese in 1994. She was the Director's Assistant and lead member for four of the six years she studied with the company. LaKiesha was the Assistant Choreographer for "Liyanja", a theatrical work produced by Bichini Bia Congo at the University of Michigan's True Blood Theatre in 1999. In the same year, she also choreographed a dance segment in the play, "A Woman Called Truth" at Eastern Michigan University. Among many performances in the Michigan area, Ms. Golden has performed at The Ark (Ann Arbor), Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity's Miss Black and Gold Pageant (Ypsilanti), the annual Afro-World Festival (Detroit), Medical College of Ohio (Toledo), and Lisanga Ya Bato Dance Camp in New York.

Astonishingly, LaKiesha had the opportunity of studying Congolese dance and culture in Congo-Brazza (RC), Central Africa in 2005 and in Paris, France in 2002 and 2003. Due to living in the Midwest, Ms. Golden also learned an urban style of Ballroom Dance, known as Detroit-style or Motown-style Ballroom that she gained a great passion for. Among training through Congolese and other African dance classes, LaKiesha has had experience with other forms of dance such as Afro-Haitian, West African, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Modern, Dancehall, Salsa, Motown-style Ballroom, and other social dances.

Moving forward, LaKiesha is the Manager/Coordinator for the Congolese Dance and Drum Festival held consecutively 2006-2009 and currently scheduled for fall 2013 in Oakland , CA. Currently, as an independent artist she teaches workshops for teens and adults, performs, and organizes performing arts events as she continues to study Congolese and other dance forms. At present, she performs with Haitian dance performing companies, Rara Tou Limen, directed by Portsha Jefferson, and El-Wah Movement, directed by Colette Eloi, both in Oakland, CA.