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ABDB Board of Directors
Dr. Chidinma Osuagwu
Chidinma “Chi-Chi” Osuagwu, MD is a Boston native from Hyde Park, MA, with a rich and dynamic background in both medicine and dance. She is currently an internal medicine resident at Harvard Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she is deeply committed to Global Health, Liberatory Medicine, and Anti-Colonial approaches to healthcare.
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Chi-Chi’s passion for dance began in her youth as a Nigerian immersed in her traditional dance and music, which laid the foundation for her artistic journey. During her undergraduate studies at Tufts University, where she earned a degree in Africana Studies, Community Health, and Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Studies, she founded, choreographed, and captained the African Dance Collective (2012–2016), now COCOA. Under her leadership, the group performed and competed at colleges and community events across Massachusetts, showcasing the richness of African culture through dance.
In 2015, she further honed her skills while training with the Dance.
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Department at the University of Ghana-Legon during a year abroad, specializing in traditional West African dance styles. Her training culminated in a performance at the university’s semiannual dance production, Asem Yi Dika.
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In 2017, she founded Afrobeats Dance Boston (ABDB), a company committed to making dance accessible and affordable for children and adults. She served as Executive Director from 2017 to 2020, returned to the role in 2024, and now serves as Chief Strategist and Chair of the Board of Directors. She also co-directs the revitalized Afrobeats Dance Philly, reestablished in 2020 to serve the Philadelphia community with the same mission of accessibility and cultural celebration.
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Chi-Chi continued her passion for dance teaching, directing, while pursuing her medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine, where she co-directed Afrobeats Dance Philly until its recent hiatus.
With her return for residency, she returned to an active role of ABDB in 2023, now as Chief Strategist and Chair of the Board
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Cynthia Odiah, MBA
Cynthia “Cynn” Odiah is a Boston/South Shore native. Her role in the company as the Director of Operations are the day to day tasks to ensure things are run smoothly. She handles client bookings and company financials. She started with ABDB in 2018 as a manager.
She is Nigerian and has been a part of the dance community since 2006 as a dancer in my high school and college dance teams.
Her first Afrobeats class in the community was in 2017 at the Haley House. During that time she was excited to see Afrobeats Dance finally in Boston. Her passion for dance and music with her organizational skills has led her to ABDB.
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Dr. Charnice Charmant, MD
Charnice Charmant is a New York native who believes that dance is a conduit to pride, culture, and community. Born to a Barbadian mother and Haitian father, she grew up fully immersed in the music and dances of calypso, soca, kompa, and dancehall.
She began formal dance training at the age of 3 studying ballet, tap, and jazz. At the age of 10, Charnice was awarded a dance scholarship with the National Dance Institute, where she was introduced to modern, contemporary, and West African dance.
In college, Charnice studied modern dance and did her written and performance theses on dances of the African diaspora, how they lend themselves to modern dance and the fusion of the two. After graduating from college, Charnice found freedom and solace in actively taking Afrobeats, Soca, and Dancehall classes throughout New York and Boston.
After moving to Boston in 2017, she would find herself serving as the Creative Director of Afrobeats Dance Boston where she was one of many talented choreographers, dancers, and instructors on the performance company.
Ngenyi Stephanie Beja’s
Ngenyi Stephanie Beja’s love for African sounds and rhythms began in Limbe, Cameroon, where her deep connection to the continent’s musical heritage took root. This passion flourished at Northeastern University, where she joined the Northeastern African Students Organization (NASO) Dance Team in 2016, captivating audiences with her energy and dedication to African dance.
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Stephanie joined Afrobeats Dance Boston (ABDB) in 2018 as one of its inaugural auditioned members, quickly rising to serve as Executive Director from 2020 to 2022. Leading through the challenges of a global pandemic, she ensured ABDB remained a vibrant hub for the Afro-dance community, fostering creativity and resilience.
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Her dance journey spans the globe. After earning a BA in International Affairs in 2019, Stephanie received a Fulbright Fellowship in Brussels, Belgium, where she joined Afrohouse Belgium under renowned dancer Jeny Bonsenge, blending Cameroonian roots with international styles. Returning to Boston in 2021, she pursued a Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School while advancing her dance career, describing herself as a “dancer moonlighting as a graduate student.”
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Now a U.S. Foreign Service officer and Thomas R. Pickering Fellow, Stephanie blends artistry and diplomacy to bridge cultures globally. A board member for ABDB, she remains committed to its growth while collaborating with Afro dancers worldwide, enriching her craft from Peru to China.
Executives Team
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Victoria Adinkra, a proud native of Ghana, began her journey in dance during middle school as a member of the In The Mak’n (ITM) step and dance team. Her passion and natural flair for movement quickly propelled her to leadership roles. At Tufts University, she emerged as a driving force in the dance community, serving as both a member and captain of the African Dance Team and the All-Female Step Team, where she cultivated her unique blend of cultural pride and artistic expression.
As the Co-Executive Director of Afrobeats Dance Boston (ABDB), Victoria demonstrated extraordinary leadership, particularly during the challenges of the pandemic. Through her guidance, ABDB adapted to virtual platforms, maintaining its community’s vibrancy while expanding its reach to a global audience. Victoria spearheaded initiatives that kept the spirit of African dance alive, ensuring the organization not only survived but thrived in unprecedented times.
Currently pursuing an MBA in Health Administration with a focus on Public Health Integration and Dance, Victoria is redefining the possibilities of dance as a medium for health advocacy, cultural preservation, and social impact. Her academic pursuits aim to bridge the gap between public health and the transformative power of movement, with a focus on empowering underserved communities through dance initiatives.
Victoria’s impressive repertoire includes performances on national and international stages, such as opening for Davido and CKay, gracing the iconic Afrochella festival in Ghana, and delivering unforgettable routines at the Boston Celtics halftime show. Specializing in Ghanaian street
Victoria Adinkra
(Creative Executive Co. Director)
Lakeisha, a proud Haitian-American Afro dancer, is your go-to source for unparalleled dance energy and joy. While her love for dance has always been undeniable, her professional journey began in earnest in 2017 after three transformative years with Boston College’s traditional African dance team, Presenting Africa To yoU (PATU). It was during this time that she fell deeply in love with African dance, igniting a lifelong passion for the art form.
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As a co-leader of Afrobeats Dance Boston (ABDB), Lakeisha has solidified her presence as a semi-professional dancer and visionary in the Afro-dance space. She has captivated audiences across New England and beyond, including opening for Davido, performing as a featured halftime act for the Boston Celtics annually, and bringing her vibrant energy to weddings, schools, and corporate events. Her leadership and creativity have helped elevate ABDB to new heights, fostering a thriving community of dancers and enthusiasts.
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Lakeisha is relentless in her pursuit of mastery, challenging herself by participating in classes across a variety of Afro styles and attending Afro-dance conferences worldwide. This dedication to continuous learning allows her to seamlessly blend diverse Afro-dance techniques into stunning, original choreography. Through her innovative approach, she crafts performances that celebrate the depth and richness of African dance traditions while infusing her own unique style.
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Whether performing on a grand stage or sharing her knowledge in an intimate class, she aims to create an atmosphere of joy, freedom, and self-expression, a true Afro cultural ambassador.
Lakeisha St. Joy
(Creative Executive Co. Director)
Patricia Aline Louijamé, BSN, RN
(Public Relations)
Patricia is a registered nurse, dancer, writer and fierce advocate for the tending and stoking of all intrinsic fires. She believes that when you show up for your passions, they, indelibly, show up for you.
Dance, in its myriad of forms, has shown her how perfectly self-expression succors the art and science of healing.
To her, the two should not operate in silos but instead work in tandem. So, when she’s not on the frontlines of healthcare, she is writing, reading, dancing and serving as an executive board member of ABDBs public relations team.
Her proclivity towards all things creative is resonant in the ways she nurtures patients, her community and her artistic endeavors.
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Patrice Anne
(Public Relations)
Patrice is a Dancer, Creator, Model, Software Engineer, and Executive Marketing Coordinator for Afrobeats Dance Boston. Her love for dance began in childhood and has since ignited a lifelong passion that shapes everything she does.
She believes that when you follow what excites and energizes you, everything else aligns with it. Dance, in its many forms, has taught her the power of self-expression, through love and culture. Whether she's developing innovative software, crafting creative marketing strategies, or creating art in front of the camera, she brings a unique blend of creativity and precision to each endeavor.
In her role with Afrobeats Dance Boston, she channels her passion for both art and strategy, guiding visual projects that resonate deeply with communities and audiences alike. When she's not immersed in her professional work, you’ll find her dancing, creating, and continuing to connect with others who share her drive for artistic and personal growth.
Hershey Bliss
(Creative Coordinator)
Hershey Bliss is Afrobeats Dance Boston Creative Coordinator. She is a Bahamian native with Haitian roots that was raised in Boston, Ma.
Hershey is well known in the New England area for her innovative twist of the latest dancehall and Afro Dance and has been syndicated as Virginia’s 2017 Dancehall Queen.
She has worked with some of the biggest names such as Mr. Vegas, QQ and Adekunle Gold and Dexta Daps. When she is not providing the ultimate dance experience on set or hosting various events she is teaching dancehall workshops and Community classes held by Afrobeats Dance Boston during the weekends in Boston, Ma.
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Ikiah
(Creative Cordinator)
Born in Quincy, MA, and of Haitian descent, Ikiah began dancing at the age of three, exploring a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop.
Throughout Ikiah’s time at Regis College, she was an active member of the Regis College Dance Company, where she immersed herself in a diverse range of dance forms such as Haitian folklore, kompa, Afrobeats, contemporary, hip-hop, musical theatre, and Latin dance. In the summer of 2021, Ikiah joined ABDB, where she currently serves as a Creative Coordinator, further honing her craft and deepening her passion for dance and cultural expression.
Ikiah has always been drawn to dance as a means of self-expression, believing that through movement, she can communicate what words cannot and connect with others, regardless of language. In addition to her dance work, she is a behavioral health clinician, providing services to individuals in a community health center setting.
Dominique J. Thelismond, MSW
(ABDB Emeritus)
Dominique is a wife, mother, and multifaceted creative. Her lifelong passion for music and dance has shaped much of her journey, and in recent years, she has expanded her artistic pursuits to include mixed media, exploring photography, graphic design, and social media management.
With a professional background in social work and her current role as a dental practice manager, Dominique brings a diverse skill set and a wealth of experience to her leadership endeavors. She is deeply committed to the values of community and artistic expression, which continue to guide and inspire her work.
Dominique’s dance journey began with interpretive and liturgical dance in church and expanded to hip-hop during high school, where she performed at pep rallies and talent shows. At Boston College, she joined the hip-hop dance team Phaymus, performing, choreographing, and eventually leading the team as president in her senior year. After graduation, Dominique reconnected with her passion for dance by participating in Boston’s vibrant dance community, ultimately joining Afrobeats Dance Boston in the fall of 2018.
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OUR DANCERS
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