Cultural Immigrant Initiative at P.S.69Q (2024)

Sadi Weir (teaching artist) is a New York City based artist and recently graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in May of 2023, with a bachelor of fine arts in dance and a minor in business of entertainment and media industries. Sadi is a member of Darrah Carr Dance, founded by Darrah Carr and The Fluid Creature Collective, founded by Lo Poppy. She has worked with choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Bill T. Jones, Andy Blankenbuehler, Elizabeth Parkinson, and Scott Wise and is represented by Bloc Talent Agency in New York City. She has taught for the Tisch Future Dancers, Dance Makers in the City, and the Warwick Center for Performing Arts. Sadi also coaches fitness classes at Solidcore and is part of the junior board of Notes In Motion, a non-profit organization created by Amanda Selywn.

Yahaya Kamate (teaching artist) became interested in traditional dance and drumming as a child in Côte d’Ivoire, and, as a teenager, began formal training with his country’s National Ballet. He has performed with Fotemoban Dance Company, Djensia Group, and Camodgen of N’guatta Dolikro Dance Company of Cote d’Ivoire, and Affoubenou Sakassou Dance Company of Senegal. For over 25 years he has worked as lead dancer and choreographer for several companies in the United States, including Kulu Mele Dance Company and The Seventh Principle; and he has taught dance with organizations such as Djoniba Dance & Drum Center, Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Harlem School of the Arts, Center for Modern Dance Education, and City Lore. 

While working in the tri state area for over 25 years, teaching artist Yahaya Kamate has refined quite a gift of teaching. He teaches in public and private schools, hospital schools as well as group homes, dance studios, and yoga studios. He performs on stage and has a personality that even reaches the souls of kids and adults who need an outlet to express themselves. He promotes a “drums, no drugs no guns” slogan and has a positive effect on those less fortunate and challenged individuals in group homes and rehabs as well. He has a way to build their confidence up by honing in on any part they can grasp giving them that spot to shine.