<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9" xmlns:image="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-image/1.1" xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:video="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-video/1.1">
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/home</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>1.0</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-04-01</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1590444132344-ECUQCNL4QLR4Z89PJCML/AyodeleYouthProgram.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1590968048660-6N0S7RS04K1MG82H67CH/AyoImania.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1652574829547-3UXUAFA73ANLA5TNIE4Q/Ayodele_138_MK_Resized.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813576242-58X3BUXWQVPCS2JOOPE7/Drums1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813545808-387M87FS3OGJAWL0DCUV/Kotejuga.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813561916-626S4G8D2CI20Z43V5M2/Zaouli.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813586868-P8HBU6DXTM577YFLSTU3/Fight.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813584187-Z8UBPWNEVH6N5XPKJEAI/Orisha.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813561689-87F2JEJPLJ276MYSQJ69/MySistersKeepers.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1595813996792-05G98GYVX59YJVEG5ZBX/Bougarabou.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home</image:title>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/c266b0dc-b582-4e91-8d1e-4cedc8219221/Ayodele+Gala+Dinner+Instagram+Post.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/be7f064d-2cfd-487e-8725-2e25a2eb22be/DSC_7811.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/cebbabeb-c59d-4436-ac19-d5972c7fffbb/Carnival.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Home - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/ayp</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-06-24</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1599535819016-E0ASDP0HG9TA99OWRYA9/DSC_7517.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Ayodele Youth Program</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/contact</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-04-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1599513947456-MA86W1W9AKKVBK884KCW/Ayo.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Contact</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/what-we-offer</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-07</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/who-we-are</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-05-03</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/2a988d3f-3467-4992-93d2-ef3900b33093/T.+Ayo+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>T. Ayo Alston, Executive/Artistic Director New York native and Chicago implant, T. Ayo Alston is a quintessential educator, choreographer, and artist who specializes in a theatrical style of West African drum and dance that emphasizes the power and strength of women and the community. As the Founder and Executive Director of Ayodele Drum &amp; Dance, Ayo has created a vibrant performance and training organization dedicated to empowering women through the affirmation of self-confidence and strength. Ayo has dedicated their career to blending traditional African dance forms with contemporary styles, using their art to foster community and create meaningful cultural work. A 2018 3Arts Awardee and 2022 USA Artists Fellowship recipient, Ayo's queered, Afro-diasporic work is centered on building supportive, inclusive and healthy communities through dance and performance. Ayo served as Dance Captain for 10 years, artistically maturing under Amaniyea Payne at Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. They have studied with Master teachers such as M’bemba Bangoura, Mouminatou Camara, Rosangela  Silvestre, and Youssouf Koumbassa in West Africa, Brazil and around the States. They have also performed and trained with companies such as Afriky Lolo, Drum Cafe West, G’bassikolo, Les Amazones de Guinée, Les Ballets Bagata and Les Merveilles de Guinée. Ayo continues to honor all of their teachers and is grateful for the knowledge they have instilled. As an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago and faculty at The University of Michigan, Ayo is pioneering the integration of African dance into academic settings, developing curricula that thrive in prestigious schools in Chicago.  Their work in academia is laying the foundation for African dance to be recognized as an integral part of the broader educational landscape. Ayo began their MFAIA journey at Goddard College and will graduate and present their thesis, Kaleidoscope  Eyes: Healing and Revealing the Blind Spots in West African Dance, Identities, and Spiritual Fluidity, December 2025.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/664fd6d8-2da9-47b6-a4ff-2b2257e82c87/Imania%2BFatima%2BDetry.webp</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Imania Fatima Detry, Assistant Artistic Director Imania Fatima Detry is a Chicago-born and bred performing and teaching artist with a concentration in West African Dance. With over 20 years of professional training and performance with Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago as a principal artist and as the Assistant Artistic Director of Ayodele Drum and Dance, she truly enjoys and works in the effort to preserve African dance and culture as well as share her current experiences and style in her teaching and performing. Her style and experiences have given her the opportunity to work with different artist and platforms including Chance the Rapper, Fatima Robinson, Fox Productions, and more. Imania has expanded her choreography with fusion styles that include: Djembe and DounDance, Sabar, House, Chicago Footwork, Afrobeat and Afrobeats.  Imania’s artistic talents also include costume design and choreography. Her contributions are displayed through Ayodele Drum and Dance and other artistic platforms across Chicago and the world.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/4b3a3c5d-075a-4bdc-b121-4f77dcc8a75e/Patrice+Gaitors+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Patrice Gaitors, Finance Manager Patrice Gaitors made her West African dance debut with Minianka African Dance &amp; Drum Ensemble. She worked under the direction of late great Naghree Sutton-Silas. Later she became one of the members of Ayodele Drum and Dance  under the Artistic direction of Tosha "Ayo" Alston. Patrice became a principal  performer with the company. As one of the company members, she took on an additional role as the Finance Manager.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/1c902372-330a-4991-9cab-6a5140d4e638/CBDLP_Headshots+-+Mashaune+Hardy_Rachel+Neville.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mashaune Hardy, Business Manager A lifelong Chicagoan, Mashaune has deep ties to Chicago’s vibrant arts community. With more than 20 years of experience in dance, information technology, marketing, and arts administration; she sits at the intersection of process and performance.  Mashaune produces concerts, conferences, and performances; has danced with Seneke West African Percussion Ensemble, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, and Ayodele Drum and Dance; and has developed social media strategies for several artists and arts organizations. Currently, she is the Business Manager at Ayodele Drum and Dance, Social Media Manager at the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Manager of jazz vocalist Dee Alexander, Associate Director of Community Arts Partnership and Strategy and Co-Director | Executive with the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. She has been honored by New City Magazine as one of “45 People Who Keep Chicago in Tune” and "Players 50 2026: The Advocates and Changemakers.” In addition to her work in the arts, Mashaune has led technology projects as a Senior Systems Analyst at Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and Hewlett Packard (HP). Mashaune received a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/e989f65f-4146-45a8-9acd-47cb60325b8b/Sydney+Adams+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sydney Lorraine Adams, Secretary and Ayodele Youth Program Company Coordinator Sydney Lorraine Adams is a Chicago, IL native. She attended Hampton University- in Hampton, Virginia where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and her Master of Arts D at Northeastern Illinois University. Since she was a little girl Sydney has always loved to dance. She began dancing with Mayfair Dance Academy and Susubribi, her Godfather’s West-African Dance Company. As she got older; she studied, for over 10 years, with the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Company, led by Founder Homer Hans Bryant. After college, and getting used to being back in Chicago, Sydney found West African Dance Classes at Sherman Park. Soon after regularly attending dance classes Sydney joined Ayodele Drum and Dance, led by T. Ayo Alston, Founder and Executive Artistic Director where she moved up to Principal Performer. Although she is no longer dancing, she remains a part of the company as a Staff Member serving as the Secretary.  Sydney is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., - Xi Nu Omega Chapter. and the Monarch Awards Foundation, Inc..</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/446bd734-c8ab-4d99-a93a-f0d1f1cca7c9/Eboney+Tolliver+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eboney Tolliver, Finance Coordinator and Ayodele Youth Program Coordinator Eboney Tolliver has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology.    She joined the staff of Ayodele Drum and Dance in 2009 to be a part of and nurture an organization that gives limitless opportunities to women and children through the study of dance. Eboney grew up in the African drum and dance community and wanted to put her skills to use in an African-centered organization.  She joined Sundance Productions, under the direction of Danny Hinds, at the age of seven and started a foundation in ballet, tap, jazz, African dance, and afro-Caribbean dance. After Sundance Productions, Eboney joined Alyo Children’s Dance Theater under the direction of Kimosha Murphy and rose to the position of Dance Captain. It was at Alyo and while teaching dance in the afterschool programs for Chicago Public Schools that she learned performance fundamentals and instruction techniques.  Ayodele Drum and Dance provides a platform to create, lead, learn and organize for women and children on an administrative level.  Through Ayodele Drum and Dance, I continue to create strong sisterhood bonds and leave a legacy for the next generation of women.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/9908aac9-5fac-4124-b00e-56aaeaac17f6/Ifetayo+Kitwana.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ifetayo Kitwana, Rehearsal Co-Director Ife serves as part of the artistic staff and is a principal dancer with Ayodele Drum and Dance Company. She began her dancing career at a young age, founded within the African drum and dance community of Chicago. Ife has over 22 years of professional training and performance experience as well over 8 years of teaching experience. The Chicago native is also a registered dance/movement therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor, and group fitness professional. It is Ife’s philosophy that wellness manifests through mental, physical, spiritual, and communal development, thus her belief and passion for holistic health and wellness drive her life's work.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/da5da50c-6940-4f9c-96ff-3476d7fc9914/Saidia+Murphy+Headshot+2.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are</image:title>
      <image:caption>Saidia Murphy, Ayodele Youth Program Staff Saidia Murphy, a native of St. Louis, MO, was first introduced to West African dance and culture through the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS). As a youth, she attended community classes and cultural programs offered by Better Family Life, The Spirit of Angela, and The Sunshine Group, where she was exposed to the beauty of African dance and live drumming. She later became the Director of the St. Louis youth company Maat, providing young dancers with opportunities to explore and celebrate West African traditions. After relocating to Chicago in 2010, Saidia and her daughter immersed themselves in community classes with Ayodele Drum and Dance. She has since grown into a Principal Performer, training under Executive Artistic Director Tosha “Ayo” Alston and Assistant Artistic Director Imania Detry. Saidia continues to honor her cultural roots while expanding her artistry and sharing the healing power of African dance with her community.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/6116e89a-ef3d-4f4b-aa02-b5cd6d479ebe/Augusta+Scescke.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Augusta Scescke, Rehearsal Co-Director Gus is a lifelong Chicagoan who bridges her work as a community mental health nurse and as a principal performer with Ayodele Drum and Dance under the direction of T. Ayo Alston. Augusta began dancing at a young age and was part of the performing youth group Jump Company through Chicago Park District’s Peterson Park. While she has studied various styles including ballet, modern, jazz, and tap, she specializes in West African dance. Augusta was first introduced to West African dance as a participant of AileyCamp Chicago in the summer of 2003. She got connected to Ayodele in college and began taking classes. Augusta joined on as a company member in September of 2016. She has performed with Ayodele Drum and Dance for the past 9 years and is excited to continue her artistic growth. She believes in the power of dance and drum to heal, which motivates her work.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/640cc4ca-48a4-4a24-a123-b3ab01ea908b/victoria-boateng-is-an-autism-advocate-victoria-was-diagnosed-with-autism-when-she-was-three-years-old-and-couldn-t-speak-until-she-was-7-years-old-victoria-uses-her-gift-of-djembe-to-inspire-the-autsm-community_orig.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Victoria Boateng Victoria uses the djembe to spread awareness for the Autistic community. As an advocate for autism, Victoria continues to make her mark. Victoria was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old and couldn't speak until she was seven years old. She developed a close relationship with music which led her to study the djembe drum. Victoria shares her passion with the autism community with an intention to inspire women of all races, gender, and creed. She is a principal performer in all-female drum and dance company, Ayodele Drum and Dance. Victoria has performed with various afrobeat, R &amp; B, and hip-artist around the Chicagoland area. Victoria graduated from Western Illinois University in December 2012 with a bachelor's degree in communication and minor in theater. After graduation, Victoria Boateng studied West African drumming with master drummer Bolokoda Conde, Michael Taylor and Tosha Ayo Alston. Victoria is now a substitute teacher at Old Town School of Folk Music and host drum classes for the disability community in the Chicagoland Area. In addition, Victoria has consistently practiced mastering her craft on stage with life artists throughout the city of Chicago.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/00ba81b9-2f1d-4a58-a512-f8f0465452f0/Maria+Hall.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Maria Estes Hall Maria “Djembe Queen” Hall is the powerhouse Lead Drummer for Ayodele Drum and Dance, holding down the rhythm since the company’s inception. Her commanding presence and mastery of West African rhythms ignite the stage, driving dancers and captivating audiences with every beat. In Nashville, Maria carries that same energy as Founder and Artistic Director of Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company and as the creator of Kwanzaa Nashville. When she’s not behind the drum, she brings her passion for justice to her work as an attorney, using her voice to uplift and empower her community.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/d2fc3c6c-b96d-4c0a-8dd0-261bf3fd62b0/Candice_Flows_Photo+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Candice Igeleke Candice Igeleke (pronounced "eye-gil-eh-kay"), Brooklyn, NY native to Columbus, OH village keeper, is the result of an intimate conversation between her ancestors and her feet. She is a movement artist, choreographer, joy curator, and certified yoga instructor. Candice was introduced to West African dance and culture at the age of 5 and reconnected with it in her mid-20s. Her passion was reignited, and she's been rooted in community building and training ever since. With over 15 years of experience teaching and performing, her approach to dance is rooted in the exploration of making emotions tangible, examining how feelings manifest and transform through movement, fostering healing and growth for both individuals and communities. She recently joined Ayodele Drum and Dance Company as a principal dancer and is excited to make her debut performance in Beauty and the Beat.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/89aabb5e-71c8-4a8d-a06c-90f2a14c9826/LePierce+Kess+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Le Pierce Kess Le Pierce Kess is a dedicated dancer with a lifelong passion for West African drum and dance. She began her dance journey at age 12 and later trained with Ko-thi Dance Company in Milwaukee. While studying all genres of dance at Columbia College Chicago, she connected with the director of Ayodele Drum and Dance, Tosha Ayo Alston and joined them in 2014. Though she now lives in Milwaukee, Le Pierce still remains an active and committed member of Ayodele, continuing to share her love for West African dance and culture.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/8095db11-8f40-4219-8999-3d523de49d90/BAND_Ayodele+Drum+and+Dance_2026-04-26-10-20-36.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joyce Lindsey Joyce Lindsey is a Chicago-based artist, educator, and performer with over fourteen years of experience in live performance, music production, sound design, and world percussion. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Denison University and an MM in Music Production, Technology, and Innovation from the Berklee College of Music in Berklee Valencia. Joyce began her dance accompaniment journey at Denison and the American Dance Festival (ADF), where she returned in 2023 as an official musician. In 2024, she became the first female musician to accompany the Bates Dance Festival’s Young Dancers Program. She will return to Bates for the summer of 2026 for her second time. She is currently music director at Hyde Park School of Dance, a principal performer with Ayodele Drum and Dance, and a visual art teacher at Chicago Jesuit Academy.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/e36d2241-2dd6-4148-b646-e435779c47cb/Maanami+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Maanami Phillips Maanami’s passion for dance began in the womb, carried by her mother, a dancer who first introduced her to the rhythm of the drum and the artistry of movement. Over the years, Maanami has trained and performed with Sankofa Dance and Drum, Moya Cultural Arts, and Ayodele Drum and Dance, experiences that shaped and strengthened her artistry and deepened her connection to tradition. For Maanami, dance is memory and resilience—a way to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future. Through her work, she strives to keep tradition alive while opening new pathways for expression, community, and connection.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/cf4b8850-4e1d-452e-8938-4580e37504c1/Tredensa+Sanders+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tredena D. Sanders A proud Chicago native, Tredena D. Sanders has always loved dance but did not formally pursue it until 2014, at the age of 32. With no formal training, she relied on passion, discipline, and integrity to guide her journey. She began taking community classes and soon joined Ayodele Drum &amp; Dance Company as an Apprentice Study, quickly advancing to apprentice performer. Over the years, Tredena has trained under world-renowned instructors and attended dance conferences across the country, including Washington D.C., Atlanta, and New York. After leaving Ayodele in 2018, she continued her studies in West African music and dance, as well as modern, hip-hop, ballet, and Afro-Cuban styles. In 2022, Tredena joined Moya Dance Company and also returned to Ayodele as an independent contract performer for annual concerts and busy seasons. In 2023, she proudly rejoined Ayodele Drum &amp; Dance as a Principal Performer, continuing her commitment to the art of dance and cultural expression.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/a4c042ff-45cb-4c8c-8ae4-7b851ca813aa/Karen+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Karen Shifflett Karen has always felt most alive and self-realized when immersed in rhythm and motion. As a young adult she began taking Flamenco dance classes after being inspired by the 1995 documentary, Flamenco by Carlos Saura. Over a span of about twenty years, she took Flamenco classes intermittently - her most influential instructor being Michelle Nascimento “La Caoba”, who exposed Karen to Flamenco as a way of life. Although Karen grew up in Nigeria, West Africa, she did not become a student of West African dances until in 2015 when she began taking community classes with Ayodele Drum and Dance under the leadership of Executive/Artistic Director T. Ayo Alston, in Chicago, Illinois. The live drumming and movement in these community classes offered spiritual connection to the rhythms she grew up with as a young girl. After attending her first Ayodele concert, the 10-year anniversary concert in 2019, Karen auditioned and joined the company as an Apprentice Study. Over the years as a company member, Karen benefitted from exposure to myriad instructors and dance styles from West Africa and the diaspora. Equally important as dance training has been immersion into Ayodele’s diverse, multigenerational community that nurtures her development as a person. As of 2024, she proudly dances as a Principal Performer and looks forward to new experiences to come.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/27c9c536-aee4-45d5-96df-b43cd45a47ce/Asmina+Turner+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Asmina Turner Asmina Turner, a Chicago native, discovered her love for West African dance at just two years old and has since dedicated herself to the art form. She has performed across the United States with companies such as Alyo Children’s Dance Theatre, Minianka African Dance, Nunufatima, Les Enfants Dance, and MOYA, and is a new member of Ayodele Drum and Dance. Passionate about sharing her heritage, Asmina has taught children’s African dance at Red Clay Dance Center and in schools across Chicago, inspiring the next generation through culture and movement.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/e0faba4f-03db-49b7-a637-3447b0b760cb/Brittany+Walker+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brittany Walker Brittany Walker, a Chicago native, realized her love for dance and specifically west African dance at the tender age of 4. She had been adamant in continuing her studies and love for the art form through many avenues. She had studied and performed with numerous companies around the Chicagoland area and abroad. Companies such as ALYO Children’s Dance Theater, Les Enfants Dance, MUNTU Dance Theater, MOYA and AYODELE Drum and Dance. Though she took some time away to be a full time mother and nurturer to her children, Brittany always stayed close to west African dance culture. While taking some time away from the dance company lifestyle, Brittany found herself emerged in the realm of being a teacher of the dance culture. She has taught for numerous Chicago Public Schools and other dance companies including Red Clay Dance, Mofindu Urban Village, and Old Town School of Folk Music. After having her second daughter, Brittany was excited to come home to AYODELE under the direction of Tosha “AYO” Alston and Imania Detry in 2024. Since her return, she has become a principal performer with the company and continued her studies of west African dance culture and be a light in her community through her passion and inspiration for dance art.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/5a3b6886-920b-4881-a88e-2be9bc374d47/Anaya+Jeffries+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Anaya Iwamoye Jeffries</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/e8311d88-eb28-4cde-a9ba-c68d6364ef50/Sunyatta+Johnson+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sunyatta Johnson</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/c43235f3-58c3-4cd9-a6e4-8de723b2cce9/AMy+Osterman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Amy Osterman</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/01f46a94-3d40-4c9c-a81a-ea465b5a3117/Carrian+Bell+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Carrian Bell</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/e976e4fc-d0b8-4e69-a9ff-87e28ce796f2/Jess+Sanders+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jessica Sanders</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/3540447f-d846-4925-a73d-3045bca8d975/Kylah+Smith.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Who We Are - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kylah Smith</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/conference2026</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-04-24</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ecc2f344c483c5e7cd8921e/be7f064d-2cfd-487e-8725-2e25a2eb22be/DSC_7811.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Conference - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://ayodeledrumanddance.com/store</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-03-28</lastmod>
  </url>
</urlset>

