Our BNz friend and contributing reporter Ziggy has sent us in a video about the Durham, North Carolina’s best kept secret, well until now at least. Dancing, dancing dancing, she’s ah dancing machine…is the tune of Collage Dance Company.

Collage Dance Company was established by Sadiyah Shakur in 1985. The project originated from Shakur’s privately owned studio. Collage’s artistic reputation has flourished since its birth in 1985.

With an untouchable gamut that spans African, Caribbean, jazz, modern and hip-hop styles, the company has performed at venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Exploris Museum and, the N.C. School of Science and Math.

Artistic Director, Sadiyah Shakur, and Assistant Director, Toni Hall, have stood tall as the primary forces behind the Collage Dance Company reasons for success. Shakur has mastered the ability to elevate Collage Dance Company for over the last two decades both as an artistic enterprise and a haven for young people.

“Mama Sadiyah,” as the students know her is a native New Yorker, and one of the original members of the Chuck Davis Dance Company. “Mama Sadiyah,” is also a teacher. She’s worked as a director of Durham’s Omuteko Gwamaziima Charter School and now she is as an instructor in the gifted program at Glenn Elementary.

Beyond performance, the Collage Dance Company is also known for their unique learning environment that they provide to members ranging from the ages of 10 years of age to as old as 21 years old.

Currently the Collage Dance Company is based out of the Hayti Heritage Center located in the heart of Durham’s inner-city community.