Rooting the Dance

Chitra Subramanian

Chitra Subramanian, an Indian American dancer, choreographer, and educator based in Washington, DC, blends Hip Hop and Bharathanatyam to create unique, non-mainstream dance works. She teaches and performs with chitra.MOVES, engaging diverse audiences through storytelling and artistic elevation. Her work, rooted in Hip Hop and influenced by her immigrant background, focuses on community themes and showcases how cultural movements come together. Chitra has taught and choreographed extensively, including creating the sold-out show “TEMPLE” and most recently premiering “LINKED” at the Atlas Theater. She also leads the Rooting the Dance Hip Hop Dance Class Series, emphasizing women’s stories in the DC street dance scene. Her performances have featured at prestigious venues like the John F. Kennedy Center, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and the Ladies of Hip-Hop Festival.

Duchess (Annastazia Unce):

Annastazia Unce, or Duchess, has cultivated her passion for dance since age 4. A versatile talent from the DC metro area, her expertise spans West African, ballet, contemporary, locking, b-girling, house, and various urban dance styles. Distinguished by her innovative teaching approach, Annastazia emphasizes the deeper elements of dance such as musicality, improvisation, competition strategies, emotional expression, and a deep connection with the music, alongside building a rich dance vocabulary and an appreciation for dance history. Her instruction is not just about learning steps but about elevating one’s dance to new heights. For those looking to enhance their dance journey, Annastazia offers a unique opportunity to tap into your creativity and expressiveness.

Angela Gladue “Lunacee”

Angela Miracle Gladue aka Lunacee, is a nehiyaw (Cree)/Greek Interdisciplinary Artist from the Treaty 6 Territory of amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) and is a proud member of Frog Lake First Nation. At age 6 she began cultural dancing through a Metis and Powwow dance program at her school – Prince Charles Elementary and performed regularly throughout western Canada with the Red River Wheelers and her school’s powwow performance group.

Her practice as a B-girl began in 2003 through the influence, mentorship and collaboration of an Indigenous Hip-Hop group known as The Red Power Squad whom she toured with until 2008l. She is also a member of The Fly Girlz Dance Crew who have trained with some of the originators, innovators, and pioneers of Hip-Hop Culture.

As an international artist, she has been invited to give master classes, perform, lecture and judge in countless communities throughout the world and continues to share her love for dance in Indigenous Communities and schools across Turtle Island (North America).

Since 2016, Angela has toured as one of the lead dancers for The Halluci Nation (Formally known as A Tribe Called Red) and has also performed alongside The Doors, Buffy Sainte Marie, Lido Pimienta, Jeremy Dutcher, and Cris Derksen to name a few. She has opened up for major recording artists such as TLC, Sean Paul, Lil’ Kim, Maestro, GrandMaster Flash, Busta Rhymes, and the America’s Best Dance Crew tour.

Diyanna Monet

Always keeping New Jack Swing sounds in her vicinity, Diyanna Monet is a Washington DC multidisciplinary artist, whose enthusiasm and ambition for movement stems from her childhood exposure to music genres such as Hip-hop, R&B, and the native Go-Go sound, which catalyzed her path in DJing. Inspired by several collectives and artists in the city, Diyanna’s creative blends of art, djing, and dance convey reminiscent energies of the “House Party”.

Ama Law

Mariama “Ama” Law was born into African dance culture through Kankouran West African Dance Company, as both parents are founding members. While at University of Maryland (UMD), Ama enjoyed choreographing, directing and dancing with DyNaMiC hip hop dance team. Ama graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a certificate in Women’s Studies. After undergrad, Ama intensely studied in New York completing a professional semester at Broadway Dance Center under the likes of Luam Keflezgy, Hollywood, and Sheila Barker. Ama was inspired by various mentors in New York and returned to the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area inspired to share and create.

Learn more about our teaching artists!