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Accra, Ghana native Rita, who prefers to be called by her middle name of Korkor (signifying that she is the second born daughter on her father's side) or KK when practicing the African cultural arts, has been dancing and singing for as long as she can remember. Korkor was part of the Anumwele Primary School African Dance troupe from the age of 4 until she and her family immigrated to the US.

In addition to African Dance, she has been trained and excelled in Ballet, Ballroom, Bellydance, Flamenco, Jazz, and Modern, all of which she has utilized to rave reviews in her decades long career as a professional Musical Theatre and Opera performing artist. 

This 'triple threat,' well trained practitioner of all areas of the performing arts loves sharing her West African culture through the arts, and is especially thrilled to be teaching Afrobeats Dance for TACA, the nonprofit that she founded, as well as teaching West African Dance for the Governor's School of the Arts. 

Korkor spent the summer of 2023 immersing herself in the cultural arts of her native country Ghana with the National Theatre in Accra; Noyam African Dance Institute in Dodowa; and Afrimuda Foundation in Cape Coast; and cannot wait to share all that she learned with her community and

beyond!

Shine is dedicated to enhancing an appreciation of art, artistic expression, history, culture, as well as cultivating discipline and wellness through dance.  A humanitarian, educator, and activist, her tool of choice is the universal language and socially relevant modality of dance!  Her ultimate goal is to foster a vision of hope, courage, unity, pride, empowerment, and edu-tainment to the community at large. 

Shine established Ubuntu Dance and Drum Collective, a multigenerational group of spirited dancers of diverse heritage from throughout the African Diaspora.  UDDC celebrates many faces and voices of dance through a fusion of authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African, African American, and Caribbean dance, music, and folklore. 

“Shine” is honored and delighted to offer weekly, multi-level traditional West African dance classes with TACA, the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance, in the Hampton Roads area.