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TACA: 
Tidewater African Cultural Alliance
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Tidewater African Cultural Alliance

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My mom has been to Africa a few times, so you have no idea how special your performance was. It was exactly what we were looking for. Thank you for making her retirement celebration that much more meaningful."


A Happy Son

DANCE ENSEMBLE

Since its May 2022 début, the TACA Diaspora Dance Ensemble has been adding authentic African Dance to events all over the Hampton Roads/Tidewater region. Known for its versatility in offering both cultural (traditional) and contemporary (Afrobeats) dance styles, they are in demand for their unique performance, full of energetic moves and vibrant costumes, that will make your heart and soul smile. 


The dancers and drummers hail from Ghana, Sierra Leone, the United States, and Zambia, bringing their diverse cultures and traditions with them to create a true African Diaspora cultural experience with every performance. In addition to being a favorite part of the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance (TACA)’s own events and elevating local weddings and celebrations, they have lent their talents to such events as the Juneteenth at the Oceanfront, the VA African American Cultural Center’s Fall Festival, ODU’s Center for Bioelectronics Conference, and the Art of Living’s World Culture Festival in VA Beach; Nubian Fest in Norfolk; Hampton History Museum’s Mosaic Festival, and the African Landing Day events at Fort Monroe, in Hampton.

Meet the 2023-24 TACA Diaspora Dance Ensemble

Alicia Smithson-Edwards

Alicia Smithson-Edwards

Alicia Smithson-Edwards

Mrs. Alicia Edwards began her dance passion at the age of 5 in Yonkers, NY, taking up Ballet, Jazz and Tap at the Yonkers, NY YWCA. For over 20 years Mrs. Edwards has performed as a student and teacher in various locations all over the United States. 


Studying at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, MD she was sought out to perf

Mrs. Alicia Edwards began her dance passion at the age of 5 in Yonkers, NY, taking up Ballet, Jazz and Tap at the Yonkers, NY YWCA. For over 20 years Mrs. Edwards has performed as a student and teacher in various locations all over the United States. 


Studying at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, MD she was sought out to perform with Acro-Airs team performing all over the east coast and NBA half-time shows. She has worked with numerous community groups teaching lyrical dance for churches and community programs. 


Alicia’s love for dance did not wane after marriage and children. With a belief that lifelong learning is essential for all, she began to expand her repertoire to include dance forms such as Belly-Dance, African traditional, African modern, Mexican folkloric, and Theatrical. Upon relocating to El Paso, TX, Mrs. Edwards was scouted by the professional dance troupe the Sun City Girls and taught dance fitness in the El Paso Independent School District. In 2016, she relocated to Hampton Roads, and she is still sharing her passion with the seven cities community.

Ibrahim Kamara

Alicia Smithson-Edwards

Alicia Smithson-Edwards

Sierra Leone native Ibrahim Kamara is a Junior at Norfolk State University. He is excited to share his culture and many others from Africa through Dance with the TACA Ensemble.

Jara Clark

Porlicia Brown

Porlicia Brown

Jara, a Health and Wellness Speaker for Fit Goddess Tribe, LLC, remains profoundly

grateful for her fitness journey and the individuals who have shaped it. Her unwavering love and

commitment to fitness drive her to share her passion with others who are eager to step onto the

path of wellness. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals understa

Jara, a Health and Wellness Speaker for Fit Goddess Tribe, LLC, remains profoundly

grateful for her fitness journey and the individuals who have shaped it. Her unwavering love and

commitment to fitness drive her to share her passion with others who are eager to step onto the

path of wellness. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals understand that fitness is predominantly a mental journey, profoundly impacting the mind, body, and spirit.


Jara, in her role as Health and Wellness Speaker, has presented at multiple different local

community events, spreading her message of holistic health and wellness. She's also launched

two insightful podcasts, "Fit to Heal" and "Empowerment Bookstore," to provide a platform for inspiring discussions and insights into personal growth and well-being.


This transformational shift sparked the birth of Fit Goddess Tribe, LLC, a holistic wellness brand

dedicated to cultivating and sustaining healthy lifestyle choices and habits. Their mission

extends to the community, aiming to strengthen individuals physically, mentally, emotionally, and

socially through diverse programs and events.

Porlicia Brown

Porlicia Brown

Porlicia Brown

Norfolk native Porlicia Brown has always had a gift of working with  all ages through dance and fitness. She was in the Spartan Legion Band as a member of the Hot Ice Dance team; member of the Order of Eastern Stars; ACHI Awards winner; Arabia Temple #12 Fish Bowl Queen 2023; and Norfolk State Alumni Band.


Porlicia is a proud fitness Instr

Norfolk native Porlicia Brown has always had a gift of working with  all ages through dance and fitness. She was in the Spartan Legion Band as a member of the Hot Ice Dance team; member of the Order of Eastern Stars; ACHI Awards winner; Arabia Temple #12 Fish Bowl Queen 2023; and Norfolk State Alumni Band.


Porlicia is a proud fitness Instructor for the Hampton Roads Area and Owner of Smile-Breathe-Move-Fitness & Dance LLC. Porlicia has been getting people excited about fitness for over 16 years now!  She is AFAA certified in Group Fitness, licensed in all Zumba formats, R.I.P.P.E.D, Commit, ChairOne, and is a Mixxedfit Master Educator.  She also teach Senior Aerobics, Yoga and Line Dancing as well. 


Porlicia has also served as a cheerleading coach at many area schools. At Dance Dimensions, she is the stunt coach and fitness Instructor. Porlicia also teaches fitness for the City of Portsmouth. Porlicia motivates others with her smile and energy for all around her to be their very best in all they do.

Rita "KK" Addico Cohen

Rita "KK" Addico Cohen

Rita "KK" Addico Cohen

Mrs. Addico Cohen has fused her performing abilities, fluency in many languages, and innate fitness to become an international Zumba® and African Dance instructor, teaching thousands of kids and adults in her local Hampton Roads area and beyond. She is a multiple Presenter of the

international Zumba Instructors Convention, where she was aw

Mrs. Addico Cohen has fused her performing abilities, fluency in many languages, and innate fitness to become an international Zumba® and African Dance instructor, teaching thousands of kids and adults in her local Hampton Roads area and beyond. She is a multiple Presenter of the

international Zumba Instructors Convention, where she was awarded Humanitarian of the

Year in 2022.


Korkor/KK has created several highly acclaimed avenues through which she shares her African culture with adults and children alike, using the arts, history, and language. She has created a 3-tier educational program that has placed her and the nonprofit she founded, Tidewater African Cultural Alliance (TACA), on the Teaching Roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She is also a teaching artist with Young Audiences Virginia/Arts 4 Learning, and a highly sought after (African) Dance Instructor and Choreographer.


After having spent part of the 2023 summer immersed in the cultural arts of her native Ghana,

KK is excited to share what she learned with the community, mostly through TACA, and to broaden the high school dancers’ vocabulary through teach West African Dance for the Governor’s School of the Arts be joining the Dance faculty of the Governor’s School of the Arts in the 2023-24 academic school year.

Sam Lewis

Rita "KK" Addico Cohen

Rita "KK" Addico Cohen

Sam is an energetic Dancer with 7 years of experience performing solo and with highly talented dance groups (Balie Fuzion Dance Company, Ubuntu Dance Company). 


She is a confident and driven dancer with exceptional desire and endurance, abundantly skilled in Breaking, House and Whack/Punking dance genres.


Sam is a compassionate mentor in Ri

Sam is an energetic Dancer with 7 years of experience performing solo and with highly talented dance groups (Balie Fuzion Dance Company, Ubuntu Dance Company). 


She is a confident and driven dancer with exceptional desire and endurance, abundantly skilled in Breaking, House and Whack/Punking dance genres.


Sam is a compassionate mentor in Rites of Passage to young girls at Village Academy, Volunteer

and activist in the African-American Community (Together We Stand nonprofit and Eturnal Roots Band).


Her goal is to use  dance  to heal the sector of  society that is  by and large ignored by the

dominant culture. And in doing so, free the minds of people who have been restricted in their own natural growth, thus  promoting self-awareness, discipline, confidence, and healthy expression.

Offering Traditional African AND Afrobeats Dance

Book the TACA Diaspora Dance Ensemble for a Performance!

Bring us to your Birthday party, organization/business event, community event, and any other occasion where you'd like some African Dance. Fill out the form below to get started!

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Tidewater African Cultural Alliance

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Copyright © 2025 Tidewater African Cultural Alliance, a 501 c3 non profit organization. EIN 35-2644613  - All Rights Reserved.


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