COAR Team

Shani M Worrell Is a Former student of Duke Ellington School of The Arts and a graduate of Towson University. Mrs. Worrell worked closely with Obediah Wright and Balance Dance Theatre for many years before traveling with The Color Purple’s 1st National Tour for two years where she was the dancer/singer swing and covered the role of “Nettie”.

Someof her television credits include: “MTV’s Video music awards, Saturday Night Live and The 2006 Billboard Awards. Mrs. Worrell also had the pleasure of singing with band leader Yorel Lashley and Melee, monthly at Nuyorican Poets Cafe and she produced her own showcase" Another Part of Me", where she sang her original music and favorite covers.  

Paul Wilkins has an extensive background in media.  He has worked on numerious projects, including video, websites and magazines.  Currently he is proud to join the Purelements team and as an artist, he feels right at home.  He is also looks forward to working with the parents and youth to give them the best experience ever!

Corntei Cuffy began dancing at the age of three with the Marie Brooks Dance Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. Her desire for dance grew during her studies at Creative Outlet Dance Company with which she was a student for five years. She is a 2005 graduate of the Professional Performing Arts School, having received her dance training from The Alvin Ailey School. Cortnei Cuffy is currently a Junior in the Dance Department at Long Island University and is striving to one day have her own dance company & performing arts school.

Raquelle Chavis has performed throughout The U.S and the Caribbean with The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble / Ailey II, under the direction of Sylvia Waters, and she has performed throughout the United States, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Soviet Union, and Asia as an 8 year soloist / Principle Dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the direction of Mr. Ailey until his death in 1989, and current director Judith Jamison until 1994.  Raquelle Chavis is the recipient of the 2010 "ASTRAL" Award from The
NFAA (The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts) Alumni Association.

She has done film and TV in Europe since 1997, and won notoriety playing the role of Josephine Baker in the miniseries "Sturmzeit I". Currently, Raquelle is developing works for the first Season of her Performing Arts & Entertainment company "Geechie Anne Productions Inc.", and she is busy wrapping up her album entitled "Rilanga & Other Short Stories". 

Tricia was born in Trinidad, W.I. and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. She received her dance training from the Hines Dancing School; Marie Brooks Dance Theatre, where she developed her skill in modern, Caribbean and African Dance; the Harlem Dance Theatre; and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, where she trained with Youseff Koumbassa, Master of West African Dance. She has performed throughout North America and Europe. As a Teaching Artist, she has taught dance to children of all ages at Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn and is currently a Teaching Artist for Purelements: An Evolution in Dance. Tricia takes her enthusiasm and drive from the dance world into work at a preschool teacher transforming her dance skills to enhance children's physical development and self awareness. Her goal is to continually be a force of enlightenment to those she comes into contact with.

Dina Wright Joseph is the proud recipient of the FON Artistic Acheivement Award and has graced the cover of Heart andSoul magazine, and Instyle magazine’s featured article entitled Dina Wright: A Force of Nature.Dina’s television credits include PBS' "Free to Dance",VH1’s "Divas Live" with Aretha Franklin and as co-choreographer of VH1’s "Hip Hop Honors"tribute to Afrika Bambattaa and the Smithsonian Museum's multi-media instillation "Black Dance in the 20th Century". Along with being a founding member of Purelements: An Evolution in Dance, Dina also performs with Forces of Nature and Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater.   As a dance educator, Dina serves a guest lecturer for Lehman College's City and Humanities Deptand served two years as a lead teacher for NYCDOE's Summer Arts Intensive hosted by Stuyvesant High School.

Jared "J Red" Lewis-has literally grown under the vision of our Purelements (PE) family, as well as other local brooklyn schools. He was inspired at the age of five to touch the stage for the first time and has not looked back since. He has been traveling since the age of fourteen performing and teaching hip hop workshops. Jared strongly believes in the next generation and everyday strives towards the new school movement with and old school spirit. Respect the movement  ONE LOVE

Aundreus Patterson has accomplished being a featured soloist for the 2001 National Black Cacus in Washington DC, and was honored to perform in other cities including Honolulu, Hawaii, Vancouver, Canada, and Salt Lake City, Utah.  Aundreus made his presence known by performing in shows including Black Nativity, The Gospel According to Luke, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and Jesus Christ Superstar.  Mr. Patterson was named a finalist in the Irene Ryan Competition for the American College Theatre Festival where he competed with the best in collegiate theatre of his region.  He was acknowledged by Dr. Cornel West in his most recently published work, "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, a Memoir," for having adapted his sole piece of fictional writing, "Sing a Song," into a stage production.  Aundreus lives his daily life by the motto, "One must see it, before he may see it or he shall never see it."

Courtney Sauls has an extensive background in ballet and the performing arts. She attended The Ailey School for the three year Certificate program, and performed with the Ailey student performance group through out the tri-state area. After graduating from The Ailey School she began performing in dance projects all over New York City and is currently performing with The Von Howard Project. She most recently began teaching dance in New York City charter schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Courtney is more than excited to be on staff at Purelements this season!

Zephaniah Seals was placed in a cultural program called “Indoda Enstha”, which trained him in playing the “Djembe”. Since that time he has spent his life time perfecting this cultural tradition.  His instrument of choice would be the melodic, entrancing “Djembe, however he has formed a symbolic relationship with most drums from the Diaspora.  Seals, has been performing all across the United States (California, Philidelphia, North Carolina, New York) since childhood being a part of productions and ensembles such as:  Yao Ababio, Gene Osborn & Laruen Kamasa. When he is not on stage he is paying it forward with teaching young children in East New York how to drum.

Eddie began teaching and choreographing almost as soon as he began dancing, and for over ten years he has been teaching Jazz at the Alvin Ailey school. Not forgetting his roots, he also teaches Jazz, Modern, Ballet, and Hip-Hop for the Brooklyn based school Purelements, as well as in public schools throughout the city. His choreography is not limited to NYC schools and companies. He currently has works in Philadelphia(Danco II), North Carolina(Garner Dance), Guadeloupe(Academie de Danse), Vanne, France(YAQ'EL), and Pittsburg(Point Park University), with plans to visit Aruba(Diana Antoinette School de Bailé) and Cayenne, French Guiana(ADACLAM). He was most recently seen performing with Burnt Sugar Danz in Lincoln Center Outdoors and performed and choreographed during the Purelements Fall season.

Edwian Stokes is a life time Brooklyn resident and musician. He was been with Purelements from the beginning and has been a professional musician for over 12 years. Edwian is also a member of Indoda Entsha, a Brooklyn based African percussion ensemble that has been a part of the Brooklyn community since the 1980's. After earning a degree in Journalism from Long Island University, Edwian was accepted into Long Island University's graduate school of Media Arts where he is currently working on his Master's degree. He is a worldly traveled musician and a student of the arts culture.

Born in England and raised in Switzerland, Nicole von Arx received a dance certificate from The Ailey School and Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary School. She trained in Ballet, Horton, Graham, Improvisation and Pilates. As an instructor, Ms. von Arx taught Ballet, Contemporary and Pilates in Spain, Switzerland and New York. Aside her teaching she dances with Von Ussar Dance Works and Malcolm Low/Formal Structure. She is thrilled to be part of the team at Purelements for the coming year!

Keisha Washington is a Teaching Artist Assistant with Purelements: An Evolution in Dance. Born and raised in New York City, she was introduced to the world of dance as a Teaching Assistant at Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn. At Purelements, Keisha shares her love and enthusiasm for the arts by assisting children in movement and self-awareness. She is also a Teachers Aid at a Day Care Center. Keisha's main goal is to bring love and laughter to whom ever she comes into contact and show children how to apply discipline, respect, honor and loyalty in their everyday lives. She thanks God for the arts because she is able to teach, learn and grow with a new extended dance family.