Come On and Dance!

Mickie Mwanzia Koster, PhD

Dr. Mickie Mwanzia Koster, is an accomplished artistic director, educator, choreographer, performance artist, dancer, and historian. She began her dance life at the age of four studying ballet with the Cleveland Ballet in her hometown, Cleveland, Ohio. Mickie has 17 years of dance experience studying in Senegal and Ivory Coast, West Africa as well as Kenya, East Africa. Through the years, she has been a pivotal figure in Oakland, San Francisco, and Cleveland promoting the advancement and scholarship of African artistry.  Her dance career started in Cleveland joining Dance Africa Dance Company. After completing graduate work at Case Western Reserve, Mickie moved to the Bay area and joined the national company Diamano Coura West African Dance Company in Oakland, California studying under the Senegalese Master artistic, Dr. Zak Diouf. In 2000, Mickie returned to Cleveland to teach and share her knowledge of Africa dance, culture and history.  She initiated several successful community programs, events, workshops and conferences designed to promote dance, culture, and history.  She taught dance at Cuyahoga Community College; her classes in African Dance, Culture and History and advanced African Dance classes always weaved in culture and history.  Also at Cuyahoga Community College, she has choreographed and directed student productions such as Kakilamba: The Guardian of the Baga with international, national and local artists. Mickie has not been afraid to follow her dreams to learn and experience Africa. Five years ago, Mickie and her family relocated again. She received a five year fellowship to study African history with the late Dr. Atieno Odhiambo at Rice University. She recently completed her doctorate in African history at Rice University. At In-Step Dance, Mickie will be teaching Introduction to African Dance and African Drum & Dance Performance.