JANIYA PEARSON

COMPANY MEMBER SINCE 2024

Janiya Pearson is a Queens, NY native. She was introduced to dance through her family and began dancing in 2005 at The Devore Dance Center.Janiya attended The Ailey School in 2016 training for four years  under the direction of Guillermo Asca. During that time, Janiya was introduced to Move(NYC) Young Professionals Programs under the direction of Nigel Campbell and Chanel DaSilva.There, she worked with choreographers like Roderick George, Laja Martin, Tamisha Guy and among others.. Janiya also trained with Ballet Hispanico on a full scholarship alongside with Restoration Arts directed by Ronald K.Brown in 2018. In 2020 Janiya was awarded a YoungArts Honorable Mention winner.

Janiya recently graduated from University of the Arts under the direction of  Donna Faye Burchfield. Where she pursued her BFA in Dance, training under Tommie -Waheed Evans,  Kim Bears-Bailey,  Courtney Henry, Shayla-Vie Jenkins, Juel D. Lane and others. Janiya was a company member with the JustSole Street Dance Theatre, founded by Kyle and Dinita Clark. Janiya’s research is rooted in working with the fusion of African and Contemporary dance forms. She is continuing to make space for African Dance in spaces so that this is more accessible for students to explore.