Monique N. Walker

About the Artist

Originally from Chester, Pennsylvania, Monique Newton Walker has traveled the world as a performer, educator, and choreographer, and living in Maryland since 2003. She specializes in neo-traditional and contemporary African dance and has studied from many dance masters and institutions including Chuck Davis, Walter Nicks, Philadanco!, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Based in southern Maryland, Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration, is the Administrative Director for the Charles County Arts Alliance, a 2018-2019 NextLOOK Residency Artist, and a certified Master Teacher of the Umfundalai contemporary African dance technique. She teaches Umfundalai at CityDance’s School & Conservatory and The Viva School. She has also taught as a guest lecturer at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne, and Drexel University, and on the dance faculties of North Carolina State University and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. Monique is the former dance captain and Assistant to the Artistic Director of Chuck Davis' African American Dance Ensemble with additional performance credits including Kariamu & Company: Traditions and original choreography by David Dorfman and Francis Nii Yartey. Her choreography has been presented at the North Carolina Dance Festival, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Dance Place, and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. As a wife and mother of two, Monique continues her mission of using dance, music, and theater as a vehicle for the preservation, promotion, and innovation of African Diasporan dance through her work as the Executive Director for the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT) and a choreographer with her project-based performance company, MoDance Works.