Nubian has assembled an outstanding cast of educators and performers. These artists collaborate to bring you an exciting and exhilarating performance each and every time that they take the stage.
Concetta V. Harris (Ensemble) is a firefighter for the city of Memphis. During the past thirteen years she has worked as an arts educator with the Nubian Theatre Company; she has performed their adaptation of Virginia Hamilton’s “The People Could Fly” on numerous stages and in programs as “Arts in the Schools”. She is the Minister of Movement at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, the Liturgical Choreographer for the St. Augustine Catholic Church, a guest artist of the Graffiti Playground Dance Company, and advisor to the St. Matthew Church of Memphis Praise Dance Ministry. She has been honored to serve as a dance judge with the NAACP ACT-SO Program. Concetta is presently developing an outreach program for the community surrounding her church, with dance/movement as the core to assist people in improving their physical health, self-esteem and mental well being. She graduated from the University of TN at Martin with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree.
Adeana Otuome (Ensemble) has been working as an arts educator with Nubian Theater Co. for over 10 years. She has also worked as a dance instructor for Playhouse on the Square, taught movement to the elderly and the youth through The Memphis Arts Council and numerous churches around the city. She has performed in Levi Fraizer’s Beale Street Back Again, Umoja Kamaru with Mississippi Blvd. Christian Church 1999-2006, and worked as an extra in films that include "A Family Thing" with Robert Duvall and "The People –VS-Larry Flint" with Woody Harrelson and Courtney Love. Adeana has also been honored to serve as a dance judge with the NAACP ACT-SO Program. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Tennessee State University where she was a member of the TSU Dance Ensemble under the leadership of Mrs. Judy Gentry.
Cequita Monique (Ensemble) has been an arts educator with Nubian Theatre Company since its inception and was active with the Memphis Black Repertory as an actress and singer. She has performed with Kpe and the Blues City Cultural Center, and has facilitated many workshops in Memphis City Schools. Along with her busy schedule as a performer, she is the proprietor of Precious Cargo Exchange Coffee Shop, 381 North Main 901-578-8446. Cequita is a board member for the Memphis Young Artist Association. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Lemoyne-Owen College.
John Lewis Sullivan (Artistic Director/Choreographer/Ensemble) has worked with Rufus Thomas, Bob Hope, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Denise LaSalle, the late jazz pianist Phineas Newborn, and many others. Mr. Sullivan has choreographed and danced in various television commercials. He choreographed the Bar-Kays’ musical video release “Animal,” and performed in the Memphis in May “Salute to Kenya.” He has performed in the North Carolina Black Repertory Company’s “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.” He has performed for the Elvis Presley Foundation and appeared in the Memphis Arts Council production “Taking it to the Streets.” Recently, Mr. Sullivan taught African Dance at Southwest Tennessee Community College. He is now an arts educator with the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Memphis Arts Council and the Mississippi Arts Council.
Candy’ce J. (Savage) Washington (Ensemble) studied ballet, tap, jazz, and modern under Carlton Johnson, Zenzi Mickinney, Jan Turner, and Dr. Gloria M. Venson at Deeta’s School of Dance. The NAACP has also honored Mrs. Washington with a certificate of appreciation for being a dance judge in the ACT-SO Program. She teaches dance and has choreographed her own pieces such as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. With a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Tennessee State University, she now works for Memphis City Schools, as a Speech/Language Therapist; she also coaches the Pom and Dance Teams.
John H. Washington III (Saxophone/Djembe/Keyboards) began his musical studies in Cincinnati, Ohio. He continued his studies and expanded his knowledge of Jazz and other musical styles while attending college in Nashville. John has performed at Orlando, Florida’s Epcot Center, Tokyo, Japan’s Mitsubishi Mirage Bowl, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. He has played with Frank Foster, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dr. Clark Terry. Currently, he is a music instructor with Memphis City Schools and is the Music Director for the Nubian Theatre Company and can be heard on Will Carpenter’s Inspirational Jazz CD "Devine Intervention".
Anita M. White (Ensemble) helped choreograph routines for the flag corps of the award-winning Grenada High School band, in Grenada, MS. After High School, Anita continued her dance education while attending Murray State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a minor in French and Metalsmithing/Jewelry Design and Small Sculpture. She instructed classes in making jewelry and mosaic tabletops at the University of Memphis for over five years. In 1995, she joined State Technical Institute as a part-time graphic designer. By 2000, she was the Director of graphics for Southwest Tennessee’s Corporate Marketing department, where she currently works as an Environmental Graphics Manager. Anita participated in the 2006 production of Umoja Kamaru at Msississippi Blvd. Christian Church. She is also a youth advisor, choreographer and dancer for the Greater White Stone Missionary Baptist Church Ministry in Motion. She is a recent addition to the NAACP ACT-SO dance judges and Nubian Theatre Company.