Ellena
Ellena Playwright
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Playwright, West African Dance,  Poet and Zumba Instructor

Movement, writing, theater, and sound are  elements  I use in teaching  literary and  art movement.  Everything and everyone, has a rhythm. I guide students through  "words in motion" process.

Click for Literary Residency

Workshop and Residencies

Zumba workshops Here
           I also teach ZUMBA
  • We Win Institute
  • ZUMBA Workshps
  • Steppingstone Theater
  • Pillsbury House - Chicago Avenue Project (CAP)
  • Schools K-12 Twin Cities
  • Literary Artist for Givens Foundation  
  • Summer workshops
An east-coast transplant, I have always been drawn to the spirit of the  drums: its rhythm, flight, and its many stories. As a child, I lived in North
Africa, Madrid Spain, Europe, and Canada and the U.S. My father, being a conga  player, would show me how to clean the skins of the drum. My mother would have  me write a book report every day, in addition to whatever I was assigned in  school. My thirst for the stories behind the drums and the skins that covered  them, along with my daily reading and writing, moved me to continue to learn,  teach, write, and perform. I did not see a story without a rhythm and rhythm  without a story. Listening to Ertha Kit on the radio, I saw the story, felt the  rhythm, heard the music. Nothing on TV was better then this creative journey. 
 
As a poet, playwright, and choreographer, I bring all of these elements to  the work as well as the process. I have taught traditional West African Dance in  the Southeast region, as well as in the Twin Cities. As I begin to blur the  lines between dance and theater, my work is literary as well as movement. I have  taught as a playwright mentor, dance, and writing workshops. I have taught K-12  school, after school, community and theater programs such as Steppingstone  Theater, Pillsbury House – CAP.
 

    Feel Free to Contact Me

    I respect data privacy and will not share your information without authorization. Once you've completed information, you will get an auto reply that your information has been received.
    Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you. Feel Free to contact me about workshops, residencies, work in progress. I also welcome feedback on my website. I generally respond within a few days of receipt of your inquiry or request. Thank you - Ellena
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