Adia Tamar Whitaker

Afro-Haitian

Adia Whitaker has been with TIPDI since our very first event ten years ago and is one of our most popular instructors. The recipient of several major grants and awards from such organizations as the Maggie Allese Center for Choreography, the Puffin Foundation, the Hip Hop Theatre Festival, the Jerome Foundation, and the New England Foundation for the Arts, Adia is considered one of the foremost scholars and teachers of Afro-Haitian dance in the world. The dance form that arguably had the greatest influence on hip hop, Afro-Haitian dance is a polyrhythmic form that challenges both the mind and body. 

Adia’s classes are known for being fun, high energy, and inspiring. Previous TIPDI participants have noted how much their musicality, rhythm, weight shift, and footwork have improved after training with her. Her classes are highly recommended for partner dancers, dancers with hip hop training, and dancers with training in any of the dance forms of the African Diaspora. All of her classes are taught with live music provided by Guy de Chalus, an award-winning composer and musician from northern California, and Adia’s longtime collaborator on several of her touring works. 

*Please Note: Adia is the Artistic Director of a busy bi-coastal dance company, Ase Dance Theatre Collective and the Visiting Artist in Residence at the University of Florida. In the past, she has invited former TIPDI class participants to join company auditions when she is working on new pieces.