FACULTY AND STAFF

ADENIKE SHARPLEY

Artist-in-Residence of African American Studies. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Western New England College and the M.A. in Sociology at Oberlin College . Ms. Sharpley has been a dance instructor, culturalist, dance performer, and choreographer. Ms. Sharpley has been the choreographer for several Oberlin productions and offers courses in African and African American dance. She is the founder and director of Dance Diaspora, a semi-professional touring West African Dance Ensemble. She teaches the following courses: West African Dance I, II, and III, African-American Dance History, two performance classes: Dance Diaspora in the fall and Essence Dance in the spring, and Ritual and Performance I, II, and III.

Ms. Sharpley has studied in Cleveland with Elaine Gibbs and Margaret Christian and with Bill MacKay of Spelman College. She has also worked with famed West African drummer Babatunde Olantunji, Cuban dancer Juanita Barro, the National Bahamian Dance Company, and noted dancer/choreographer Katherine Dunham.

Ms. Sharpley was nurtured by dance teachers from the Cleveland community who stressed the holistic approach to dance that is grounded in one’s community; She continues this philosophy of dance through Dance Diaspora and her efforts in community service, community building, and community arts. Diaspora does prison outreach, community outreach, and has traveled to The Gambia, Nigeria, Cuba, Brazil, and Puerto Rico.