Saleana
Pettaway

Saleana Pettaway

Dance

Education

  • M.E. Temple University
  • B.A. Temple University

Curriculum Vitae

Saleana Pettaway, aka Prof P, is a Phila-Based artist, educator, choreographer, and performer. She is recognized in the international dance community for her hard-hitting training practices and her active pursuit to empower dancers to embody the historical, social-cultural, and aesthetic traditions of African-based dance forms. She holds a BFA ('95) and M.Ed ('07) from Temple University, and her masterclasses and lect-dems are noted in publications and national conferences/festivals such as ACDA (American College Dance Association) and the National High School Festival. Her roots in dance and theater began at the New Freedom Theater and Philadanco where she trained in Jazz, Ballet, and Modern dance with many renowned artists like Jawole Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women and Deborah Chase of Alvin Ailey to name a few. Mentored for over 20 years by international artist and scholar, Dr. Kariamu Welsh, she is recognized as the 3rd Master Teacher of the “Umfundalai dance technique” and was certified in 1995 by the Institute of African Dance Research and Performance. Saleana also served as a senior company member of Karimau & Co: Traditions performing principal works with iconic artists and diasporan legends including Prof Nii Yartey of the National Dance Company of Ghana and Dr. Chuck Davis of the African-American Dance Ensemble. She continues to be an active teaching artist in the Tri-state region with ties to universities, schools, and dance communities including Princeton, Temple University, Rowan Medical School, Muhlenburg College, Germantown Friends School, West Chester University, and more. Embracing dance as a means for transformative cultural education, she designs workshops and masterclasses to serve many artistic and educational groups with the simple mission of empowering dancers/movers to build community, expand their training, and honor the traditions of African-based dance forms. Learn more (www.UmfundalaiXperience.com).