About LCritt

I am a dance educator, cultural practitioner, and scholar dedicated to advancing the presence, integrity, and evolution of Black and diasporic dance forms within both educational and performance spaces. With over 13 years of experience in choreography, curriculum design, and community engagement, my work bridges embodied practice, cultural research, and arts advocacy.

I currently serve as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Winthrop University, where I teach World Dance and Vernacular Jazz, centering Africanist aesthetics, historical lineage, and critical inquiry. In addition to my university teaching, I am a Secondary Dance Educator with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and a Teaching Artist with Charlotte Ballet, where I develop culturally responsive curriculum and expand access to dance education for diverse communities.

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My academic foundation includes a Master of Arts in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. My graduate research, *“Samba No Pé and the Intersectionality of Blackness,”* examines the role of Black identity within Afro-Brazilian dance communities in the United States, advocating for more inclusive and culturally authentic practices.

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As the Founder and Artistic Director of Charlotte Cultural Collective, I lead a performance-based company committed to preserving, presenting, and innovating Black cultural and diasporic dance traditions. Through this work, I curate performances, develop original choreography, and create community-centered programming that uplifts cultural literacy, artistic excellence, and representation. Under my leadership, the collective was recognized as Charlotte’s Best Dance Company in 2025.

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My professional journey spans performance and collaboration with organizations rooted in African, Afro-Brazilian, and Latin dance traditions, alongside leadership roles in arts advocacy and education. I have presented work at statewide conferences, contributed to arts organizations and festivals, and remain actively engaged in shaping conversations around equity, authenticity, and innovation in dance.

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Across all areas of my work, I am committed to creating spaces where students and artists can explore identity, deepen cultural understanding, and develop both technical skill and artistic voice. My mission is to honor the lineage of the forms I practice while expanding their possibilities for future generations.