2018-2019 BBDA Staff...

Bria Howard is a Philadelphia native, born and raised. She attended Abington Friends School and Temple University where she received a degree in Neuroscience and a certificate in Psychology. Bria co-founded a contemporary dance team while attending Temple University. She began her dance career at the age of 3 at The Rock School where she trained in classical ballet. She continued her training at The Metropolitan Ballet Academy. She has attended Young Performers Theater Camp, performed The Nutcracker, A Mid Summer Nights Dream and Sleeping Beauty at The Academy Of Music.

Britney Janese Edwards also known as Ms. BJ -
Born in Philadelphia, and raised by the Performing Arts. Starting at a young age, I began my training at Freedom Theatre Performing Arts Training Program majoring in Dance. There I studied various genres of dance (ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, African, hip hop, tap, performance practicum, etc), along with training in acting and singing. I trained with Freedom Theatre up until the age of 17 years old upon high school graduation. Within that time, I was taught and inspired by the most influential people in the performing arts field, and had the pleasure to be debuted in several prestigious stage plays. Proceeding, I graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelors majoring in Business Marketing/Advertising, and minor in Dance. I was extremely involved, I was a member of the Lenheart Dance Company, dance team "Black Flame", and other on campus programs. Following graduation, I continued my passion in dance through various opportunities. I am currently a member of the Pure Project Dance Company founded and directed by Itola Byrd. I have matured in becoming a full time business woman in corporate healthcare, and an entrepreneur of my own growing business M.A.D.E Impressions (Model Artists Determined to Evolve) providing Public Relations / PR Performing Arts advocacy and brand development. Being in the Performing Arts I have gained an encouraging push to become a dance teacher, in which I have taught hip hop, jazz, ballet, African, and Acting for dancers. My biggest accomplishment in life has been giving life to my beautiful daughter, Fallyn Rae, who is also talented just like her mother. I wish to continue my journey in what I love to do, and inspire others in the process.

Tunai Jones, a native of Philadelphia, PA started her dance training at age seven where she attended the Rock school for dance education. She began to develop her technique while training at their summer intensives programs while also training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Tunai later attended Franklin Learning Center high school where she studied as a dance major and began her first pre-professional experience with Eleone Dance Theatre's second company; Eleone Connection. She graduated from The University of the Arts with a BFA in dance. She has since worked with The Arsenale della Danza at the La Biennale di Venezia, Carbon dance theatre,as well as Eleone Dance Theatre. Most recently she has performed at IABD (International Association of Blacks in Dance), the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade, BET's Black Girls Rock, has been featured on the official book cover of Brown Girls Do Ballet, and had the chance to be a main stage performer on Disney cruise line. Tunai has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Louis Johnson, Scott Jovovich, Eva Szabo, Douglas Becker, Karen Brown, Francesca Harper, and Kim Bears-Bailey to name a few.