About
Faculty
KENNETH C. BROWN
Early Childhood Movement
Ken Brown has performed in many theatrical and dance productions in the tri-state area and is very active in the Delaware arts community. Ken completed the early arts education program at the Curtis Settlement Music School and Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania where he earned a Masters’ Degree in Education in 2002. Ken is a Kuumba Academy Charter School Founder and is Director of Family Engagement at Kuumba.
SUMMER C. HAWKINS
Open Level Acrobatics
As a CCAC former student, Summer studied under Gabrielle Hilliard, Chauntee Andrews, Brynia Johnson, Tanya Vaughn and Benjamin Cannon, She has over 20 years of dance experience under her belt. She’s also studied at Heidi’s Dance Academy, Cab Calloway School of the Arts and Dance4Life. She is currently instructing at CCAC and Claymont Boys & Girls Club. She has been featured in a copious amount of performances and showcases. She also serves as the Registrar at CCAC.
GABRIELLE HILLIARD
Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Praise
Gabrielle Hilliard is a native Philadelphia. She is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. She performed in the production of Friends and Lovers, starring Leon of the Five Heartbeats. She has also performed in “What Men Don’t Tell” starring Kenny Lattimore and Chaunte Moore and was the lead dancer in the production of “Good Lord, What Is The World Coming To” starring Megan Good. She is a former dancer and member of the board of directors of Eleone Dance Theatre.
NIKIA JACKSON
Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop
Nikia “Naj” Jackson, a vibrant Philadelphian, graduated from Howard University, with a degree in Dance, under the direction of the late Dr. Sherrill Berryman-Johnson. By age 14 she began intensive training until she was under the tutelage of Faye Snow and the late Clyde Michael Hayes at Franklin Learning Center. Naj has choreographed for music recording artist JaQuay and performed behind Bishop S. Todd Townsend at the All State Gospel Fest.
TIANA JACKSON
Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Early Childhood Movement
Tiana Jackson has been affiliated with CCAC for the past 15 years and is currently the teaching apprentice for Early Childhood Movement, and is an instructor for ballet, modern and jazz. Tiana’s hobbies include dancing, listening, to music, hanging with family and friends, and shopping.
TANYA JACKSON
Tap Dance
Tanya Jackson started her teaching career by substituting at Christina Cultural Arts Center for her dance teacher the late Rhon McKennies Ivory. She has performed in the “Nutcracker” with the Academy of the Dance. She also joined the Wilmington Black Ensemble with Llewllyn Wimberly, J. Preston Powell, Harold Pearson, Kamau Ngome, and Bebe Coker, and was the lead dancer in “God’s Greatest Gift”. Tanya founded the 3 Times Tap Ensemble that performed at the Apollo Theater in New York. Her Tap Choreography won first place.
DARA STEVENS-MEREDITH
Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Dunham, Senior Ensemble
Dara Stevens-Meredith is an Atlanta native, trained at Total Dance/Dancical Productions under Terrie Ajile Axam and Dawn Axam. She received her B.F.A. in Dance Education at the University of the Arts where she was the recipient of the highest honored Stella Moore Award. She also received her Masters of Fine Art at Temple University and was awarded the Rose Vernick Choreographic Achievement Award. She has also choreographed for Bad Boy’s “Danity Kane”, Grace Dance Theater, Danse 4 Nia Dance Company, Axam Dance Theater Experience, and West Chester University. She has taught at the University of the Arts, Pennsylvania State College, and several studios and institutions in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In 2004 she co-founded DCNS Summer Dance Intensive Ms. Meredith is currently an adjunct faculty member at Temple University, and heads up the Dance Chance Program for the Pennsylvania Ballet.
KIM GRAHAM
Teen/Adult Drama, Narrative Writing
Over the past three years, Kim has set out to prove that you are never too old to learn. Kim has studied vocal music as a member of Fruits of the Spirit. She also loves dabbling in the visual arts. Kim is a senior administrator and theatre instructor at CCAC. In 2006, Kim was selected by the Delaware Arts Council for a Fellowship in Literature. A powerful spoken word artist, Kim was featured in Vibe Magazine in 2007. Kim stage manages the CCAC annual student production.
SALIMATA J.D. LINGUER
Youth Drama
Salimata Linguer has been a part of the CCAC faculty in various capacities for two decades. She is currently serving as the Youth Drama instructor. Salimata believes that art is a tool for social change and promotes holistic wellness through art therapy. In the spirit of Afrikan tradition, she encourages all to “See the rhythm, hear the dance, feel the song, and experience the culture.“
JEFFERS LOPERBEY
Karate
Jeffers Loperbey has been practicing martial arts since 1966 and is a 5th Degree black belt and an East Coast Regional Director of the Sho-Rei- ShobuKan Budo Organization. He has been featured on radio, tv, in national martial arts publications and conducted demonstrations for civic, social and charitable organizations. With an extensive career in education and social services, Loperbey specializes in teaching karate to children with the idea of using traditional karate as viable platform for building character and personal virtues as well as the physical and mental health benefits.
MILTON DOWNING
Visual Arts, Gallery Curator
Milton has been an instructor and gallery curator at CCAC since 1991. He currently teaches in the Appoquinimink School District. He received his BFA from Temple University/Tyler School of Art and MS of Art Education from Delaware State. During his career he has received six teacher of the year awards, including 2019 and the CCAC Imhotep Award. He was also art director for Gibby Summer Art Camps and on the board of directors of Everett Theatre. He has exhibited in the tri-state area highlighted by his solo show at the Biggs Museum of American Art.
PETER ANTONY
Group Piano, Drumline
Peter Antony is a sought after musician and teacher with over 15 years of experience teaching music in private settings. For the past 9 years Peter has been teaching general music for the Christina School District, where he created the “Elbert-Palmer Drum Line”. Primarily a percussionist, Peter has also performed as a pianist and has shared the stage with such artists as Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge and members of The Max Weinberg 7 from “Last Night with Conan O’Brien”.
GERALD CHAVIS
Band Director, Fast Lane & Next Lane
Gerald Chavis is a world-class trumpeter in the Philadelphia, PA area. His credits include performing and/or recording with many national and regional acts including Mick Jagger, Phyllis Hyman, The Dells, Jamalladeen Tacuma, The O'Jays, and more. A student of the late Robert “Boysie” Lowery, who taught the late, great Wilmington, Delaware trumpeter Clifford Brown, saxophone great Ernie Watts and others. Chavis is a versatile, ever-expressive trumpeter for the new millennium.
STACEY HARCUM
Piano, Voice, Woodwinds, Music Theory
Stacey Harcum, a multi-talented Musician, songwriter, and Recording Artist, has recorded and shared the stage with many local, and international recording artist from Legendary Saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. to Stevie Wonder, and Jazmine Sullivan. As a professional musician, he has over 20 years of experience teaching, saxophone, piano, and voice one-on-one, as well as teaching general music, concert band, choir and drumline. He has conducted string ensembles in private and charter schools in Philadelphia and Delaware.
JILL BROADWAY-WIKOFF
Voice
Jill Broadway, full Lyric Soprano, has performed regularly in Philadelphia and New Jersey with Opera Seabrook and the Atlantic Coast Opera Festival in such roles as the First Lady in The Magic Flute and Mercedes in Carmen. Jill Broadway is in demand for her Concert Artistry throughout the whole eastern seaboard region. Jill Broadway received her Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from University of Delaware and her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in Vocal Performance and English Literature from East Carolina University.
FRANCEE BOULWARE
Piano
Francee Boulware is an accomplished musician and music educator from Wilmington, DE. She has studied with prominent music professors from Delaware State University, Lincoln University and Morgan State University. Since graduating in 2009, she has worked in live and studio environments across the US sharing prestigious stages with top acts. She currently performs with several local bands and has produced on a number of artist records such as Kefia Rollerson, Ratu Suguturaga, Leon Monroe, Colby Bright, Vokyle.
DARNELL MILLER
Guitar, Voice
Darnell Miller has enjoyed a long association with CCAC as both a student and faculty member, and Music Department Chair. Currently, Darnell teaches as CCAC arts integration faculty for Kuumba Academy Charter School where he also directs the Kuumba Kadillacs. Darnell has toured internationally with a range of artists including Tye Tribbett, Mary Mary, as well as artists Toby Mac and Eric Roberson. He has appeared on the Stellar Awards, NAACP Image Awards and other televised performances. His recent venture is his debut EP "Jesus & Jameson”. As a producer he has worked with a wide range of artists from rock, jazz and gospel. His band “The Souldaires” is much sought after in the region.
VERNELL “DOODER” MINCEY
Percussion
Vernell “Dooder” Mincey (Percussion Instructor), a New Jersey native, is currently a resident of Delaware. He has worked with recording artists Men of Standard, Tye Tribbett, Steve Middleton, Karen Clark-Sheard , Kevin Jerado, Norman Hutchins, The Williams Sisters, Zie’l, Marvin Sapp, Melinda Watt, Twinkie Clark, Ashanti ,PRU, Jamie Hawkins, Bilal, Kelly Price, Eric Roberson, Marsha Ambrosius, Keyshia Cole, the late jazz great Donald Byrd and Grammy Award winning multi-platinum recording artist, Alicia Keys. Dooder has toured with artists, Vivian Green, Glenn Lewis, Donell Jones, Mario, Musiq Soulchild, Mike Phillips and Grammy award winning multi-platinum recording artist Lauryn Hill. More Recently Dooder has been on stage with multi- Grammy Award winning legend Roberta Flack.
TIERRE WATERS
Percussion
Tierre began developing his talent while joining the Essence Drill Team and Drum Corp out of New Castle, DE. He then continued to go on musical ventures with the BDG Enterprises Jazz Band, Fuzion Sol Band, Anonymous Soul Band, EastSide Steppers Drill Team, Imperial Dynasty Drum Corp and the Delaware State University Approaching Storm Marching Band. He has championed organizations such as the Campus Community High School Drumline (Dover,DE) and Bayard Middle School Bulldogs Drumline. With such love for the community, he partnered with colleagues in 2016 to start the Essence Legacy Drill Team and Drumline right here in Wilmington, DE at the Walnut Street YMCA.