Meet The Team

Born and raised in Camden NJ. Basina started her dance career at Creative Arts Morgan Village academy at the age of 12 years old. Throughout her high school career she participated in; IOTA youth alliance, Camden High Marching Band as a Pantherette dancer, Black Dance Conference, Dare to Dance NJ studio along with their travel team. After graduating in 2017, she joined Renaissance Dance Ensemble at the illustrious Wiley College. Basina is currently a dance teacher at Dare to Dance NJ and a proud member of Camden Contemporary Dance Theater. In addition, she was able to take master classes with; Todd Sams, Les Twins, Anthony Burrell, and Morine Booker to name a few.

Takreeya Hawkins is a native of Camden, NJ with over 30 years of dance training and performance experience. She began her training at Halliday Dance in Pennsauken, NJ. Years later, she attended Creative Arts High School as a dance major and continued her education at Camden County College, earning an Associate’s Degree in Psychology. She then studied dance for two years at The University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia, PA. Throughout her career, Takreeya has trained and performed with Halliday Dance’s award-winning competition team, Xtreme Dance Academy, DCNS Dance Intensive, Reveal Movement, and Grace Dance Theater, in addition to her foundational training at Creative Arts and UArts. Her formal teaching career began in 2006, allowing her to choreograph, coach, and instruct for dance camps, marching band dance lines, studios, theater organizations, and church praise dance ministries. She is also the recipient of the 2018 Pat Allen Scott Humanitarian Award. As a performer, Takreeya has had the privilege of dancing works by Lamar Baylor, Anthony Rhodes, Ali Willingham, Dara J. Meredith, Charon Mapp, Lauren Putty-White, Kareem Goodwin, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, and Christopher Huggins, among others. Takreeya is a Minister of the Gospel, Sacred Arts, and Liturgy, and she has served as Associate Director of the Praise Dance Ministry at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church in Camden, NJ. She is currently in her sixth season as Co-Director and Co-Founder of Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre, LLC. This marks Miss Takreeya’s 11th season teaching at the studio—now known as Creative Connections Dance Studio (formerly Dare 2 Dance)—where she continues to share her passion for technique, artistry, and creativity with the next generation of dancers.

Toni Lundy is from Woodbury, NJ and has trained with Julia Mayo, Tim Cowart, Trinette Singleton, and Ann Moser Trenka. She graduated from the Gloucester County Institute of Technology for high a school and from DeSales University with a major in dance and a minor in secondary education. Toni dances seasonally various theme parks throughout the summer and fall seasons and is a member of Camden Contemporary Dance theater.

Teren Jones is a 2023 graduate of the illustrious Howard University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She began dancing at age 3 at Dance Sensations and continued her training at Halliday Dance, where she was apart of the award winning competition team. She also trained at Eleone Dance Unlimited in Philadelphia, performing with both Eleone Dance Incorporated and Eleone Connections. In addition, Teren received training from the Reveal Summer Intensive, further strengthening her technique and versatility. She is currently a principal dancer in Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre and brings a strong foundation in both performance and academic training to her teaching. Teren is excited to share her passion and inspire the next generation of dancers.

My name is De’Yonna Jackson. I am from 26 years old from Camden,Nj. I started dancing at the age of 6 at with a dance studio called Dance Sensations. I’ve continued my dance career at Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy. During my high school journey, I was involved with many organizations, such as Camden Sophisticated Sisters Drill Team, Camden High Cheerleading, & Camden High Marching band. I also made appearances on national television with Dancing With the Stars, Good Morning America, CNN Hero’s, Black Girls Rock, and more. After high school, i then proceeded my career and education at THEE FIRST HBCU, Lincoln University. I was also very involved on campus. I was a mentor, captain for the majorette section of Lincoln’s University Orange Crush Marching Band, I was nominated queen for Explosions Dance Ensemble, and modeled in Ziana Modeling Organization. Two months before earning my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, I became a mother to my before daughter Laila. Currently, I am on my 3rd year of working with the brilliant finance team of the City of Camden.

Omar-Frederick Pratt is a native of Camden NJ. He was born November 27th, 1990. He graduated from Creative Arts high school in 2009 where he majored in dance. He then went on to receive his BFA in dance with a concentration in ballet performance from the University of the Arts in 2013. He has recently become an apprentice for Eleone Dance Theatre. He has also worked with Dance Fusion, Grace Dance Theatre as well as Dissonance Dance Theater. Currently, he is one of the vocal music instructors at Creative Arts Morgen Village Academy. Through working with his students, he has been awarded for his original music compositions. Frederick is currently the minister of music for Camden Bible Tabernacle church as well as Zoar United Methodist Church. Additionally he manages and directs his own music ministry, Devotion. He also has a background in studio production and has composed original scores for independent artists and choreographers. Frederick is a proud member of the NAACP and serves as a judge for the annual ACT-SO competition for the dance categories. Frederick's biggest goal is to use the gifts that God has given him to give back to his community. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48

Kori Burt, born and raised in South Jersey, started her dance training at Sheila E’s Dance and Fitness Center. While there, Kori began her assistant teaching career. Once closed, Kori transition to I.M. Dance Academy, training and full-time teaching creative classes, all while being the 1st captain of the Williamstown High School Dance Program and apart of the Fall Cheerleading team. Kori is a recent graduate from the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University, receiving her B.S. in Elementary Education and minor in Dance. While at NCAT, Kori was apart of the E. Gwynn Dance Company and Couture Productions Dance Sector. She was able to study aboard in Senegal through the “Dance in Africa” program, studying various dance styles. Kori is currently an incoming 2nd grade teacher in the Camden community and is eager to begin teaching at Creative Connextions formally known as Dare 2 Dance. She is trained in various dance genres such as ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, pointe, Dunham technique, etc.

Born in St. Maarten and raised in Philadelphia, Whitney is an all-styles hip hop dance educator with a passion for preserving and sharing the culture. She began her dance journey at the age of seven, training at the INDISU Dance Theater of St. Maarten under the direction of Susha Hines. Her early training included street jazz and ballet, laying a strong foundation for her versatility. In 2003, Whitney relocated to Philadelphia, where she immersed herself in the local dance scene, learning directly from street dancers across the city. In 2014, she joined the renowned hip hop company I Am Phresh, a second-generation extension of America’s Best Dance Crew alumni Phresh Select. Through this experience, Whitney deepened her expertise in a range of hip hop styles including house, locking, popping, breaking, waacking, and voguing. Her training has empowered her to educate and inspire students across the Tri-State area. Since 2013, Whitney has been actively teaching at institutions such as I Am Phresh Academy, The Village of Arts and Humanities, and various programs within the School District of Philadelphia. Beyond teaching, she has expanded her career into choreography, creative direction, and artist development. Whitney has worked with artists and organizations such as DJ Diamond Kuts, journalist Jennifer Mota, and Fabrika Cabaret. With a growing portfolio and a deep commitment to her craft, Whitney continues to spread knowledge, uplift communities, and serve purposeful impact through her evolving dance career.