Sakina Ibrahim

Sakina Ibrahim, born in Springfield, MA began dancing with the Community Dance Enrichment Program and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School’s Catalyst Dance Company. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and her Masters of Fine Arts from University of California, Irvine. Her dedication to artistry and education allowed her to receive prestigious awards such as the Excellence in Performance Award and the Dance Outreach Award. She is also the recipient of numerous travel and research grants such as the Medici Award for her research and work in African Diapora Dance and Youth Empowerment. Sakina has received training scholarships to Bates Dance Festival, University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, and The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Sakina has worked as the Assistant to legendary Choreographer Donald McKayle setting Masterworks such as Rainbow Round My Shoulder and Hollywood dancer/choreographer Anthony Burrell.

Sakina booked her first professional job while working as the Program Coordinator for Jill Scott’s Blues Babe Foundation. “I found out Jill Scott was shooting a video at the Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center, where we held some of our activities. I didn’t want any favors, so I got an excused absence from my ballet teacher at UArts and went to the audition with Hollywood Choreographer Troy Kirby. It was great to be on set and to know that my talent and hard work got me there. I was grateful to be connected to such a powerful artist through both of my passions, performance and serving young people. “Sakina’s performance credits include Beauty Shop (OWN Network), Bayside the Musical (Off-Broadway), Cancer Pimp (Aspire TV), The Fall of the Kings, Rennie Harris (Rhaw) and more.

Sakina published her first book Big Words to Little Me: Advice to the younger self in June 2015, she facilitates empowerment workshops based on the book in partnership with schools and organizations dedicated to educating and empowering young people through arts and literacy.