IMAgiNatIon Dance was created by Imani Jalil, professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Imani Jalil was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She began her dance training at the age of eleven as a student at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts. It was there that she took her first jazz, tap, and ballet classes. After graduating from RMSA, Imani became a dance major at Milwaukee High Scho
ol of the Arts, where she gained experience in various modern dance techniques, including Graham and Horton. Upon graduation, she auditioned for the dance department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She became a dance major at UW-Milwaukee in 2010. Up until the end of her sophomore year, Imani was a student in the contemporary dance track at UWM. She made the switch over to the African dance track her junior year of college. Imani graduated with her degree in contemporary and African dance in the Diaspora in August 2015. In June 2015, at the end of her senior year, Imani had the opportunity to attend a study abroad program to Brazil, where she studied many forms of Afro-Brazilian dance and movement. Brazilian dance has specifically been an area of research and study for Imani for the past two and a half years. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Imani studied various other styles of dance, including hip-hop, Latino and traditional Caribbean as well as Central and South American dance forms. She was a member of Ahora! Latin Dance Organization at UWM and also performed with the bachata dance group, Milwaukee Touch. She has also performed with the African dance company, Ko-thi Dance Company, run by Ferne Caulker-Bronson. Currently, she is a member of Panadanza Dance Company in Milwaukee, a group that studies and performs traditional dances from all over Latin America, particularly Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Panama. As a member of this group, Imani had the opportunity to perform at The Panama Salsa Congress in May 2013. At UWM, Imani performed in a number of the dance department’s annual concerts, including its New Dancemakers concert series. She also performed in its Winterdances series, in a piece choreographed by Luc Vanier, in the African and hip-hop dance collaboration “Words from the Sole” choreographed by Ferne Caulker-Bronson and Chelsey Walker, in “The Sweetgrass Project,” choreographed by Ferne-Caulker Bronson, and in its Summerdances series in "Their Eyes Were Watching God," also choreographed by Ferne Caulker-Bronson. In the fall of 2013, Imani choreographed a piece for the New Dancemakers concert series, entitled “Caminos Cruzados.” This was her first full-length piece choreographed on other dancers. This past July, Imani performed in a piece choreographed by New York choreographer and Milwaukee native Reggie Wilson, titled "Moses(s)." Imani has taught a variety of dance styles all over Milwaukee. She has taught at various dance studios in Milwaukee and also taught for TBEY this past summer, a non-profit dance organization in Milwaukee for children and teenagers. Imani also taught for Ko-thi Dance Company this past summer. To contact Imani about her current schedule of classes, please call (414) 339-7217. You can also send her an email at [email protected]
