Founder, E. Leon Evans, II began to develop his great talent as a dancer and choreographer during his years at High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA. In 1978 he began to build his repertoire based upon philosophies he formed during his extensive experiences in both the theatrics and dance with the Playward Bus Theater Company and dance master, John Hines. In 1980, he co-directed a company that flourished and eventually became Eleone Dance Theatre.

Leon, as he is affectionaltely known, worked as an entertainer, a choreographer, a performer, a composer, and an educator in programs sponsored by the Institute of Arts and Education, Wanamaker Middle School Theater Arts Program, the Christina Cultural Arts Center, The American Music Theater Festival, and many others.

In addition to being mentored by and working with Maurice Hines, Leon also worked with such greats as Chita Rivera, Donald O’Connor, the Boston Pops, Dee Dee Sharp and Tachina Arnold. His most enduring engagements were with “Browser,” the notable performer from the Group Sha Na Na.

Leon received a special citation from the City Council of Philadelphia and the Bright Hope Baptist Church to honor his generosity and commitment to elevating the artistic programs of the church to new levels of excellence. He was also presented the Imhotep Award from the Christina Cultural Arts Center, and featured in the “50 Rising Stars” article in Seven Arts Magazine, February 1997.

 

Artistic Director, Shawn-Lamere Williams, a native Philadelphian, began his dance training with Cheryl V. Shepherd and has studied with Faye B. Snow, Leon Evans, Traci Hall, Jaye Allison, Milton Meyers, Denise Jefferson, and James Truitt, just to name a few. He was a scholarship recipient for the Alvin Ailey School of Dance in NYC, Philadanco in Philadelphia, and is a graduate of The High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) in Philadelphia, all where he has trained with various teachers.

Shawn-Lamere has performed and traveled with such companies as the Juba Contemporary Dance Theatre, Leja Dance Theatre, Eleone Dance Theatre, New Freedom Theater Repertory Theater, Mark Scott Dancers, Danco II and Philadanco. He has appeared on television and the major screen in the film Beloved. He has also had the honor of performing with and for such celebrities as Patti Labelle, Cab Calloway, Grover Washington, Jr., Howard Hewitt, Melba Moore, Jean Carne, the Winans, Wynton Marsalis, Raye Avery, Carol Riddick, Coretta Scott King, and Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Shawn-Lamere has taught and choreographed many ballets and theater productions for CAPA Dance and Drama Dapartment, Philadanco II, Leja DTH, Eleone DTH, the New Freedom Theatre Dance Department and Repertory Theater, Christina Cultural Arts Center and Dance Ensemble, Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, Wm. Meredith Elementary School, Wanamaker Middle School and Elements of Style, all which received rave reviews.

He has also conducted master classes at Cheyney University and Hampton University for the Black College Dance Exchange. His many awards include a Liberty Bell from the Mayor of Philadelphia, Citations and Commendations from the Philadelphia City Council, NAACP Act-So, Philadelphia Board of Education, 100 Black Men of Philadelphia, Lawrence Epstein Choreographers Award, 1992 listing in “Who’s Who” among Young Professionals in America, a 1996 listing as one of the “Outstanding Young Americans,” a 1998 Dance Advance grant funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and a Channel 17 UNSUNG Hero 2002. He also received the Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Teachers Award from the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, the School of Philadanco. Shawn-Lamere is a former Co-Artistic Director for Philadanco II. Currently he serves as the director for the Christina Cultural Arts Center Dance Ensemble in Wilmington, DE and the Wm. Meredith School dance department in Philadelphia, PA. Shawn-Lamere is the Artistic Director for Eleone DTH.

 

Executive Director, Sheila A. Ward, a native of Richmond, VA, began dancing in the Richmond Public School System where she studied with Robert Pemberton, Jr. at the Arts and Humanities Center. Former Associate Instructor and Acting Director of the Afro-American Dance Company, Indiana University, she is presently an Assistant Professor at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA teaching Exercise Physiology and Anatomy/Physiology. She holds the B.S. in Dance from Indiana University and the M.Ed and Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Temple University.

In the Philadelphia Dance Company Training Program, she studied with Denise Jefferson and Milton Myers among others. In the Eleone Dance Theatre Training Program, she studied with Marion Cuyjet, Faye Snow, and Melvin Purnell among others. She attended the Summer Training Program at the University Dance Theatre where she studied with Bill Evans, Gewn Hamm, Iris Rosa, and Fran Snygg.

Awards and appointments include: AAHPERD Outstanding Dance Student, Pew Foundation Philadelphia Repertory Development Initiative, Young Professional Award-AAHPERD, 1998-99 Virginia Artist-in-Residency Roster, and currently serving on the Advisory Panel for Virginia Arts on Tour, Virginia Arts Commission.

In addition to her administrative duties, Ms. Ward is a principal dancer with Eleone Dance Theatre and has performed professionally as one of the original members of Philadanco II and with the Philadelphia Dance Company. She has performed professionally the choreography of Talley Beatty, Louis Johnson, Milton Meyers, Rod Rodgers, and Kariamu Asante Welsh among others. She has given theme dance classes and choreographed works for Hampton University, Old Dominion University, and the Norfolk State University High School Dance Festival. In the summer of 1997, she choreographed “Stephan’s Magic Show” at Paramount’s Kings Dominion Theme Park, and was cast as one of the dancers in the movie “Beloved”. She has completed over 20 extended k-12 dance residencies.