KARA JENELLE WADE

Kara Jenelle “KJ” Wade is a choreographer, spoken word artist, and international arts educator. As a fellowship recipient, she earned her MFA from UCLA’s Department of World Arts & Cultures/Dance, where her thesis, ÌYÁguration, was selected for 6 national film festivals. KJ’s credits include: Beyoncé’s Black Is King, Janet Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Coming 2 America, Daddy Yankee, Wiz Kid, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Nike, BET, Latin Grammys, Black Eyed Peas & more. Her choreography highlights music, dance and storytelling practices of the African diaspora, and she’s had a global reach through 19 million views on her YouTube channel and teaching abroad in Spain, Taiwan, Netherlands, France, UK, Nigeria, Kenya, El Salvador, and beyond. KJ currently serves as an Associate Artistic Director for Ladies of Hip Hop Collective, along with founding Kaliba Jah Creative Collective and being the visionary and co-founder of Delta Chi Xi Honorary Dance Fraternity, Inc. Her recent achievements include 2024 Teaching Artist for Next Level 10.0 Costa Rica, 2023-25 Residency Fellow for The Creatives Project, 2023 92NY Future Dance Festival, 2022 National Black Arts Festival Project grant awardee, and joining the Creative Administration Research cohort with NCCAkron 2024.