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Meet the Team Behind DICA

 

Capriece Piper

Founder and Executive Director

DICA All-Star Competition Team Head Coach

Liturgical Praise Dance Teacher

Erica McPherson 

Competition Team Liaison

Erica grew up in New Bern, North Carolina where the Arts cultivated her life and she began dancing at the age of 6. Throughout the years, her passion for dancing and the Arts led her to study at the Art Institute of Washington. While there, Erica gained the skills that excelled her on the caree​r path of business ma​nagement and entrepreneurship. Erica is the proud owner of E.D M​edia Photography and currently manages government contracts as the Lead Program Liaison. Erica loves to help others! Her goal is to inspire everyone to be the best version of yourself, always striving for better. 

Chyrah Piper

Majorette, Hip Hop, and All-Star Competition Coach

Chyrah Piper has been involved with and enjoying the arts since she was 4 years old. She is always working on and perfecting her skills as a performing and visual artist. Chyrah loves working with our students and is always helping them get to their full potential as a dancer. She was an All-Star cheerleader for 3 years, competing in several “Cheer and Dance Extreme” competitions, and she also has experience in many genres of dance including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and majorette. 


Chyrah has been a member of DICA since the very beginning in 2015 and danced as Captain of the junior and senior stand battle team. Having a strong passion and love for what she does, she wants to continue her journey of dance and visual arts in college, with goals to compete in regional and national competitions and becoming an inspiring figure in the world of arts. Chyrah is proud to be a part of our organization and can't wait to teach all that she knows to our DICA students!

Affala Atta

Majorette, Hip Hop, and All-Star Asst. Competition Coach

Affala Atta is a graduate of the illustrious Alcorn State University, located in Lorman, MS where she majored in Business Administration. Affala has always had a strong passion for the art of dance so much so that she decided to created a dance team at her high school and was the captain for 3 years. In the spring of 2016, she joined Divine Inspirations Center of the Arts and served as Captain over the majorette competition team for two years before graduating. 


While in college Affala continued her passion for dance as a member of the Royal Braves Dance Team. During and following graduating from college, Affala returned to DICA as a coach of the Hip Hop and Majorette Dance Teams. Along with coaching, Affala aspires to be a business owner and wants to inspire young girls through the arts! 

Deidre Squire

Tap Instructor

Deidra Squire has been tap dancing for more than 30 years. She was trained at Ballet Met Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio and Judy Conti Dance Academy in Youngstown Ohio. She founded Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble at Hampton University. Above Deck Tap Dance Ensemble remains an official campus organization. Since relocating to the DMV, Deidra has taught tap dance at the Patricia M. Sitar Arts Center and the Program for Academic and Leadership Skills in Washington, DC. She has also taught at Impact Performing Arts, Momentum Dance and Fitness, The Dance Academy of Virginia, Adagio Ballet, Body Moves, JMD Studio, Legacy Performing Arts, Star Makers Academy of Dance, Dance Makers Dance Studio, and many more. She is also a visiting artist at Blackrock Center for the Arts. She recently received her Level 1 certificate in tap dance from the American Tap Dance Foundation in New York, New York. She looks forward to bringing her wealth of Tap knowledge and skills to the students at DICA!

Kayla Headshot.jpg

Kayla Lanier

Jazz/Pom Instructor

Kayla Lanier grew up in Ocala, Florida, where she began dancing at 8 years old. She gained a spot dancing in the Marion County Center for the Arts in West Port High School, exploring the genres of jazz, lyrical, modern, African, Latin and tap. Along with dance she was also a member of the cheerleading and step teams. After moving to Stafford, Virginia, she became a member of Mountain View High Schools dance and step teams. Kayla is an 8-year United States Air Force Veteran and has spent time stationed in Arkansas, South Korea, and Maryland, and in each location, she has spent time volunteering with children in programs such as the Big Brother Big Sister Program, The Boys and Girls Club, and as a volunteer English Teacher. She enjoys giving back to the community any way she can. Kayla is also proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated. Currently she is in graduate school at Park University, pursuing a master’s in business administration. She is beyond excited to return for another season as a part of this organization and to be a positive representation for the DICA students.

Shameca Cunningham 

Divine Diamonds Mentorship Leader

With a background of 10+ years in counseling, Shameca Cunningham (Meca) decided long ago she would be dedicated to helping others in their healing process whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. Learning as a child from life changing inspirational life changing events like "Rites of Passage", Shameca knows how important it is to practice self love as a young-woman and into woman-hood. She is passionate about helping other young women discover their self-worth, inner beauty, and sense of self. Her main goal is to pour wisdom, grace, and positivity into the DICA students so that they can lead the rest of their lives in confidence and purpose!


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