BAM Affiliation Denise “Ola” Dejean began her career to Repertory Theater as a performer and choreographer with The Demi-Gods, under the direction of Joseph A. Walker. She performed with this company at numerous venues including the Negro Ensemble Company, Lincoln Center and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Ms. Dejean joined the Chuck Davis Company as a dancer and teacher. As a dancer, she traveled throughout the continental United States conducting workshops, giving lecture demonstrations, and teaching master classes. Through a National Endowment for the Arts artist funded schools’ program, she taught classes to senior citizens, the mentally and physically challenged youth, adults and children. Ola holds a Master of Science Degree from Hunter College in Dance/Movement Therapy. In 1980, Ms. Dejean began singing in the Yoruba/Santeria vocal tradition. She has recorded with Heriberto Dalman, Milton Cardona and Amma Mcken. She has performed nationally, in Boston, California, Pennsylvania, Florida and internationally, in Panama, Cuba, Brazil, and at the Berlin, Germany Jazz Festival. Ms. Dejean was initiated into the priesthood of the Yoruba faith, to the deity Obatala, on December 18, 1983. She is one of the founding members of the Omo Obatala Egbe, Inc. She has been one of the rotating instructors at the Orisa Song and Dance Workshop, which is one of the most highly anticipated activities of this event.