Making her way from New York City, Rikkia Pereira formatively received training in Ballet, Horton Modern, Jazz, and West African Dance from various studios and schools. Rikkia went on to pursue studies in Dance and Education at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. There, she was introduced to Improvisation, studied choreography and Contemporary dance with Deborah Goffe, implemented projects focused on engaging the voices of young people through dance, and produced her own work. Post grad, Rikkia taught dance in after school programs, participated in the Urban Bush Women’s Summer Leadership Institute, and pursued Hip Hop training and coaching with Robin Dunn. Presently, Rikkia is dancing with Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater in Portland, Oregon and now teaching at Evergreen Dance Academy in Vancouver, Washington. Rikkia strongly believes in the power of dance, as it has served as a site for her self actualization and gifted her with the tools to be an empowered, embodied person in everything she does.