BOARD MEMBERS
LaWanda Raines
President, Board of Directors
LaWanda Raines received a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, her MFA in Dance: Creative Process, and holds a Certificate in Production: Design for Dance at St. Mary's College of California.. Throughout her 24 year professional dance career, Mrs. Raines has taught studio curriculum for students ages 2 to adults and continues to be a dynamic performer and choreographer capable of diverse repertory ranging from jazz, hip hop, contemporary, latin styles and musical theatre.
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Currently a Professor of Dance at Virginia State University, LaWanda is also the Founder of the Virginia Black Dance Festival.​
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Deandra Clarke
Vice President, Board of Directors
Over the past 22 years Deandra has been an accomplished entrepreneur, dance agent and dance advocate within the dance and entertainment industry. She is an avid Hip Hop dancer, choreographer and performer throughout the country.
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A Richmond, VA native, Deandra is the Owner of Studio 4 Dance Agency, the Founder of the Virginia Dance Awards and Adjunct Professor at the University of Richmond; teaching Hip Hop Dance History.
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Alex Ness
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Alex brings over a decade of experience in the accounting and finance industries to his role as Treasurer of the Board of Directors. Alex possesses the analytical and organizational skills with the strategic insight necessary to support Dogtown Dance in its mission.
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A Richmond, VA native, Alex holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Passionate about the arts and community engagement, Alex is committed to fostering a collaborative and efficient environment on the Board of Directors, ensuring that Dogtown Dance continues to thrive as a vibrant cultural hub.
Nikkia Johnson
Board of Directors, Chair of the Development Committee
Nikkia is a nonprofit development and operations professional who is currently a Senior Development Officer at Legal Aid Justice Center. For the past decade, her career has been centered on nonprofit management and development, relationship building, and empowering marginalized communities.
Born and raised in NYC, Nikkia’s upbringing and experience in direct service and advocacy informs her commitment to advancing philanthropy rooted in equity and social justice. Nikkia is passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders and currently serves on the Board for the Virginia Association of Fundraising Executives (VAFRE) and chairs the programs committee. Her hobbies include dancing and traveling, having gained extensive experience with amateur dance performances and social dancing.
Rob Petres
Founder, Board of Directors
Kristen Harts
Secretary, Board of Directors
Kristen Harts is a visionary leader in Arts and Dance Education whose work has transformed communities across Virginia and the greater Washington, DC area.
She is the founder of the Dance Ed Project, a collaborative initiative designed to unite dance educators and amplify their collective impact. And she currently serves as the Arts Education Programs Manager at Washington Performing Arts, where she designs and manages dynamic arts learning experiences for students, schools, and communities.
She also holds the role of Assistant Production Manager for the Virginia Black Dance Festival, was recently appointed as a Committee Member and Administrator of the Pola Nirenska Dance Awardss, and erves on the Membership Advisory Committee of the DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative.
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