As we celebrate Black History Month on The Front Row Blog, we are proud to spotlight the African American teaching artists and staff who help shape Encore Stage & Studio. This week, we are featuring Yani Imani, a teaching artist and choreographer whose energy is a perfect blend of calming and fun. Most recently, Yani choreographed Jingle Bell Jam the Remix as part of our Season of Dreams, and audiences may also recognize their work from The Lion King JR. and Freaky Friday. They are also our teaching artist for our upcoming K-Pop Workshop (on February 16th!) and Encore Stage & Studio’s production of Dare to Dream JR. A Disney Musical Revue. Check out the exclusive interview we did with them!
What was the first show you ever did, what do you remember most about it?
It was a dance recital when I was 3, and I remember it being super fun to dress up and dance my little heart out.
My first theater show was Les Miserables in 10th grade with my high school theater club, I was on the props crew and I remember the giant flag giving us some trouble, we had to remake it a couple times.
Was there a particular production or moment that sparked your love for theatre? What made it so meaningful for you?
Yes I remember it vividly, it was the third show night of my senior musical The Little Mermaid, and despite technical difficulties and broken canoes we had the most enthusiastic audience an actor could ask for. I was in the ensemble and chose to do bows in my seagull costume. Feeling that wall of joy and excitement hit me while I was dressed in a goofy, ill fitting, stock seagull costume made me fall in love with theater forever. I loved being even a small part of bringing that much happiness to someone’s day. That was even more solidified when we’d go out to do autographs after the shows and kids would remember me as “the danciest seagull” and want me to sign their program. Now I will forever be chasing that dancing seagull feeling…
What do you enjoy the most about teaching in the creative arts? Is there a specific moment that highlights why you continue working in teaching positions?
I love seeing how people are changed by experiences in creative arts. Especially in theater and dance as performing arts a lot of people approach it pretty intimidated by the challenge of being seen, trying to communicate a character authentically, or balancing their way through dance steps. But overwhelmingly I’ve seen children and adults leave a class or a show newly confident in how they can push themselves. I’ve been that student! I was so proud of the students I got to work with in Jingle Bell Jam the Remix this past holiday season. The entire cast grew so much over the process, but the students cast in the most intense dance number really doubted themselves at the beginning. A mere few weeks later they made it look so fun the rest of the cast was dancing back stage. I was dancing backstage! They could do it twice as fast even! I hope to guide more students in that kind of growth and embracing that confidence.
Why is representation in the community important to you? How has being representation for others been fulfilling to you?
Because it is humanizing. To see yourself reflected in any and every realm of reality and fantasy alike makes the world feel truly boundless. The stories we tell inform what we believe we can be. People as a whole can more readily empathize with an experience outside of their own through narrative, and western theater is largely a narrative artform. Platforming diverse voices for authentic storytelling means audiences walk away understanding a new facet of what makes us human, even if its not something the directly share in. As far as being representation, I think I see that most from my little sisters. I’m glad to be part of making a world they’ve never had to question where they fit, or what they can see themselves in. I hope to keep it that way
What does it mean to you about being apart of a creative community?
Getting to really breathe.
What is your advice to young Black performers or technicians getting started in the arts today?
Start! Start anywhere!! You learn the most by doing and there’s so much to do when making art, especially live art like theater. So much of that effort is extremely valuable even when the audience doesn’t see it. Starting wherever you are with whatever skills you have can lead you to new insight on what brings the whole process together. Our voices are needed in lighting design, in costuming, in stage management, and in marketing, as much as they’re needed writing scripts and performing on stage. Start where you are and see how you’ll grow 🙂
How have diverse stories helped shape your perspective? Do you have recommendations?
The Legendborn Cycle series by Tracy Deonn and A Song Below Water duology by Bethany C. Morrow are good YA reads. For younger audiences, I’d recommend the Ada Twist Scientist books and TV series, BIG by Vashti Harrison, City Shapes by Diana Murray, and The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds.
What upcoming projects do you have on the horizon?
I will be choreographing Dare to Dream JR with Encore!
Yani Imani (they/them) is a multi-hyphenate theater artist with over 20 years of dance experience. They graduated with a B.A. in Theater from the University of Maryland in 2022. They have directed one-act productions for the UMD Fearless New Play Festival and UMD student groups including the Muses and Kreativity Diversity Troupe. They led Kreativity as Artistic Director from 2020-2022. Yani’s previous Encore credits include choreographing Freaky Friday (2023), Finding Nemo JR. (2024), The Lion King JR. (2024) and Jingle Bell Jam the Remix (2025).
Photo credits: Dylan Singleton, Emma Crawford, Suze Creedon, courtesy of Yani.
Website Contributor: Emma Crawford.