Performing Art – New Orleans
Tiffany Knighten-Buddington is the founder and artistic director of Nkiruka Drum and Dance Ensemble. Tiffany has over 36 years of experience in dance, acting and professional performances. She has received formal training in traditional African dance, Afro-Modern, modern, ballet, samba, various Brazilian dance styles, jazz, and tap dance. She has been a principal dancer in many dance companies and teams in New Orleans, most notably: Khadija\'s School of Dance under the direction of Khadija Williams where she received the foundation of her dance career as a child, focusing in afro-contemporary; Young African American Dance Ensemble under the direction of Kai Knight focusing in modern dance from 1996 to 2005; N’kafu Traditional African Dance Company under the direction of Mariama Curry from 1997 to 2012; and Casa Samba focusing on samba, samba-reggae and Afro-Brazilian under the direction of Curtis Pierre from 1995 to present.
Tiffany has studied Samba dance styles in Brazil. She also studied under master African Dance teachers including Marie Basse-Wiles, Mouminatou Camara and Youssouff Koumbassa.
She created her own company in June 2013. Nkiruka is an Igbo name from Nigeria West Africa that means \"the best is yet to come.\" Although the group is relatively new, it is comprised of dancers who have been in practice for many years. Diversity is the group\'s specialty, as we have dancers versed in genres such as Traditional African, Modern, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary African, Second Line, Samba and even Belly Dance!