Niaja Diggs is a dancer who has found a special place within her for many genres of dance. Ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and commercial styles such as hip-hop and heels are the main genres she has trained in. She was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland to a family that did not know dance would be a major influence on her life. Her training started at Expressions Dance Company at the age of three and has not stopped since. Upon grade school, she completed training through Anne Arundel County’s Performing and Visual Arts program.

After completion of the Performing Arts program at Annapolis high school, Niaja attended Anne Arundel Community College, where she got her AA in Dance. During her time at the college, she became Anne Arundel Community College Dance Company’s president and an American College Dance Association Gala choreographer. As a dancer and performer, Niaja has gained knowledge from many. She finds pride in choreographing pieces and teaching technique for many different age groups and genres of dance.

Co-founder Kevin S. McAllister has served as Artistic Director, spearheading ArtsCentric’s creative vision, since its founding.  Mr. McAllister is a classically trained baritone and a versatile actor/singer who has performed as a leading man with every notable theater company in the Maryland/DC/Virginia region including Signature Theater, Ford’s Theater, Olney Theater, Arena Stage, and Washington Opera. Kevin recently made his Broadway debut in the musical Come From Away, where he served as an understudy and went on for several roles. He is also a talented director having served as Director for every ArtsCentric production since its founding; as well as productions at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Keegan Theatre, NextStop Theatre and Olney Theatre.  

Mr. McAllister received his B.A degree in Music from Morgan State University and has served as an Adjunct Professor in Musical Theater Techniques at Howard University. He has served as Fine Arts Teacher and Theater Instructor for Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Randallstown High School, The Actor's Toolbox, Samuel F. B. Morris Elementary School, and ArtsCentric’s Summer Music Institute.

Tavish (they/he) is the Director of Bird City Improv and a practitioner of Theatre for Social Change. He is a queer artist and educator with Celtic roots. They enjoy directing, poetry and ensemble-generated theatre. They are also a Buddhist, Yoga practitioner and Tarot card reader. Tavish was born on Penacook Land, in New England, under a Virgo moon. Since 2011, they have lived in Baltimore and DC, which are the ancestral lands of the Piscataway people, where they became the founder of Bird City Improv, a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, and an educational consultant for the Maryland State Department of Education. Now, he facilitates the Arts & Social Justice Fellowship at Strathmore Music Center and the Queer Youth Soloist Project at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. They are a faculty member in the Kennedy Center’s Opera Institute and in the Creative Aging program at Art Works Now. Through his theatre company, Tavish also offers in-school residencies, corporate workshops, and private coaching for queer folx and artists who are interested in re-imagining their relationships and channeling their creative power in ways that are meaningful, just, and authentic.

Tavish holds two degrees in theatre, but more importantly, is a seasoned artist with many years of lived experience. He is versed in multiple styles of improvisation, embodied practice, and comedic theory. Centering healing, queerness, and connection in his work, Tavish empowers individuals to listen, adapt, and respond. Their hope is to co-create in ways that are joyful, patient, and honest.

Previous directing credits include Two Rooms by Lee Blessing at Green Globe Theatre, Singularity: Eccentric Solo Comedy at Baltimore Improv Group, and A Game by Denis E. Noble at Bird City Improv. Writing credits include Whatlaw at 10x10x10, Evangelisaurus at Baltimore Improv Group, and Dovo Sono i Peni? at Stevenson University. Previous stage credits include A Streetcar Named Desire at Everyman Theatre, Cloud 9 at Iron Crow Theatre, Leveling Up at Interrobang Theatre Company and The Brother(s) at New York Stage & Film. Connect with Tavish by visiting www.birdcityimprov.com. 

Detroit native Crystal Freeman is known for her vocal prowess. Her voice has been described as "A river of sheer angelic beauty," by DC Metro Theatre Guide. Her love of music began in high school where she had the privilege of traveling throughout the United States, Ghana, and Canada. She matriculated to Morgan State University and discovered an entire new world of music. Under the direction of the late Dr. Nathan Carter, Jr., Crystal traveled throughout Europe and the Caribbean. While at Morgan Crystal discovered her love of staged productions. Her love of the stage has blossomed into a career in musical theatre. She has performed many roles in the Baltimore/Washington area, including Dreamgirls as Effie White, and South Pacific as Bloody Mary. In addition to her performance career, she has developed a love for teaching as well. Crystal has taught elementary music for Baltimore City and Prince George’s County and most recently, she taught an after-school theatre program. Crystal currently resides in Baltimore County with her beautiful daughters.

Shalyce Hemby has served as Director of Creative Content and Resident Choreographer with ArtsCentric since 2013. While she has choreographed over thirteen productions with ArtsCentric, Ms. Hemby has also served as Guest Choreographer for 45 Degree Project and DC Dance Theater Company, as Choreographer for Toby’s Dinner Theater (Ain’t Misbehavin, The Bodyguard), NextStop Theatre Company and Howard University (The Apple Tree, Brooklyn), and as Assistant Choreographer with DC Capital All-Stars in performances at The Kennedy Center with the Showbiz Dancers. In 2018 she received a nomination for the Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Choreographer in a Musical for her work with Toby’s Dinner Theater in their production of Dreamgirls.Ms. Hemby is the Dance Coordinator for The ArtsCentric Summer Institute. An avid educator for over fifteen years, she has been a dance instructor and guest choreographer for Prince George’s County Public Schools including Suitland High School and Bowie High School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and for Garrison Forest School, Barrie School, and Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. 

Devon ``Steel Toe” Wallace is a versatile and energetic dancer, choreographer, and performing artist who has studied and trained in many styles within and outside of street dance culture for over 15 years. Getting his start in performing arts in Tae Kwon Do and dance with DC Dragons Training Center, located in Northeast, DC, his talents and versatility have granted him consistent work with a multitude of established schools, companies, and organizations throughout the DMV area, including Bmore Houseful, ArtsCentric, Dem Raider Boyz Step Squad, Dancarate’ Inc, Words, Beats, and Life, ClancyWorks Dance Company, CityDance Dream, and The Lion’s Den. His dance credits include the Kennedy Center, Fox News, Wale, Tory Lanez, Musiq Soulchild, Devin White, Chuck Brown, Adnan Sami, and Darren Smith.