COAR Team

Corntei Cuffy began dancing at the age of three with the Marie Brooks Dance Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. Her desire for dance grew during her studies at Creative Outlet Dance Company with which she was a student for five years. She is a 2005 graduate of the Professional Performing Arts School, having received her dance training from The Alvin Ailey School. Cortnei Cuffy is currently a Junior in the Dance Department at Long Island University and is striving to one day have her own dance company & performing arts school.

Courtney Sauls has an extensive background in ballet and the performing arts. She attended The Ailey School for the three year Certificate program, and performed with the Ailey student performance group through out the tri-state area. After graduating from The Ailey School she began performing in dance projects all over New York City and is currently performing with The Von Howard Project. She most recently began teaching dance in New York City charter schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Courtney is more than excited to be on staff at Purelements this season!

Dina Wright Joseph is the proud recipient of the FON Artistic Acheivement Award and has graced the cover of Heart andSoul magazine, and Instyle magazine’s featured article entitled Dina Wright: A Force of Nature.Dina’s television credits include PBS' "Free to Dance",VH1’s "Divas Live" with Aretha Franklin and as co-choreographer of VH1’s "Hip Hop Honors"tribute to Afrika Bambattaa and the Smithsonian Museum's multi-media instillation "Black Dance in the 20th Century". Along with being a founding member of Purelements: An Evolution in Dance, Dina also performs with Forces of Nature and Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater.   As a dance educator, Dina serves a guest lecturer for Lehman College's City and Humanities Deptand served two years as a lead teacher for NYCDOE's Summer Arts Intensive hosted by Stuyvesant High School.

Keisha Washington is a Teaching Artist Assistant with Purelements: An Evolution in Dance. Born and raised in New York City, she was introduced to the world of dance as a Teaching Assistant at Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn. At Purelements, Keisha shares her love and enthusiasm for the arts by assisting children in movement and self-awareness. She is also a Teachers Aid at a Day Care Center. Keisha's main goal is to bring love and laughter to whom ever she comes into contact and show children how to apply discipline, respect, honor and loyalty in their everyday lives. She thanks God for the arts because she is able to teach, learn and grow with a new extended dance family.

L.Hassan Blandford has been teaching ballet for Pure Elements since 2005. Mr.Blandford has danced professionally with the Atlanta Ballet, Donald Byrd the Group, and has appeared in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, and The Nutcracker with the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2002, Mr. Blandford began teaching as an independent contractor for the NYC’s Dept of Education, providing ballet instruction at the Bronx Dance Academy, and many other public and private schools throughout New York City and NewJersey. Mr. Blandford joined the faculty of the Alvin Ailey® school teaching ballet for the Junior Division and, is the Director for the Professional Performing Arts High School (P.P.A.S.) at the Alvin Ailey® School.

Paul Wilkins has an extensive background in media.  He has worked on numerious projects, including video, websites and magazines.  Currently he is proud to join the Purelements team and as an artist, he feels right at home.  He is also looks forward to working with the parents and youth to give them the best experience ever!

Shani M Worrell Is a Former student of Duke Ellington School of The Arts and a graduate of Towson University. Mrs. Worrell worked closely with Obediah Wright and Balance Dance Theatre for many years before traveling with The Color Purple’s 1st National Tour for two years where she was the dancer/singer swing and covered the role of “Nettie”.

Someof her television credits include: “MTV’s Video music awards, Saturday Night Live and The 2006 Billboard Awards. Mrs. Worrell also had the pleasure of singing with band leader Yorel Lashley and Melee, monthly at Nuyorican Poets Cafe and she produced her own showcase" Another Part of Me", where she sang her original music and favorite covers.  

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Eddie received his formal dance training from the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. Mr. Stockton attended classes and workshops at the Martha Graham School, Alvin Ailey, 92nd St. Y, Bernice Johnson’s and Jubilation.  Mr. Stockton has performed and taught all over the world working with such artists and companies as George Faison, Dwight Rhoden & Desmond Richardson, Philadanco, Nathan Trice’ ” Rituals”, Milton Myers, Elisa Montel, Purelements, Creative Outlet, Ron Brown, Fred Benjamin, and Nai-ni Chen Dance Company and more.Mr. Stockton is in his 7th year as a Jazz Instructor at the Alvin Ailey School in New York City. Mr. Stockton is also an instructor for Purelements and Creative Outlet in Brooklyn, and continues to teach Arts & Education in New York City public schools.

Tricia was born in Trinidad, W.I. and raised in Brooklyn N.Y. She received her dance training from the Hines Dancing School; Marie Brooks Dance Theatre, where she developed her skill in modern, Caribbean and African Dance; the Harlem Dance Theatre; and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, where she trained with Youseff Koumbassa, Master of West African Dance. She has performed throughout North America and Europe. As a Teaching Artist, she has taught dance to children of all ages at Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn and is currently a Teaching Artist for Purelements: An Evolution in Dance. Tricia takes her enthusiasm and drive from the dance world into work at a preschool teacher transforming her dance skills to enhance children's physical development and self awareness. Her goal is to continually be a force of enlightenment to those she comes into contact with.