CityDance DREAM

Kelli Quinn, Founding Director of DREAM, joined the CityDance outreach staff in Spring 2008 as a site coordinator, eventually becoming the Director of the newly titled CityDance Community Programs. Ms. Quinn is now responsible for the development of the flagship DREAM program, spearheading the transition of the program from pure arts education to using art as a vehicle for youth development and behavioral change. Under her direction, all of CityDance's community programs are now grounded in youth development, from programming to administrative direction. Quinn manages teachers and resources and facilitates the growth and promotion of these programs. She graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University. Her work as a dance instructor at a pediatric aids organization strengthened her belief in the transformative power of dance in the life of a child.

Chandini Darby is a Washington, DC native, where she began her dance training with the DC Youth Ensemble. She continued her formal training at Spirit Wings Dance Company & Studio through high school and is presently on faculty at their training school. Chandini is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Towson University with a BFA in Dance Performance. She is also the recipient of the Washington Post Music & Arts Award in Dance Scholarship and is the 2015 recipient of The Kennedy Center’s Local Dance Commissioning Project. Professional credits include: Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (Chicago, Il), Washington Reflections Dance Company, Lula Washington Dance Theater (Los Angeles, CA) and DC Contemporary Dance Theater. Chandini is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Beauty For Ashes Project, a multi-layered arts organization that commits to communicating unpopular and unheard stories using dance and other performing arts genres.  Chandini has been a part of the CityDance family since 2009 and serves as the Co-Director of CityDance DREAM. Being able to give young people dance as a part of their journey gives her true joy. She is the proud wife of Kenny and mother to Josiah and Jazz.

Born and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland, Zenas attended a performing arts elementary school where she gained exposure to the arts daily. Soon after, she began taking dance classes with Dr. Sandy Mitchell, director of Spirit Wings Dance Company and Studio, where she later served as a company member, instructor and choreographer. She enrolled in Towson University, graduating with a BFA in dance performance in May 2013. Zenas began as a youth development teaching artist with DREAM and now serves as the DREAM Connections Program Manager.  She counts it as an honor to serve these youth, helping to bridge the education and opportunity gap in the DCPS school system for minority students. Whether it is performing, teaching, mentoring or coaching, Zenas is humbled and grateful for the gift of dance in her life and the opportunities she's been given to share the hope that the world needs through the arts. 

Rian Matthews (MA, BA) is the Center Manager for the DREAM Center for Dance. A graduate of Denison University in Granville, Ohio in 2016, Rian earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Dance. Shortly after receiving her BA, she began pursuing a Master’s Degree in Communication Management at the George Washington University’s Columbian School of Arts and Sciences, which she received in May of 2018.

While actively pursuing her Master’s degree, Rian was introduced to the CityDance DREAM program and served as a member of its Youth Development Senior Dance Faculty for two years. Rian also serves as a member of the Leadership Team at Spirit Wings Dance Company & Studio, where she received formal training in the art of dance starting at the age of five. Her passion and dedication to impacting her community in positive and creative ways is a constant goal and driving force in her professional career.

Janet Imobisa is the Academic Services Manager for CityDance DREAM. She graduated magna cum laude with an MA in African Studies and Research from Howard University and summa cum laude with a BA in Sociology and Africana Studies from Virginia State University. Throughout her academic and professional career, Janet has been an advocate for holistic youth social development and academic achievement as a mentor, counselor and educator.

In addition to her background in education, Janet has worked to establish community partnerships that have helped increase youth’s college and career readiness and personal development. Janet works diligently to provide the support needed to funnel collaborative visionary ideas for the merging of academic and arts education for youth with diverse background and life experiences.