ABOUT US
Welcome to Dance Arts Academy OC, a premier dance program in Orange County and Los Angeles! We offer a diverse range of dance classes, including Creative Movement, Hip-Hop, Latin, Ballet Folklorico, and more. Our mission is to make a positive impact on our youth and community.
At Dance Arts Academy OC, we provide a safe and inclusive space where individuals can explore their true selves and nurture their dreams. We believe in the power of dance to unlock unique talents and foster personal growth and self-expression. Through our partnerships with schools, families, and corporations, we are committed to breaking down the limitations that any students may face.
Resilience, showmanship, discipline, and strong values form the core of our teachings. By instilling these qualities, we empower our students to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. We firmly believe that with resilience and a solid foundation of values, there is no challenge our students cannot conquer.
Experience the transformative power of dance as we work together to make a positive impact on the lives of today's. Let us inspire a new generation to dream big, achieve greatness, and create a better world through the joy and artistry of dance.
Sakina Ibrahim
Founder/Artistic Director - www.sakinaibrahim.com
Meet Sakina Ibrahim
Sakina Ibrahim is an award-nominated artist, educator, producer, and social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience teaching, performing, and leading arts initiatives nationally and internationally. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Dance Arts Academy OC and the Dance Arts Academy Foundation, organizations dedicated to providing culturally responsive, high-quality dance education and wellness programming to youth and communities across Orange County, Los Angeles, and beyond.
Sakina is a Tribeca Award–nominated producer and host and an NAACP Image Award–nominated author for her acclaimed children’s book Big Words to Little Me, a social-emotional learning tool centered on confidence, identity, and healing. Her interdisciplinary work bridges dance, education, storytelling, and community impact. A graduate of UC Irvine, Sakina holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of the Arts. She has served as former dance faculty at California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach City College, Saddleback College, Cypress College, and other institutions of higher education, teaching courses in dance technique, cultural history, and community-based arts practice.
Her professional career spans performance, choreography, film, and education. Sakina has worked alongside and studied under legendary artists and creators including Donald McKayle, Anthony Burrell, Shelly Garrett, and Rennie Harris, and has performed and contributed to projects connected to Jill Scott, the Harlem Arts Festival, Essence Festival, and numerous national and international stages. Her choreography credits include the two-time Rose d’Or Award-winning documentary Young@Heart, recognized as a Top 50 documentary and streamed on Netflix and PBS.
Sakina’s training includes intensive study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Bates Dance Festival, Broadway Dance Center, and immersive cultural study at the Dagbe Cultural Arts Center in Ghana. Her work has been supported and featured by organizations and platforms such as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem affiliates, Black Enterprise Magazine, Google, and leading arts and wellness institutions.
In recognition of her advocacy and leadership in the arts, Sakina received the Orange County Arts and Administrators Award for Advocacy in 2023.
At the heart of Sakina’s work is a deep commitment to access, equity, and creative empowerment. Through Dance Arts Academy OC and the Dance Arts Academy Foundation, she continues to cultivate safe, inspiring spaces where young people and families can experience the transformative power of movement, culture, and artistic expression.
Meet the Team
Meet our friendly and talented instructors.
Chantrell M. Lewis
Teaching Artist & Program Coordinator
Chantrell M. Lewis, M.F.A is a multi-disciplinary arts educator, published author, award-winning researcher, and artist. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from The University of California, Irvine. She is a certified specialist in the social-emotional development of youth stamped by The University of California, Riverside. Lewis has been performing since she was eight years old. Having been awarded a Broadway World Regional Award for Best Actress in a Drama or Comedy (2018), she is an esteemed theatrical actor, classical singer, and nationally recognized performance poet. Lewis has worked as a Teaching Artist and Adjunct Professor for various educational theatre programs. Through these programs, Lewis carefully designs and teaches programming and curriculum that emphasizes literacy and other skills in alignment with the state standards for visual and performing arts education.
Cindy El
Teaching Artist & Community Engagement Coordinator
Cindy El is a published author and poet, as well as an artist and teaching artist dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of creatives. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she earned a double major in Drama and Political Science, with a minor in Creative Writing.
Drawing from her background in theatre and dance, Cindy designs and facilitates engaging, culturally responsive arts education experiences. She has conducted research in arts education and, in collaboration with the UC Irvine School of Education and Dr. Lora Cawelti, helped develop curriculum for the UCI Creative Connections Teaching Artistcourse.
Cindy teaches Hip-Hop, Ballet Folklórico, and Latin dance, and leads community engagement workshops in partnership with local schools and community organizations. Her work centers storytelling, cultural expression, and creative empowerment as tools for learning, connection, and social impact.