Meet Maya.

She/her

“Where do I belong?” This is the question I constantly ask myself. You can call me Maya. You can call me Ms Maya. You can call me Mayanicol. The different names signify the type of “container” I create to share my offerings and gifts. In all the “containers” I create, I use art to expand consciousness, educate, and to heal myself and hopefully the participants.

As a childhood actress and performer, I spent many years on TV sets with directors and choreographers like Debbie Allen. I spent many hours training in the dance room at the ballet barre with Karen McDonald, Eartha Robinson, KaRon Brown Lehman, and other inspiring and gifted instructors and choreographers! Soon thereafter, I would spend summers nationally training at institutions like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Alonzo King Lines Contemporary Ballet. As I grew older, I continued my concert dance training. I began to choreograph. Then like I did as a child with my singer and songwriter mom, Sheree Brown, I began to collaborate with producers, writing and performing original music.

Throughout my life and my upbringing, I always felt like I didn't belong, as if I had to live and exist outside of the margins. While I identify as a Black/Afro American woman, I was born and raised into a disrupting multi-ethnic mixed family. I never felt there was permission to explore and express the many nuances of my experience and identity as a human. Because of this internal tension, I always found, and continue to find, myself constantly digging and exploring ways to be a free, empowered, and whole person. I feel blessed to be able to use my art practice to continue the afore mentioned exploration, and I hope to bring people on the journey with me. I want us all to restore, heal, and be whole.

With the birth of my children, I became even more committed to “belonging” and creating safe spaces for myself and especially children. As a teaching artist, I saw the disparate need for children to feel “seen” in order to thrive in a community and learning environment. Now because of this, I also use art and education to create safe spaces for young children.