Esther Grant Walker

Esther Grant has been studying dance several decades. During her childhood she dance trained in traditional European dance genres: ballet, tap, and modern dance. Her first exposure to African/Afro-dance styles was learning the Quadrille, a Caribbean-style square dance, taught to her by her mother. Ms. Grant became exposed to West African Dance and instantly loved the power of the drum and movement. This sparked a connection to African dance and folklore that has spanned well over three decades. She has studied and danced with the late Papa Ladji Camara, Wilhemina Taylor, Abdel Salaam, Fatou Sam, Nafisa Sherif, Jewel Love, Ndaye Gueye, Youssouf Koumbassa and a host of talented teachers and choreographers in the NYC tri-state area. She has performed with NYC-based companies: Forces of Nature, Sabar Ak Ru Afriq, and Papa Ladji Camara’s African-American Dance Ensemble. She has served as Artistic Director/Executive Assistant of the Opus Dance Theatre & Community Services, Inc. Ms. Grant has danced at major venues and events i.e. B.A.M. Dance Africa, Radio City Music Hall, the Apollo Theatre, Newark Symphony Hall, Central Park Summer Stage, the Odunde Festival, Dance Mobile, and the Rhythms of the World Festival, Montreal, Canada - to name a few.  

Ms. Grant remains active in the dance community, with a focus inter-generational community dance classes. She currently serves as the Rehearsal Director for Batoto Yetu Dance Company, trainer and choreographer at A.R.E.A. Collective Dance Company, on-call Rehearsal Director for AfroDance New York, and Assistant to the Dance Department Director at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center. She strongly believes in the power of community dance to bring people together, preserve intergenerational respect and honor traditions that have produced greatness in people of color.