Azia Gambrel

Azia Gambrell is a Kansas City-based dancer, choreographer, performer, arts advocate, and entrepreneur. Originally from Oklahoma, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory.

Key highlights of her career include:

Professional dancer, choreographer, singer, actress, and model who has performed in stage productions, music videos, fashion shows, and touring productions.

Cast as a principal dancer for Hagerman’s Magical Mystery East Coast Tour and featured as a lead dancer in the “Harry’s Ghost” music video by The Nuclear Bananas. Served as a dance instructor with the National Dance Alliance for several years, teaching and mentoring students nationwide.

Founder of Art in the City KC, an organization created to showcase local artists, connect creatives with opportunities, and provide live performance and arts programming throughout Kansas City. Active advocate for the arts who works to elevate emerging and established Kansas City artists through performances, networking, and community events. Has also worked professionally in real estate alongside her performing arts career.

Through Art in the City KC, Gambrell has become known for creating platforms that bring together dancers, musicians, visual artists, poets, and other creatives, helping strengthen Kansas City’s arts community. If you’d like, I can also provide a timeline of Art in the City KC, notable events she has produced, or her social media and professional links.

Esoke bio led by Yaminah Mohammed

Esoke Cultural Arts Center is a nonprofit cultural arts organization dedicated to preserving and teaching West African dance, drumming, language, and cultural traditions. Founded in 1988 and incorporated as a nonprofit performing arts school in 2003, Esoke has served thousands of youth and adults through performances, workshops, and educational programs throughout the Kansas City area.

The organization is led by Yaminah Muhammad, a dancer, educator, and cultural artist who has studied traditional African dance and culture in Senegal and The Gambia, as well as in Barbados. Under her leadership, Esoke has become a respected cultural institution known for authentic West African dance and drumming performances, arts education, and community outreach.

Esoke’s mission is to strengthen self-esteem, cultural awareness, discipline, and artistic expression through arts education and performance. The organization offers instruction in West African dance, drumming, language, sewing, arts and crafts, and other cultural disciplines. It has partnered with schools, youth organizations, parks departments, and community groups throughout the Kansas City region.

Over the years, Esoke has performed at major cultural events, including Kansas City’s Kwanzaa celebrations, ethnic festivals, civic ceremonies, educational programs, and international cultural showcases. The group has received recognition for its contributions to cultural preservation and youth development in the region.

Yaminah Muhammad is the founder and artistic director of Esoke Cultural Arts Center, a Kansas City-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting African cultural traditions through dance, drumming, and arts education. A trained cultural artist who has studied in West Africa and the Caribbean, Muhammad has spent more than three decades teaching, performing, and mentoring youth while building one of the region’s longest-running African cultural arts organizations. Through Esoke, she continues to connect communities to the rich traditions of African dance, music, and cultural expression.

Bio for TIvona Couture Kansas city

Suzanne Gunn is a Kansas City–based fashion entrepreneur, designer, and cultural curator best known as the founder of Tivona World and Tivona Couture. Originally from Kenya, she has built a brand that blends African-inspired fashion, cultural storytelling, sustainability, and wellness while creating opportunities for emerging designers and artisans.

Gunn’s designs are recognized for their vibrant colors, bold textures, and celebration of African heritage. Through Tivona Couture, she creates custom couture garments and runway collections that showcase African culture and contemporary fashion. Her work has been featured at regional fashion events, including Heartland Fashion week, Kansas, Omaha, Atlanta, New York and many more.

In addition to fashion, Gunn has a background as an oncology and Family nurse practitioner and entrepreneur. Following the loss of her mother to cancer, she became passionate about wellness and holistic health, leading her to establish businesses focused on both fashion and wellness. Through Tivona World and Tivona Spa and Wellness, she promotes cultural expression, self-care, and community empowerment.

Gunn is also known for championing many organizations including Cancer causes, HealthEdConnect.org, Miss Earth Kenya, mentoring emerging creatives, entrepreneurs and supporting diversity in businesses in Kansas City and vicinity. Her work emphasizes cultural pride, ethical sourcing, artisan craftsmanship, and creating economic opportunities for local and international makers.