Art and Dance Instructors

Tiara Mcknight is a visual storyteller based in Waldorf, Maryland. She is a military wife, and mother of five handsome small boys. Because there was once a time in her life where she felt hopeless in life, she made it her  mission to empower people through art. Art has been a huge part of her journey through life’s ups and downs and each piece she creates, she pours her heart in it. Her style of art has a wide range anywhere from “Still Life” to abstract to portrait, and you never know what brilliant colors she will use next. Working with many different mediums, she does not believe in staying in one box and isn’t afraid to try new things and styles of art. She started self taught,  but later developed her skills while she attended Savannah College of Art and Design. Her art tells visual stories that are meant to make you reflect on yourself and help instill hope and inclusion. Currently, her art is publicly displayed all over the state of Maryland. Even though she is passionate about creating art, she is also passionate about teaching art to children. She believes each child is an artist; they just need someone to help them realize it. She has had the opportunity to teach art at a local homeschooling co-op as well as private lessons in many homes. She has discovered that when children create art it becomes their therapy and they are able to work out some of their challenges. She knows God has gifted her with creativity and great talent and she plans on sharing every bit of it with the world through art. She says, “My overall goal is to be the support that I wish I had, and that starts through teaching and mentoring the children in your community.” You can see more of her artwork on her website: www.ArtworkByTee.com

Growing up, Ela's father was a diplomat, which meant living overseas and traveling the world. Infected with the travel bug from an early age, she has enjoyed her adventures, even on her own, without her parents. The summer of her 14th birthday, Ela traveled around Europe with her jet-setter grandmother. The summer before her senior year of high school, she traveled around the U.S.S.R. with the "People to People Friendship Caravan." Her journeys continued in college while she did a study abroad at the University of Stirling, in Scotland. At the age of 24, Ela joined the Peace Corps and headed to Hel, Poland. After her two years of service, she backpacked around Europe for the summer before moving to sunny Florida for graduate school.

As a child, Ela had a passion for art. During her world travels, she was exposed to many types of cultures and art from around the world. Her grandmother would take her to art museums, buy her plenty of art supplies, and encourage her creativity. In her senior year of high school, Ela took several art classes at La Plata High School and even took a few at the College of Southern Maryland. She hopes to soon work on her certification as an Art Therapist. To her, Art IS therapy.

However, Ela's other passion was for science, which she chose to major in for college and graduate school. It wasn't until years later that she came back to art. Once she became a mom and started homeschooling, it was time to break out the paper, paints, and creativity. During Covid, Ela really had the time to try new techniques and refresh her artistic skills. Next thing she knew, she was teaching homeschool art classes in King George, Virginia. Life has come around full circle; Ela is back in her hometown of La Plata, MD, and has the exciting opportunity to teach homeschool art classes there.

Megumi Butler is a fashion designer, artist, gospel singer, and bilingual educator. Her journey began in elementary school when a drawing she created, symbolizing friendship between Japan and China, was selected by the Japanese government and presented to the Chinese government. Her father's work took her to Singapore, where she was immersed in a new culture. Megumi pursued studies in fashion, design, Western art history, textiles, and merchandising at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo.

Her career led her to work as a brand designer for international companies in Shanghai and Korea, where she successfully launched new brands. By 2021, she contributed to establishing the No. 1 fashion brand company in China. Her work took her to fashion hubs across Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Milan, New York, and Los Angeles, where she collaborated on local and high-end designer brands. Megumi became the first prominent Japanese casual brand designer to achieve record sales and participate in the Tokyo Girls Collection.

Later, she moved to Hong Kong to further her studies in branding and launched her own brand, specializing in accessories, jewelry, and textiles. With a focus on merchandising, she consistently created industry hits. Megumi met her husband through music, perfume formulation, design, and production management. After their international marriage, she pursued web design and became proficient in Adobe. Through God’s mercy and grace, Megumi was blessed with a child after the age of 40, a miracle she had almost given up on, which brought a renewed perspective to her life.

Her experience extends to early childhood education in Maryland and teaching Japanese language and culture. Megumi believes we are surrounded by future leaders who will grow in character, and she is eager to support their intellectual development through art, design, and foundational learning. She aims to help them shape their creations and create a future filled with joy and challenges.
 

Marianna Elrayes is a muralist and art educator.  She graduated from Penn State University with a BA in sculpture, and received her master’s equivalent in Art Education from Kutztown University.  Trained by Mike Miller, an avid believer in the uplifting effect of murals in communities (Mike Miller, Art Evangelist), Marianna has led students in every step of creating a mural. She has helped create murals on 2-story buildings as part of the Mural Arts Philadelphia program, as well as on school walls and windows. She served as a studio artist, muralist, and art teacher at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, Pennsylvania. 

Marianna has also taught middle school and high school in Fort Worth, Texas. Her curriculum included Art I - Art III, and Advanced Placement Art, where students could earn college credits by submitting a portfolio to the college board. 

After having her daughter she focused on community art. She founded an art collaboration group with three of her graduated standout art students called Juxtaposse.  Juxtaposse created murals in public schools, banners for local theatre groups, hosted pop ups at open mic events, and designed and printed t-shirts for local bands and artists. She recently relocated with her family to the area and is excited to continue supporting her community through the arts. 

Monique Walker is originally from Chester, Pennsylvania, and has traveled the world as a performer, educator, and choreographer. She has studied under many dance masters and institutions including Dr. Charles "Chuck" Davis, Dr. Katherine Dunham, and Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Based in southern Maryland, Monique holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration, is a Master Teacher of the Umfundalai contemporary African dance technique, an adjunct faculty member in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at the College of Southern Maryland, and the Executive Director of the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT). She also teaches at CityDance’s Conservatory and Studios and The Viva School of Dance. Monique has served as a guest lecturer at Drexel University and the University of Illinois, and on the dance faculty at North Carolina State University and The School at Jacob’s Pillow. She is the former Assistant to the Artistic Director of Chuck Davis’ African American Dance Ensemble (NC), a former apprentice with Urban Bush Women (NY), and former principal dancer with Kariamu & Company: Traditions (PA). Her choreography has been presented at the North Carolina Dance Festival, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival (PA), Dance Place (DC), and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (MD). Monique continues her mission of using dance, music, and theater as a vehicle for the preservation, promotion, and innovation of African Diasporan dance through her work as a choreographer with her project-based performance company, MoDance Works.