Change Makers Team
Tamisha Guy (she/her)
BDCM Team 📧
Hometown: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Astrological Sign: Leo ♌
Tamisha Guy, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, began her formal dance training at Ballet Tech, under the direction of Eliot Feld. Later she attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School, and SUNY Purchase College as a double major in dance and arts management. She has completed summer programs with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Springboard Danse Montreal, and has performed works by William Forsythe, Pam Tanowitz and Mark Morris. In 2013 Guy graduated with honors from SUNY Purchase College and joined the Martha Graham Dance Company shortly after. In 2016 Guy was selected as one of Dance Magazine' Top 25 to Watch and she also received the 2016 Princess Grace Award. She was featured in the segment “Spotlight on Success” in Dance Informa Magazine as well as the Caribbean Life newspaper, where she discussed her upbringing and the distinguished Princess Grace Award. In 2017, she was named one of the Best Dancer's of the Year by Dance Europe. Tamisha currently dances with A.I.M, under Artistic Direction of Kyle Abraham, which she joined in 2014.
Alysia Johnson (she/her)
BDCM Team 📧
Hometown: Dallas, Tx
Astrological Sign: Aries ♈
Alysia L. Johnson is a native of Dallas, Texas and credits the beginning of her dance education to Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Academy. After her primary education with DBDT Alysia attended Booker T. Washington HSPVA under the direction of Lily Cabatu Weiss. Eventually, while getting her BFA at The Juilliard School in New York City Alysia developed a skill for community engagement and received two grants to help further dance education in her hometown. Within the Juilliard community, Alysia curated and moderated a program with American Ballet Theater’s, Misty Copeland as well as programming the Black Student Union Events. In 2017 Alysia directed her own inclusive-curriculum for a summer program in Dallas and has been creating education opportunities since then. Currently an artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alysia is excited to see where her journey as a performer, educator, and choreographer will take her. alysiajohnson.com
Deisha King (she/her)
BDCM Team 📧
Hometown: Tamarac, FL
Astrological Sign: Taurus ♉️
Deisha A. King is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where she received her BFA in Dance Performance/Choreography and minor in Nutrition. Deisha was chosen to be 1 of 12 representatives invited by Beijing Normal University (BNU) and the Chinese government to participate in the Creative International Dance Conference and Festival in 2015. Upon graduating from USF in 2018, Deisha performed original works with local Tampa/St.Pete dance companies and partnered with community organizations where she teaches dance education.
Most recently she participated in Momentum: Choreographic Mentorship, a 5-month mentorship program, curated by Artistic Director Alex Jones of projectALCHEMY dance, culminating in the presentation of a new installation and short dance film. A young advocate for health, wellness, and social action, Deisha is a proud ambassador for Meeyogi Wellness and Metro Inclusive Health. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and is honored to be a part of the Black Dance Change Makers leadership team.
Etana Sissoko (she/her)
Operations Associate / BDCM Team 📧
Hometown: Kissimme, FL
Astrological Sign: Gemini ♊️
Etana Sissoko began her dance training at Fantashique Apprentice Dance Company in Orlando, Florida. She continued her dance training throughout middle and high school at the esteemed Osceola County School for the Arts. At OCSA, Etana trained in classical ballet, modern dance techniques and performed in solo and ensemble works in department concerts, local showcase concerts, charity events and the FDEO Florida State Honors Concert. She studied techniques for choreographic process and developed works in contemporary, modern and liturgical styles. Etana was the 2019 ArtsAlive Dance Scholarship Recipient for Osceola County. Etana recently graduated in May 2023 from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program as a double major in Dance and Psychology. Her journey at The Ailey School has given her the opportunity to work with choreographers Ronald K. Brown and Arcell Cabaug, Clifton Brown, Hope Boykin, Mark Caserta, Sonia Dawkins, Chuck Wilt, Sarah Wingo, Francesca Harper, and Janice Rosario. At Fordham, Etana conducted her own research study titled, “The Black Student Experience at Predominately White Institutions: Investigating the Impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.” Etana is currently an NBA dancer for the Long Island Nets. Etana looks forward to furthering her career in the performing arts, as well as being a change agent through Black Psychology, social activism and policy change, and dance activism.
Antuan Byers (he/him)
Founder / Creative Executive Officer 📧
Hometown: Dallas, Tx
Astrological Sign: Gemini ♊
Antuan Byers is a dancer, creative entrepreneur, and arts activist based on Lenapehoking Land (Manhattan, NY). He is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, and holds a certificate from the Parsons School of Design. Antuan has cultivated artistic partnerships with brands such as Acura, Barney’s NY, Brooklinen, Nike, Jaguar, and Urban Outfitters, and global modeling campaigns including ASICS and Capezio. After touring internationally with Ailey II, he returned to Lincoln Center to rejoin the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, where he is currently performing a repertory with works choreographed by Kim Brandstrup, Philippe Giraudeau, Lorin Latarro, Sue Lefton, Mark Morris, Alexei Ratmansky, Susan Stroman, and Christopher Wheeldon, among others. Antuan hosts The LLAB on the Pod de Deux podcast, a series on racial justice in the dance world, is a steering committee member of the Dance Artists’ National Collective, and is a founding member of the Black Caucus at the American Guild of Music Artists.
He is the proud Founder/CEO of Black Dance Change Makers.