About Us
2023-2024 Dance Season Schedule
Mini Wing is a creative movement program that bridges the gap between dance and early childhood education. Contact us today to find out how to bring Mini Wings to your daycare/preschool!
Our mission is to provide high-quality dance training to children and youth while instilling confidence, discipline, a sense of family/community and a love for dance.
Aliya Anderson
Owner & Director
BALLET (into, 1a/a, 3), POINTE, ACRO (all levels) AND CREATIVE MOVEMENT TEACHER
Aliya Anderson is a dancer, choreographer and teacher from Cheltenham, PA. At the age of 7, she began dancing at Soliloquy in Motion under the direction of Doris Roberts. While at Soliloquy in Motion, Aliya studied ballet and modern with former Alvin Ailey dancers Deborah Manning St. Charles and David St. Charles. She also studied Umfundalai with Josephine Heard who studied under Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Additionally, Aliya trained in hip-hop and jazz. During her time at Soliloquy, Aliya was given the opportunity to perform at the International Association of Blacks in Dance in Philadelphia in 2010 and California in 2011. Aliya received her BFA in dance from Temple University where she studied under professors such as Dr. Kariamu Welsh, Laura Katz, Nora Gibson, Dara Meredith and many more. She was given the opportunity to learn repertory and perform in Ishmael Houston Jones's piece entitled, “In My Perfect World” and attended Maria Bauman Dance Company’s summer intensive. Post-graduation, Aliya danced with Ujima Dance Theatre and had the opportunity to perform at Koresh’s Showcase series. She currently dances with Chocolate Ballerina Company where she has performed at BalletX pop-up performances and the Nutcracker Dipped in Chocolate, as well as danced in the opening act of Milano Di Rouge’s winter fashion show. In addition to performing, Aliya has taught at several dance schools in Philadelphia and Bucks County and was the assistant director at Ujima Dance Theatre Movement Arts Center. She is blessed and excited to own her own dance school where she can share her love and knowledge for dance with children and youth.
Nia Simmons
Artistic Director of the MDA Dance Company
BALLET (2a/b) AND JAZZ (all levels) TEACHER
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Ms. Simmons began her dance training at the New Castle Dance Academy in Delaware. She went on to train at Christina Cultural Arts Center, The Academy of Dance, Live Love & Dance, The Ailey School, and Dance4life where she studied ballet, modern, and jazz. She continued her studies under the direction of Maria Theresa Emmons at the Dance Conservatory in Dover, Delaware. She enjoyed dancing in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppélia, and Swan Lake for the Ballet Theater of Dover Pre-Professional Company. Her dance training was completed in Delaware at Mrs. Barbara’s School of Dance where she also taught modern and jazz. In 2013, she moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts majoring in Dance Performance. She has danced in works by Sidra Bell, Wayne St. David, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Nora Gibson, Curt Haworth, Katie-Swords-Thurman, and Jesse Zaritt. Graduating with Honors in 2017, she received her BFA. Soon after earning her degree she became a Teaching Artist for the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, where she was able to share her passion for dance with the community. She is grateful for this opportunity to give back and feels blessed to be able to make a difference in a child’s life. She is actively presenting her choreography and performing in Philadelphia. She has also received a review of her piece called “Reboot (restart/revive)” on The Dance Journal. Ms. Simmons is thankful for dance and how through it she has been able to express herself in every season of her life.
Sjaedah London
Executive Administrative Assistant
HIP-HOP (all levels) & PRE-POINTE TEACHER
Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Sjaedah Anyé London began her dance training at the age of 3 at Premiere Dance Theatre in Montclair, NJ where she studied Ballet, Horton, Graham, Hip-Hop, Tap, Jazz, and Performance. In May 2020, Sjaedah received her BFA in Dance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance. In December 2021, she received her BBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from Temple's Fox School of Business. Dance has afforded her many opportunities to perform on many different stages and in music videos, teach a variety of classes, train in different states, compete in World of Dance Championships, and choreograph her own works. As an adult, Sjaedah has trained in commercial hip-hop, freestyling, and heels under Creative Reaction Company and Bad Girls in Heels Company here in Philly. Sjaedah continues to train professionally, choreograph, teach and travel in her dance journey.
Ellicia Clayton
HORTON, TAPPING TOTS & TAP 1 TEACHER
Ellicia Clayton is a 2020 graduate from the University of the Arts where she received a BFA in Dance under the direction of Dona Faye Burchfield. A Maryland native, she began her pre professional dance training under the instruction of D.C. native, Katherine Smith, who is a current board member of the International Association of Blacks in dance. Clayton continued her studies at Suitland High School Center for Visual and Performing arts, attaining her diploma and dance certification. Clayton has gone on to work with choreographers and companies such as Opera Philadelphia, Debbie Allen, Ronald K. Brown, and Chocolate Ballerina. She is now a resident choreographer, teacher, and performing artist throughout the Tri-state area.
Mia Allison
TURNS & LEAPS, MY GOWN UP & ME & CONTEMPORARY TEACHER
While originally from England, Mia Allison moved to Virginia at the age of 3 where she began training in gymnastics until the age of 12. From there she received training in ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, acrobatics, horton, graham, hiphop, musical theatre, and tap. She competed around the US throughout her teen years winning various awards and scholarships. She has danced for the Moscow Ballet’s nutcracker and attended the ABT intensive program. She has dance professionally for amusements parks within Va. She currently lives in Philadelphia working towards her BFA in dance at Temple University. She has taught and choreographed for studios within her hometown as well as for dance teams at Temple. She currently works with Jim Bunting, former Koresh Dance Company member, as well as other choreographers around Philadelphia and NYC to perform their works in artist showcases.