Meet Funmilayo Chesney

Funmilayo Chesney is a veteran Quadruple Threat performing and teaching artist - dancer, singer-songwriter, drummer, and choreographer.  She is the Artistic Director of FUSHA (Fierce Undulating Spirits Have Arrived) Dance Company in New York City and is a registered NY Department of Education freelance educator of music and dance empowerment.  Funmilayo was a member of the only traditional Congolese dance company in New York City, Malaki Ma Congo, and has won awards for her excellence in African dance teaching.  She has taught Congolese dance at Alvin Ailey, Harlem School of the Arts, Cumbe, Lezly Dance and Skate, Fareta and Djoniba, among other places.  Funmilayo and Fusha dance Company have graced the stages of Alvin Ailey, Harlem Stage, Brooklyn Museum, Apollo Theater, United Nations, African Burial Ground NYC, The Metropolitan Museum, Carnegie Hall, BAM, The African Street Festival, Brooklyn Public Library, Summerstage and Symphony Space.  Funmilayo  and Fusha Dance Company have toured worldwide with ongoing yearly tours to South America, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa, where they lead Congolese dance workshops for children and adults.  While Funmilayo has been performing as a singer and writing songs for decades, this year she will release her first album as a recording artist.  Her music style draws inspiration from Afrobeats, Samba, Salsa, Hip Hop, Reggae, Calypso and Soca.