Zahra Carpenter

Zahra Carpenter, a native Washingtonian, started dancing at a young at the age of 5.   Her love for dance led her to Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA), where her knowledge of dance expanded and her passion for teaching began. She started out as a student-teacher for their TADPOLE program teaching beginner modern dance in Horton and Graham techniques under the direction Lynn Welters. By summer, she became the beginner level modern teacher as well as a choreographer. Before her DESA experience ended, she joined the DESA Dance Ellington, where she performed all over the D.C. metropolitan area, for artists like Stevie Wonder, and international tours to Hong Kong, China, and Amsterdam.  

Ms. Carpenter received her B.F.A. in modern dance with a secondary concentration in dance education at the University of the Arts (U/Arts) in Philadelphia. She was taught by teachers such as Gabriel Masson, Wayne St. David, Pat Thomas, Jeanine Osayande, Ruth Andrien-O’Neil, Faye Snow, Andrew Pap, Barbara Sandanato, Carol Skarloff, Ronen Koresh, and LaVaughn Robinson. She was able to have intensive training with Philadanco II and the Philadanco Training Program under the direction of Donald Lunsford III. Other training included U/Arts Summer World of Dance, 2000 Feet, International Dance Festival, the Ailey School Summer Program, and Koresh School of Dance. Her experience at U/Arts nourished her choreographic skills lead her to a review in the Philadelphia Inquirer as “appealing” and “emotionally charged”.  

While in Philadelphia, she was able to teach throughout the city with Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, the Philadelphia Dance Alliance’s Neighborhood Dance Exchange, The Honorable Luis Muñoz Marin School, and Wordsworth’s ASSURE Program. She worked with many artists as a stage manager and light designer in multiple theaters. Upon her return home to D.C., she continues to teach dance throughout the D.C. area with Jr. Mode, New School of Dance Arts, and Imagination Stage. On top of it all, she’s working in the field of Health Fitness field as a Group Fitness Instructor and later will receive her M.Sc. in dance science in London.