Akua Kouyate speaks about and reflects on the important role that dance has played in her life and the importance of DanceAfrica and other programs that connect African-Americans to traditional and contemporary styles of African dance. She speaks about growing up and going to Washington, D.C. public schools. She discovered AfricanDance at a community organization in Southeast Washington, D.C. She developed her interest in dance while a student at Boston University, and continued to study dance after transferring to American University. She speaks about transitioning to making the arts and dance into a career. She had to learn business management skills, as well as how to be a teacher. She has taught at universities around Washington D.C. Throughout her oral history it is clear that dance has been an integral part of her life. She tries to focus on both traditional and contemporary style of dance because “Culture is not static.” Experience traveling in travel and how it shaped her. Believes that African traditions are traditions that African Americans are also born into. For this reason, her family practiced Islam and African and African- American traditions. The youth summer employment program as key to her work as a dance teacher.