As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the incredible instructors empowering Chicago teens through art, culture, and community. Shakeena President-Beckford and her mother, Carol “Mama Ika” President, are doing more than teaching dance—they’re preserving Black heritage through the rhythms and stories of Caribbean and West African traditions.
“It’s important to teach the youth the culture of the motherland because it belongs to them. They have every right to learn more about it and feel connected to their past. There’s a saying, by Maya Angelou – ‘if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going.’ I truly stand on that and believe this also helps shape the teens into who they will be in the future,” shared Shakeena.
This dynamic mother-daughter duo from St. Lucia has inspired South Side dancers for over 20 years with ASM. Their program immerses teens in a variety of dance styles infused with the vibrant movements of their cultural roots. But beyond choreography, they instill collaboration, leadership, and a passion for social change.
“I love teaching young people because they make me feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose—to advocate for them, protect them, and teach them about life,” Shakeena shares. “I feel alive! I laugh louder when I’m with them. They make me happy, and I believe I make them happy too.”
Shakeena has been captivating audiences since she was four, performing across the West Indies, Chicago, and even for King Charles III. Trained in ballet, modern, jazz, swing, hip hop, and West African dance, she has also served as Assistant Artistic Director for Nunufatima Drum and Dance Company and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. Mama Ika – an esteemed dancer in her own right – has been dancing since she was thirteen and is an expert in modern, jazz, African, and Caribbean dance. Performing in dance groups across the Caribbean and the United States, Mama Ika brought her talent to Chicago and has been sharing her expertise with young dancers for decades.
Together, this dynamic duo immerses students in the storytelling and rhythms of African and Caribbean dance, emphasizing that movement is more than performance—it’s history, identity, and connection.
Over the years, they’ve mentored hundreds of teens, shaping future choreographers and performers. For many, the program is more than dance—it’s family.
“When we come through the door, it’s like home,” says Danny B., an ASM Les Enfants alum and assistant Summer instructor. “Mama Ika and Mama Shakeena are like my second moms—I love them with all my heart.”
Many students stay connected long after graduating, often returning to help instruct the next generation. Through their work, Shakeena and Mama Ika are cultivating cultural pride, building community, and ensuring the legacy of Black dance traditions continues to inspire for years to come.
Thank you, Shakeena and Mama Ika, for uplifting Chicago teens and strengthening our city—one dance at a time!