Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurene Blake.
Hi Laurene, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, I moved to Baltimore with my two childen in 1989 to work at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I was there for 25 years as the Director of Social work and Director of Patient Relations. During that time I trained social work students from all of the major universtiies here in Baltmore as well as staff education in conflict resolution, handling difficult people, stress management, Service excellence, Managing Grief and Loss, and coordinator for the Ethics Committee. Also being trained in dance, theater, and music, I founded the Namyanka Performing Arts Company in which we told African American Stories in song, dance. and spoken word. I was also teaching exercise classes in local churches. In 1994 God spoke to me and said to change Namyanka to a ministry and for the past 32 years, I have trained dancers ages 3- adults in technical dance, Biblical studies, mentoring and created over 300 pieces of choreography. Namyanka has provided training to other dance ministries and served in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, churches as well as producing our own concert at least once a year. I am an ordained miinister with a Masters and Doctorate in Christian Education. Has served as a praise and worhsip leader, psalmist, drama ministry, dance ministry, Bible instructor, and is currently the Elder over Worship Arts at my local church. Also a graudate and now instrustor in the School of the Prophets. A member of The Apostolic Prophetic Connection and Women with a Call International Namyanka is a member of the National Liturgical Dance Network. Namyanka has received the Baltimore City Certificate for Community Service and I have reeived the National Congressional Certificate for Community Serivce. I have completed a workbook for dance ministries entitled Dancing for the LORD which will be reissued in 2026. I was also. a member of my university choir (Tuskegee Institute) , the St.Louis Black Repertory Companyand a member of the Baltimore Symphony Chorus. Currently working as a therapist specifally for indiviauls with trauma, grief, anxiety and depression. Teaches Stress Management, A Biblical Approach. Married with two children and six grandchildren.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course it hasn’t been a smooth road. Some of the struggles along the way, is mainly havaing enough money to operate. My members pay a minimum amount in dues that covers some of their dance training and rental space for practice. We have never been able to optain grant money or financial backers, so the majority of the money comes form my own pocket. The biggest struggle has happened in the last two years when my daughter passed away from breast cancer. She was the backbone of Namyanka. I always thought that I would be passing this on to her. But my grandson age 20 is a dancer and he has had to step up, but no one can take her place. Also membership waxes and wanes . We have had as many as 60 members and this year we have 15.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist I grew up singing and playign the piano. Everyone is the famly had to learn how to play the piano. St. Louis was a music city. We had a lot of choirs, and groups, and classical singers. I did all of that. But I also loved the theater. My church in St. Louis would produce Broadway plays. I sang in bands and with orchestras. I didn’t start taking dance lessons until in was 22 because I was given the task as work to teach dance to teen agers, so I woldn’t to know technicaally what I was doing. so then I fell in loe with the dance. I was a part of the Katherine Dunham School of Dance for 14 years and a o several dance companies in St. Louis. As a professional social worker, I has always combined my skill for the arts in treating my clients. What sets me apart is the ability to combine all three of my loves – social work, dance, music, and ministry together.
What were you like growing up?
Until I was 5 I lived with my grandparents in Louisville Kentucky while my mother was in St. Louis Missouri going to nursing school. I was riased in a Christian home where as early as I can remember I had a daily routine that consisted of chores, piano lessons, family gatherings and church. We were a singing family, so at family dinners we would gather around the piano and sing hymns and spirituals. My personality is pretty quiet except when I was performing. I was also in a choir either at school or church. I loved all genres of music – classical, hymns, R&B, broadway tunes, spirituals. I also danced. I was a part of several performing arts groups including the St. Louis Black Repertory Company and a cariibbean performing arts company, and the symphony chorus in St. Louis, and Baltimore. I also had an interest in sports so I ran track in elementary and high school.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Laurene Blake
- LinkedIn: Laurene Blake
- Youtube: Laurene Blake/Namyanka
