April Turner

April Turner is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Dance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a folklorist, she specializes in using traditional dance, storytelling, and rhythm to document history, practice culture, and foster community connections.

Her expertise in African dance was cultivated through decades of training and performance, beginning with Loretta Bynoe and Rafiki Ngoma. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Obakunle Akinlana (Ife Cultural Arts Center), Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble, Baatu Askan Wi, Mussukeba Sane, and Viver Brasil. Key influences include Mohammed DaCosta, Malang Bayo, Koto Ngum, and Keti Ciofassa.

• Research Focus: Cultural preservation through dance
• Key Areas: African diasporic dance traditions, folklore, community-based performance
• Current Work: Teaching and performing at academic and cultural institutions across the southern United States