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A dynamic team of professionals guiding New York’s premier Panamanian dance ensemble, preserving folklore through performance, education, and cultural celebration.
Dora C. Nurse was born to Walter Crawford and Dora Clarissa Best in Bethania, Panama City. She graduated from Liceo de Señoritas at eighteen and migrated to New York shortly after. There, she attended New York Technical College for a few years in the Liberal Arts department.
Dora is also a proud mother of three children: Karol Elizabeth Nurse, Anthony Onaje Nurse, and Leticia Alysha Polius (Nurse). She was also able to maintain a successful career working in one of the world’s largest banks, Bankers Trust, for thirteen years. After several promotions, she transferred and later retired from Bank of America after 26 years of service.
In 1995, Dora decided to enroll her daughter Leticia into a folkloric group to learn her heritage. She then joined the group by the name of Ballet Folklórico Panameño Norberto Basilio Mowatt which until this date, her daughter is still a dancer. After a few years of experience, she was nominated and voted by the majority to be President of the group, a title she does not take for granted. She has taken the group to different parts of the USA to perform, as well as to Panamá to perform for the festival of the Mejorana and to dance at the Atlapa.
Kaydiana S. O’Mealley, affectionately known as KayK, is a NYC public school teacher in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As an educator, she enjoys molding and mentoring teenagers on their journey to post-secondary options in the real world. Her passion is serving the marginalized youth of her borough and allowing them to see beyond the borders of their neighborhoods. Born and raised in Brooklyn, to Panamanian parents, she began learning the folkloric culture of Panama under the tutelage of Norberto Basilio Mowatt at the age of 6 years old. As a long-standing dancer, secretary, and vestuario coordinator of the group that bears his name, her goal is to continue the legacy of Basilio and his love of Panamanian culture for generations to come. She has a special interest in tipico vestuario and hopes to learn more about the traditional dress of all 11 provinces. Her dream is to visit Las Tablas, Kuna Ayala, and the more remote areas of Panama. Aside from dancing, her hobbies include traveling, cooking, reading, and playing with her godchildren, nephew, niece, and her 22-year-old Turtle, Seco Herrerano.
Dr. Delicia M. B. Garnes was born to Panamanian parents, Yolanda & Eduardo Benjamin in Brooklyn, New York. She is married to Bishop Eric D. Garnes and truly supports her husband in the ministry serving in various roles and overseeing several ministries within Tabernacle of Praise Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Secondary Education, she continued her education and graduated from Long Island University’s C.W. Post Campus with a Master’s in School Guidance and Counseling. Lastly, she completed a successful academic journey by receiving her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. The recipient of several awards, she is recognized for her wisdom to communicate, with the “mature” as well as the “young.” She is additionally the Director of Information Technology at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University and an adjunct professor. Bishop and Dr. Garnes are the proud parents of two children, Darian and Bryanna. In addition to her career and ministry work, she enjoys traveling. She also loves being involved with NBM over the past 12 years, as it has taught her so much more about her Panamanian heritage.
Diana Griffith is the mother of Crystal Montgomery and has been assisting with BFPNBM for twenty years. Like most, Diana heard of Típico but didn’t know much about it. She was willing to learn and teach her daughter about the culture and is fully invested in the children and the success of the group.
Crystal Montgomery is 33 years old and presently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Currently, Crystal is a P&D Manager for one of the largest FedEx terminals in the New York City area. At the age of 11 Crystal’s interest and love for típico began. Despite going away for school and starting her career Crystal made sure her presence in NBM remained consistent. In addition to dancing, Crystal’s hobbies include reading, cooking, and traveling. Crystal’s love and knowledge for típico strengthens year after year and she is appreciative and grateful for that and thanks NBM for being that foundation in her life.
Keena Samuels is a former dancer of the Ballet Folklorico Panameño NBM group, who met Basilio when he coordinated her Sweet 15. Over 25 years later, she has the joy of imparting her Panamanian roots and culture to her children, with the hopes that her children will continue to keep our culture alive and instill the same in their families.
Leticia Polius is currently a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with MissionSquare Retirement. She obtained her Bachelor’s in accounting and Master’s in Taxation at Baruch College, shortly after starting her career in accounting at one of the largest public accounting firms in the world, Ernst & Young. While realizing her passion tailored more towards working for a purpose, she transitioned into the nonprofit world to see her work come to life. In addition to her work in the hospital, she also found the time to sit and pass the Certified Financial Planner exam, furthering her ability to help clients achieve their financial goals. She also dedicates her time outside of working at the hospital to also help smaller nonprofits build their financial foundation aiding them in obtaining grant funding. Aside from a successful career, Leticia finds the time to participate in many activities. At the age of 5, she joined Ballet Folklórico Panameño Norberto Basilio Mowatt, which she still takes part in today. Her role as coordinator in BFPNBM has provided her with invaluable experience in her personal and professional life. Leticia is also a proud wife and mother of 3 children, Kristopher, Kayleigh, and Kayden, may she continue to rest in peace. Her passions include traveling, swimming, dancing, and event planning.
Francesca Bambú-Alexander is a 35-year-old mother of 2 who resides in New York working as an Owner Services Provider for the City of New York Dept. of Housing Preservation and Development. She carries a great love for the Panamanian culture and all aspects of folklore in her heart. Dancing Típico since the age of 8 and becoming a member of NBM at 17, her one-time hobby has become her labor of love, and a desire to teach the culture to the youth. As the Choreographer and Creative Director for NBM, through the gifts of storytelling and dance, she has done just that! In her spare time, Francesca (affectionately known as Fran) loves to sing, laugh, dance, read, dream up choreography, and spend time with her loved ones. Throughout the years she has been blessed with the opportunity to represent the culture in various states, as well as internationally. Fran’s future goals are to continue her education in folklore and become a folklorista, as well as take her passion for teaching folklore to the next level. She hopes to take her babies, as she affectionately calls all of her dance students, to dance internationally, as well as at the world-famous Teatro Nacional de Panamá. Her life’s dream is to one day be able to provide a school where people of all ages can learn how to dance, as well as play the instruments that accompany our national folklore, and also pass down her passion for Panamanian folklore to her children, Godchildren, and anyone that may cross her path. Fran’s favorite phrases are “I look good every time I dance,” and the most important one, “With God everything is possible”.
Aurelia Morgan is a retired NYC Department of Education teacher who has serviced children in public elementary schools for over 30 years. Aurelia loves her Panamanian culture. The love for her culture led her to the Norberto Basilio Mowatt Ballet Folklórico dance group. Aurelia has two granddaughters Gianna and Gabriella that participate in the folklórico group. This year marks the end of their fifth full year as members of the group. Aurelia strives to develop children and keep her culture alive in everything that she does. In her spare time, she loves cooking her traditional Panamanian dishes!!!!!!!!
