Camden, NJ Rooted in Camden and fueled by purpose, Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre has emerged as a powerful artistic force dedicated to excellence, faith, and cultural storytelling. Led by co-founders Omar-Frederick Pratt and Takreeya Hawkins, the company is redefining what professional dance looks like in South Jersey by creating bold productions that blend technical mastery with spiritual depth and social relevance. From cultivating young talent to presenting impactful works such as Uncomfortable Conversations and the annual Easter production The Resurrection, the company is committed to using movement as a vehicle for unity, reflection, and transformation within the community and beyond.
In an exclusive interview with the nation’s premier faith-based and professional newspaper for winners, Anointed News Journal, Omar-Frederick Pratt and Takreeya Hawkins share their journey, vision, and unwavering commitment to use dance as a platform for change.
Collins:
Now, you two are no strangers to the Anointed News Journal. But for our readers, tell us: who is Omar-Frederick Pratt, and who is Takreeya Hawkins?
Pratt:
Well, I am a native of Camden, New Jersey, born and raised here. I went to high school at Creative and Performing Arts High School, and from there I earned my bachelor’s degree at the University of the Arts. I’ve had the opportunity to travel and dance with Philadanco, Eleone Dance Theatre, Grace Dance Theatre, and Dance Fusion. Afterward, I moved to Washington, D.C., for a little while and danced with Dissonance Dance Theatre.
Then I moved back home and became a teacher at Creative Arts High School, where I worked with both the dance department and the music department. Now, one of the things I’m most excited about is being a co-founder and co-director of Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre.
Collins:
And what you didn’t mention is that you’re also a gospel recording artist and composer.
Pratt:
Yes. As I said, I grew up in Camden, and my home church is Parkside United Methodist Church. That’s where I was introduced to gospel music. When I was 15, I became the director of the youth choir, and that experience really shaped me into becoming a director for my own music ministry, Omar Frederick and Devotion.
I started writing music for them at a very early age, and later on we recorded our first studio album, The Awakening. We’ve had the opportunity to work with artists such as Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise, and Bryan Popin.
Collins:
And Takreeya?
Hawkins:
Yes. I am also a Camden native, born and raised. I attended Creative Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey. Prior to that, I attended Halliday Dance in Pennsauken, starting at the age of five.
After Creative Arts High School, I went to Camden County College to study psychology and earned my associate’s degree. However, I still wanted to study dance, so I decided to audition for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I attended there for about two years, and then I began dancing with Grace Dance Theatre in Philadelphia.
There was a lot of conversation about dancers from Camden always having to go to Philadelphia to dance professionally. We began asking, how could we bring that opportunity to Camden? While teaching dance in Camden, as well as in Pennsauken at Halliday Dance and other dance programs, it eventually came together. Freddy said he would be on board, and I just needed a partner. And that’s how Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre was born.
It has been an amazing journey over the past six years, six seasons, and I’m really looking forward to getting better each and every year moving forward. I am also a licentiate minister of the gospel at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church under Reverend William N. Heard. Between church and serving as an associate leader for the praise dance ministry at Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, dance has truly been with me every step of the way.
Collins:
And you have also taught and co-directed some things on stage.
Hawkins:
Yes, For Colored Girls with Camden Repertory Theater. That was a great experience. I choreographed the entire production back in 2017, so that was a major learning experience. It combined my love of theater and dance, and all of it really helped me grow as a choreographer. Putting on that director’s hat, along with being a dance director, helped prepare me as I now continue stepping into that role.
Collins:
Tell us about Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre and why that’s so important for people in the city of Camden.
Pratt:
There are so many extremely talented dancers and artists here in the city of Camden, and unfortunately, we don’t have the same amount of opportunities or outlets that Philadelphia has. We do a lot of training here, but when it’s time to pursue careers professionally, it seems that if you’re in South Jersey, you tend to go toward Philadelphia, and if you’re in North Jersey, you tend to go toward New York City.
Because of that, a lot of people don’t take the chance on themselves to cross the bridge and truly pursue their craft full time or on a more professional stage. We felt it was highly important to bring the professional experiences we’ve had through the different companies we’ve been part of—back to our own city.
There have been incredible performances and opportunities we’ve been involved in elsewhere, and we felt it was long overdue to bring that same level of artistry back home. So many people from Camden are creating amazing experiences for others in different places, and we wanted to bring that energy and excellence back to where we are.
Collins:
Throughout the year, Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre puts on several productions. There are some that people look forward to every year, and then you also introduce new works. Coming up February 6th and 7th at Camden High School Auditorium, you have a piece called Uncomfortable Conversations. Tell us about Uncomfortable Conversations and what the public can expect.
Pratt:
For a lot of people, Black history programs focus on our history and lineage, which is very important, especially at a time when it feels like that history is being erased. Keeping that at the forefront is necessary. However, going from one Black history show to another can sometimes feel repetitive. We often talk about the past, slavery, and how we got here.
This year, we wanted to do something different. Especially with the economic climate we’re in right now, it’s a time when the Black community really needs to come together. There are many things within our community that divide us, and a lot of those things are conversations we don’t like to have.
This show shines a light on those uncomfortable topics—whether it’s religion, politics, sexual orientation, or anything else that keeps us from standing up for one another. The goal is to bring those issues to the surface so people can leave feeling more enlightened and more willing to have difficult conversations with family members or others they may have distanced themselves from because of differences.
At the end of the day, it’s about coming together around what truly matters. In this time, when there’s such a large target on our backs, we really can’t afford to be divided over smaller differences, like faith or personal beliefs. As a culture, we should be standing together, and that’s what this show seeks to highlight.
Collins:
How can people get tickets to this show?
Pratt:
There is a QR code on the flyer that you can scan, or you can go directly to www.ticketlocity.com and type in Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre: Uncomfortable Conversations, and it will come up that way (https://ccdt.ticketlocity.com/events/145750). You can purchase tickets online, in person from any member of the company, through our website, or on our Instagram. You can also buy tickets at the door.
Collins:
And give us the website.
Pratt
CamdenContemporaryDanceTheatre.com.
Collins:
And Takreeya, each year during the Easter season, you present a powerful production called The Resurrection. It’s absolutely amazing. What was the mindset behind creating The Resurrection on stage and adding all of those components? You also partner with Bonita Farmer on this, along with some local vocal talent. Tell us a little bit about the devotion behind it.
Hawkins:
Yes. Of course, Omar Frederick Pratt—the genius that he is, when we started our second season, we focused specifically on The Resurrection. That process was really meaningful because it allowed us to take our time, read the story, and go deeply into the biblical foundation of what we were preparing to portray on stage.
I think that because we have dancers who are believers, it’s important to continually remind them Who they’re dancing for and what they’re dancing about. That understanding has to come first before we even introduce the movement. The collaboration with Devotion, along with the addition of live narration to tell the story, really made the production stand out.
Seeing everyone come together to portray Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, then moving through His ministry, crucifixion, and ultimately His resurrection, was powerful. Finding ways to relate to and understand the different characters we each had to embody was truly a joy. It was like Bible study, but at the same time, as artists, we were able to emotionally connect to the story.
For example, performing Alabaster Box versus portraying one of the Mary’s at the tomb required completely different emotional shifts. Being able to step into those roles and feel those moments was incredibly meaningful.
As Freddie brought the idea to us, we often talked about how Christmas is widely celebrated, and there are so many holiday productions during that season. But when Easter comes around, we don’t hear as much about God or the sacrifice Christ made for us. We asked ourselves how powerful it would be to create a production centered on the resurrection and share that story not just locally, but more broadly.
We see Christmas shows all the time, but creating a one-of-a-kind production focused on the resurrection felt like a no-brainer. Diving into that story was something we knew we were called to do.
Collins:
And The Resurrection—you already have the dates set?
Pratt:
Yes. March 27th and 28th. Yes, Friday and Saturday.
Collins:
And people can get tickets the same way?
Pratt:
Yes. Tickets are available online. March 27th and 28th, they’re available through www.ticketlocity.com and type in Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre: The Resurrection.
You can scan the QR code on the flyers, purchase tickets in advance from any member of the company, or buy them at the door.
Collins:
So let me say this—for 32 years I’ve been covering the arts. I’ve covered dance companies from around the world, from Philadanco to MOMIX, Alvin Ailey, and Chicago’s River North. I’ve covered them all, and I can clearly say that when I have the opportunity to see Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre, I would classify you among the top five. No doubt.
The choreography, the energy, the leaps, the twists—everything. Some companies, I feel have played it safe in recent years. But Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre gives the public what they want. What makes your company different from the others?
Pratt:
For me, it’s that when you have to work for something, when things don’t come easily or conveniently, it means so much more. In places like Philadelphia or New York, especially in the arts and dance, it’s right in your backyard. You can see so many companies on a whim. There are multiple theaters within just a few blocks, so access is everywhere.
Over here, we don’t really have that. Everything is harder, and we have to work much more intensely than others who may have more opportunities for training and exposure. Because of that, our love and passion for what we do runs deeper.
It means more to us, and it shows in the dancers, the singers, and everyone involved in the production. People are proud of the work they’re doing and the role they play in bringing each performance to life. For me, that’s one of the biggest differences.
Hawkins:
Yeah, I was going to say the passion and the joy. Like it’s not something that people take lightly over here. I used to hear a lot of Camden choreographers saying when they travel all over that people love working with Camden artists because the heart was there more, rather than just throwing up a leg or just whatever it was, they could tell that artists here really enjoy and really want to put out good work.
Collins:
I’m happy to hear that because I know from my personal experiences I can say names of Camden people who have been at the top of Philadanco, Alvin Ailey, Eleone , Walt Disney Productions with The Lion King and have soared around the world in this profession. I’m glad that we now have Camden Contemporary Dance Theater. We know it takes resources; for those that may want to contribute, how can they do so?
Pratt:
If you’re interested in making a donation, we accept every kind that there is. Our Cash app is $CCDT856. For Zelle it’s our company email which is CamdenContemporaryDanceTheater@gmail.com.
Collins:
And the physical address if someone wants to mail a check?
Pratt:
For anyone mailing a donation, it can be sent to 3024 Waldorf Avenue Camden, New Jersey 08105: Payable to Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre.
Collins:
And as you talked about the history of Camden dancers; you mentioned teaching at Creative arts and teaching at Halliday. For those that may want to get their young people involved in dance, how can they do so?
Pratt:
There are many different programs in the city. Creative Arts is a high school, so for anyone entering or currently in high school, that is a great program. It is run by Ms. LaCeda Nelson, who is the Director of Dance at Creative Arts. They have an excellent program there.
Halliday Dance in Pennsauken, directed by Ms. Halliday, is another great program. Also, Nyemah Gillespie is the director of Creative Connections, which is another dance program in Camden, New Jersey.
Collins:
So what’s next for Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre?
Pratt:
This past season, we had the privilege of working with Christopher Huggins, which was huge for us. He is one of the original members of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and having him come in and work with us really opened my eyes to what we are capable of and how far we can go.
Sometimes you can’t be afraid to ask and see what people are willing to do. When he agreed to come in and work with us, it made me realize that we can start reaching out to other world-renowned choreographers as well. There are a few artists we are already in the process of connecting with for next season, and we’re excited to see how many different choreographers and perspectives will be part of the upcoming season.
Collins:
The Anointed News Journal has over 180,000 readers biweekly. In conclusion, what would you like to say to the readers?
Hawkins:
I want to thank everyone for their continued support. No form of support is too small—whether it’s encouragement, donations, sharing our work with others, purchasing group tickets, or attending our shows. We truly appreciate each and every person who helps keep our name alive and spreads it as far and wide as possible.
Our hope is to one day have Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre traveling around the world so others can experience our work. The more people who hear about us, the better, and we thank you for supporting us and sharing us with everyone you come in contact with.
Pratt:
I completely agree. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. We wouldn’t be the organization we are today without that support. Whether it’s purchasing a ticket, buying a snack at concessions, or simply showing up, every dollar and every cent directly supports our dance artists.
Thank you for taking the time to pour into us. We truly hope that what we’re doing is pouring back into you as well.
Conclusion:
Through intentional artistry, unwavering faith, and a deep commitment to community, Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre continues to prove that excellence can be cultivated at home and shared with the world. By creating space for difficult conversations, sacred storytelling and professional opportunity, the company is not only elevating the arts in Camden but also inspiring unity, healing, and purpose through movement. As their vision expands and their influence grows, Camden Contemporary Dance Theatre stands as a testament to what is possible when passion and purpose come together.
By Chris Collins
