Meet the Woman Bringing the ‘Superbowl of Black dance’ to Pittsburgh
Learn about Ayisha Morgan-Lee, the Pittsburgh native who founded Hill Dance Academy Theatre to promote Black dance and arts.
In Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, a former Catholic church campus has been transformed into a vibrant hub for Black dance education and cultural preservation. This transformation is the vision of Ayisha Morgan-Lee, whose Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) is revolutionizing dance education while honoring Black artistic heritage in Western Pennsylvania.
From personal passion to cultural treasure
Morgan-Lee’s journey in dance began at age three, but it was a pivotal moment at 16 during the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival that shaped her future. “I fell in love with wanting to dance on stage because I saw people who looked like me,” she told PittWire. Today, her academy teaches over 5,000 young people annually, earning recognition as one of Pittsburgh’s 16 Cultural Treasures by the Heinz Endowments and Ford Foundation.
A legacy of education and cultural preservation
After completing her education at Howard University, earning a master’s from Carnegie Mellon University, and obtaining a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, Morgan-Lee established HDAT in 2005. The academy found its permanent home in 2021 when she purchased a former church campus—a location deeply connected to her family’s history. The buildings, named after her relatives, stand as testaments to generational ties and community roots.
Creating opportunities beyond dance
As HDAT celebrates its 20th anniversary, it has evolved into more than just a dance academy. The campus houses a Black artists’ colony featuring various creative professionals, from multimedia artists to textile creators. Morgan-Lee has intentionally created economic opportunities by hiring African American vendors for campus maintenance and operations.
Bringing international recognition to Pittsburgh
In a significant achievement, HDAT will co-host the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival in January 2025. As board chair of IABD, Morgan-Lee is particularly proud to bring what she calls the “Superbowl of Black dance” to Pittsburgh, expecting around 1,500 global participants.
The event will showcase not only international talent but also highlight Pittsburgh’s own rich dance heritage, including influential groups like the Shona Sharif African Dance and Drum Ensemble and Bob Johnson’s Pittsburgh Black Theater Ensemble.
“There are so many hidden gems that have been sustaining Black dance and I think that gets overlooked,” Morgan-Lee notes, emphasizing her commitment to preserving and promoting Black dance traditions for future generations.
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