Meet Ajah Muhammad-Hays | Dancer, Painter, Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ajah Muhammad-Hays and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ajah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued an artistic career because I knew deep down that whatever type of work I did in life, I wanted to love it. I didn’t desire to work ONLY to make money, alone. I didn’t want to do work that I wasn’t attached to because I knew that my life would be unfulfilling, dull and will cause me to lack purpose and a sense of direction in life. As a result, I chose a field where I can keep my sense of inner child, where i can create my own world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Throughout my whole life I’ve danced since I was about 8 years old. My mother enrolled me in ballet and tap classes at Blackwells Dance Academy in Inglewood to help me become more confident and expressive. I trained in ballet, modern, jazz, West African and Afro brasilian. My pre professional dance training began at Lula Washington Dance Theatre in Los angeles, CA after I graduated from Arizona State University with a BFA in dance in 2012. For the past 10 years, I have been dancing professionally in a Dance Company called Viver Brasil, which is based in Los Angeles and incorporates contemporary, orixa dances, multiple styles of samba, and capoeira.

My painting career began in January of 2022. My paintings mostly consisted of Islamic surrealism, landscape and Eastern architectures. I started painting out of grief. At the beginning of 2022, an artist friend of mine passed away suddenly, and I found myself coping with it by painting and experimenting with different other worldly ideas on canvas. I also wanted another creative outlet for myself that wasn’t hindered or compromised by COVID restrictions. Because dancing was very scarce, I decided to experiment with different ideas, colors, textures and perspectives.

I have been a runway model on and off since 2016. I recently have gotten signed to Conceited Modeling Agency in 2024. Modeling gives me a great chance to explore different opportunities in the entertainment industry outside of dance. It gives me a peek into the fashion world and it gives me the creative freedom to explore that avenue. The special moments on the runway makes me feel alive because it brings out a new confidence in me. A confidence that has not been seen since the days of Dorthy Dandridge.

Besides being multi talented, I’d like to say what sets me apart from others is my desire to stay spiritually grounded when I dance or paint. Doing Afro Brasilian Orixa dances has helped me to better connect to the energy from the earth, the universe and myself. Orixa dances come from an African religious system called Ifa that originated in West Africa among the Yoruba ethnic group and has made its way to the west through the translatlantic slave trade.

The challenges Ive had as a growing dancer was that I desired more advanced training which was often not provided for me, coupled with the fact that my family moved around quite a bit. As a result, my dance training was not as consistent as I wanted it to be and during these formative years I had to figure out different ways to train and better myself. Another major factor in these challenges was that I did not have the money to go to the best schools, or participate in the best dance programs.

I want the world to know through my artistry that practicing any form of art (liberal, performing or visual) is not a hindrance to any society. It is as natural as breathing. It helps you to bring out the things that make up the essence of your soul so that you can study and understand yourself. Art makes you grow.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Given that this is Los Angeles, there are a lot of favorite spots everywhere! Some of them include, any Barnes and Nobles, the Grove, Leimert Park, summertime at Dockweller Beach, the Cheesecake Factory by the water in Marina Del Rey, the Observatory in Griffith Park, Wii spa in Korea town, Fixins’ Soul Kitchen at the Regal, and the Science Museum by USC.

I’d honestly say that you can definitely meet the most interesting people in all of these places, simply because these are places where everyone is there to have fun and chill out. When you have fun, you get to see the different dynamic sides to people’s personalities.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d Like to dedicate my Shoutout to Lula Washington and her daughter Tamica Washington of Lula Washington Dance Theatre because in my pre professional years they have taught me the value of hard work and discipline as well as the value of your passion and fighting spirit in the arts.

Website: www.ajahm.weebly.com

Instagram: @ajahbintashabazz @bintashabazzpaints @dansemystique

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ajahbintashabazz

Youtube: @ajahbintashabazz8669

Other: Pinterest: Ajah BintaShabazz Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/bintashabazzpaints

Image Credits
Katie Levine Gia Trovela Billy Montgomery Gia Trovela