Black ARTchive

Each day in March, the Black ArtChive will feature a woman artist in/from Kentucky. The goal is to teach Kentuckians about the contributions that women have made to our rich culture.

Today’s focus is the incomparable Harlina Trumbo.

She is the founder & artistic director of Imani Dance and Drum Company. Mrs. Harlina Trumbo started dancing as a young girl living in the Park Hill housing project in Louisville Kentucky. She has degrees in Pan-African studies, Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s in Teacher Leadership Education with a  focus in equity and diversity from the University of Louisville. Additionally, she possesses a certificate from The Institute for the Study of African Culture, Senegambia Educational and Exchange Program in Senegal West Africa.

She has performed dance in six West African countries, London England, Japan, Canada, Paris France and throughout the United States.

In addition to African dance, she has studied, performed, and taught tap, ballet, liturgical, Native American, salsa, and jazz.  She has choreographed for Stage One Children’s theater in Louisville, Experimental Black Actors Guild of Chicago, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, University of Louisville Theater Department, Theater Workshop of Louisville, Epcot Theme park in Florida and Kentuckiana African American Arts Series.

She has taught African and modern dance at University of Louisville, taught dance at the Youth Performing Arts School (YPAS) in Louisville, and has served as Arts and Education Director for youth outreach programs at Louisville’s Chestnut Street YMCA. She was the dance educator for the Kentucky Center for the Arts “Arts Academy for teachers for 15 years.

Mrs. Harlina is the Artistic Director for the La’Nita Rocknettes – oldest Black owned dance company in Kentucky. Thousands of dancers have been trained through this organization. The State of Kentucky Oldest operating Formal Dance Studio. 62 years & counting. Offer formal Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Modern, African, Hip Hop & Liturgical Dance.

Sources:

• Conversations with Mrs. Harlina Trumbo
• La’Nita Rocknette Dance Company website (accessed 2 March 2026)
• Mrs. Harlina Trumbo’s youtube page (accessed 2 march 2026)