Creation Comes From Passion

After 20+ years in the entertainment industry and with hundreds of plays under her belt and two screenplays in development, director, screenwriter, playwright and entrepreneur Dara Bragg founded The Success in the Arts Seminar (SITA) in 2011. Her goal is to educate, enrich and empower all who seek to express their unique voices and point of view through the performing arts.

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Spring  2011

Special guest panelists Kim Wayans, actress, (In Living Color, Scary Movie 2, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Low Down Dirty Shame, and Juwanna Mann and In the House), author, writer and producer, HBO’s The Wire’s Julito McCullum, hosted by Chasity Saunders, Co-Owner, Avenue Pink Radio Station, Actor & Model (Rip The Runway, "Miss Tina" Fashion Line Exclusively for Walmart),  Key Note Speaker Aaron Marcus, Acting/Modeling Career Coach, Author, Lecturer. Workshop leaders and panelists Audrey Taylor, SAG/AFTRA, The Actor's Studio, Conrad Dimanche, Bad Boy Entertainment/PMP Worldwide, William Michael Reid, Fashion Publicist & Entertainment Manager, Stephanie Fisher Oplacio, Assistant Minister of Music Greater Allen Cathedral, Lawrence Saint Victor, Actor, (Formerly of Guiding Light), Lancelott Theobald Jr, Creator, Choreographer and Director of MOMZ-N-DA HOOD, Van Dirk Fisher, The Riant Theatre, Linda Thornberg, Connecticut Kids Talent Manager and Fulton Hodges, director, producer, playwright.​

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Winter 2012

Special guest panelist Wendy Mckenzie casting director (Notorious, Secret Life of Bees, The Blindside), acting coach, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. Hosted and moderated by spokesmodel and choreographer Dawnyelle Butler.  Workshop leaders and panelists Audrey Taylor, SAG/AFTRA, The Actor's Studio, Uncutt, casting director, Bruce Penn, author, playwright, film writer and director, Aaron Marcus, acting/modeling coach and author, Fulton Hodges, director, producer, playwright, Jermaine Vanderhorst, filmmaker, Brigid Turner, actor, model, choreographer and director, William Michael Reid, fashion publicist, and talent manager,  Linda Jones Prince, Gospel recording artist and vocal coach, Claudette Morgan, jazz singer and Sofia Davis Editor of Fashion Ave News Magazine

 

Spring  2013

Special SITA Event In Manhattan NY; Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse (TBS) co-star Kiki Haynes was a special speaker. Her credits also include,  Bamboozled, Shaft, Brown Sugar, Double Duty, As the World turns, Rules of Engagement and Strong Medicine.  

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Winter 2013

​SITA continues to offer attendees the opportunity to take their career to the next step through focused panels, workshops and hands on exercises.  Leading this year’s seminar is Dawnyelle Butler, Choreographer, Moderator, CEO of The Dawn Productions with guest panelists, Linda Jones Prince - Gospel recording artist & vocal coach; Kel Spencer, recording artists, songwriter for Will Smith, Nick Cannon and actor; John Pollatta, acting coach & owner John Pollatta Studios, Fulton Hodges, director, producer, playwright and Aduelco Award Winner; William Michael Reid, fashion publicist & model management; Jermaine Vanderhorst, filmmaker, & animator; Jeannie Ferguson, production manager, model & designer; Poppa T- executive producer of JCT Magazine and Radio Station; Ciara Smith, owner of Hairtatique Mobile Salon System and  Todd Wharton, CEO & Founder of Local Talent Connect.

 

Winter 2014

Speakers/Moderator/Panelists: Kiki Haynes, actress and co-star of Tyler Perry’s TV Show For Better Or Worse : Beverly Orozco, director, producer of the feature Film Getting Even: Todd Wharton, CEO and founder of Local Talent Connect LTC: Lynette Barfield, Broadway stage mom: Catherine Peppers, actress, director, producer, mentor: William Michael Reid, fashion publicist, talent manager and CEO of Xpozure Entertainment and Dawnyelle Butler, model, actress, producer, director and CEO of The Dawn Productions.

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Winter 2015  Youth Panel

Inaugural Youth panel are: Ciara Howard: Dancer, actress, model and philanthropist, Colby Christina: Actress, dancer, model, choreographer, motivational speaker and 2014 Audelco "Rising Star" Recipient, Marli Chai: Model, CEO & Founder: Boss Baby Model Agency and Tyyan Williams: Fashion Designer, The Pinky Sez Collection, actress, speaker, entertainer

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Winter 2015

Host and moderator Shawnette Hamilton Robertson and the general session panels are:, Actress, Director, producer, and partner at Skylark Media Pictures, Dawnyelle Butler, Producer; Director, Writer Choreographer, Model and CEO Dawn Productions, Todd Wharton: CEO and Founder of Local Talent Connect (LTC), Jacqueline Love: Fashion Producer, Model, and CEO of The J. Love Youth Fashion School of Etiquette, Beverly Orozco: Producer, Screenwriter, and Director of the Feature Film; Getting Even, Wm Michael Reid: Publicist, Talent Manager, CEO and Founder, Expozure Entertainment and Cartier Conway (The Sammy Davis Jr. of our generation), Dancer and Singer.

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Winter 2016

Shawnette Hamilton Robertson: Host/Moderator actor, director, producer,  Flo Anthony: Celebrity Journalist, media personality and author of One Last Deadly Play, Dawnyelle Butler Wills: Choreographer, actress, model and CEO of Welcome to The Dawn Productions, Keri Singleton: Producer/Host - Keri's Korner Radio Show, Sr. VP - Entrigue Magazine, & Author, Jackie Love: Model and Founder of The J Love School of Etiquette, Sofia Davis: Editor in Chief of Fashion Ave News and Model World, Magazine

 

Winter 2016 Youth Panel

Marli Chai: Founder of Boss Baby's Modeling Agency, Marqise Neal: Broadway Star, actor, singer, dancer, Daniel Leid: Model

Willow and Wesle: Fashion Designers (sister and brother team), Tyyan Williams: Founder of Pinky Sez fashion Designs

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