FOUNDERS
This is who we are.
Delayna E. Goins BA, MBA
Artistic Director
Educator/Choreographer/Photographer
delayna@laityarts.org
Delayna Goins exhibited artistic giftedness at a very young age! The first grandchild in a family of artists, scholars, and eccentric thinkers, she was introduced to music and dance as a toddler.
Delayna became interested in ballet when she discovered a 1930s "B" encyclopedia filled with diagrams and terminology. This dusty book became a springboard into entering her first ballet class at the precocious age of 3, and she's been hooked ever since.
Delayna trained as a dance student at the local community college youth dance program and later with Lillian Kinsey, who introduced her to classes at Rwanda Lewis's dance studio. She later attended Long Beach Poly High School, where she trained in ballet and Graham technique with Barbara Arms and Gladys Kares.
As a member of the Dance Repertory Company at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, under the direction of professor Carol Ann Tubbs, she danced in"Petrouchka," "Pictures At An Exhibition," "Company" and as the Sugarplum Fairy in "Nutcracker in Concert" with the Carson Symphony Orchestra. She was also cast as Judy Turner in "A Chorus Line". Delayna became passionate about creating dance, eventually choosing to choreograph many works for her company, Inertia.
Classical music is also Delayna's passion. Trained by her godfather, Joseph R. Taylor, she soon became a skilled young musician and traveled throughout Southern California with other classically trained hopefuls, playing for various events. As a concert violinist, Delayna has played with the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra, Chambrey Chorale, Torrance Symphony, and the Southeast Symphony Orchestra, where she was privileged to sit as principal second violin on various occasions.
Delayna holds a BA Degree from California State University Dominguez Hills in Athletic Training, a minor in Dance, and an MBA from Brandman University. She completed her teaching credential at Chapman University, where she was awarded as the program's Outstanding Student (2001) for the creativity and insight she brings to classroom instruction.
Over the years, Delayna eventually applied the theories and practices she acquired for Laity students to develop and implement several arts programs for various schools in Los Angeles County, including both Compton Unified and Palmdale School Districts.
As an educator in the Palmdale School district, her diligent work ethic led Delayna to be awarded Teacher of the Year (2004-2005) at the Palmdale Learning Plaza and a Los Angeles Music Center Bravo Award Nominee (2007). Because of this background in education and the arts, Laity can provide such rich content-driven instruction. Together with her husband, they created LEAP (Laity Educational Arts Program) to provide a content-rich core-aligned curriculum to schools that desire comprehensive arts programming.
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James A. Goins BA, EMBA
Executive Director
Composer/Director/Writer
james@laityarts.org
James has been involved in the arts since the age of 5! He has a background in teaching, writing, directing (both for theater and film), and composing.
James has been honored by the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, where he received a Certificate for Outstanding Service to the People of Los Angeles from the late Mayor Tom Bradley, an Award of Outstanding Youth Citizenship from former councilman Robert Farrel 8th District, City of Los Angeles, a Commendation from the late Mayor, Tom Bradley for the Development of the Nations only Drop-out Retrieval program, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the California State Assembly for Outstanding Service to Youth and youth activism.
James holds a BA in Theatre from California State University Dominguez Hills and an Executive MBA from Grand Canyon University. He also has a Certificate in Film Scoring from UCLA, a California Teaching Credential, and a Ryan Designated Subjects Vocational Education Credential in Theatre Arts. He is a member of BMI, The American Composers Forum, the Society of Composers & Lyricists, the Academy for New Musical Theatre, The Playwrights' Center, and the Dramatists Guild of America.
He has studied music under Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated composers such as Gerald Fried (Roots, Roots: The Next Generation, Star Trek, Napoleon, and Josephine) Thom Sharp (When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, Aladdin, Little Mermaid) Jerry Grant(Quantum Leap, Hired to Kill, Hunter) and composition under Dr. Russel Steinberg one of America's leading Neo-Classical composers and performers.
As a writer - James has written and produced four musicals. "This Time and Age," A Musical, "Way Back When," A Musical Fairy Tale, "Times Up," and "Bridget's Girl." He has written a screenplay, a teleplay, and an anthology called"Today's Anthology," a series of monologs and a one-act play. He has also produced several non-musical works as well.
As a director, James has directed such diverse works as Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Bye Bye Birdie, A Raisin in the Sun, The Piano Lesson, Barefoot in the Park, The Colored Museum, Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, The Dutchman, True West and more.
He has composed original music for musicals, plays, and films as a composer. "Bridget's Girl" won the 2008 Chameleon Theatre Circle Award for Best Musical, for which he wrote the music. You can learn more about his work and listen to his music on his personal website. James' passion for the arts is matched only by his passion for his family.
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