NEW YORK--Professional Broadway dancer Nicole de Weever, best known for her role as Art Saves Lives (ASL) Founder and St. Maarten Cultural Ambassador, worked with R&B singer-songwriter Alicia Augello-Cook, better known as Alicia Keys and Artistic Director Luam Keflezgy in throwing a surprise "Coming to America" themed birthday party for Keys' husband, hip-hop artiste Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean in New York on September 12.
De Weever acted as an assistant to Luamky Productions Artistic Director and Choreographer Luam Keflezgy, who also taught hip-hop for ASL in the summer of 2014. De Weever was involved in costume design, as well as casting of the dancers, drummers and choreographer Abdel Salaam, who is the Director of the 'Forces of Nature Dance Theatre.'
The dance troupe gave an energetic West African performance to live drumming, in costumes complete with body paint and feathered head pieces. They cleared a path on the floor for Keys' grand entrance as she walked up to Dean, who sat on a red and gold coloured throne.
"It was a dream come true for me, working behind the scenes which is a process I really enjoy, as well as making the impossible possible and providing opportunities for others," De Weever said.
"Forces of Nature was the first dance company I toured with. I performed a 23-city tour with this company, it was one of my first jobs out of college. Life just works full circle." She added that it was great to be in a place in her life and career where she could provide an opportunity of a lifetime to people who had once done the same for her.
"I am extremely grateful to Alicia Keys and Luam Keflezgy for trusting in my talent." This is De Weever's second time working for both women, but she described it as "a whole other artistic level." She called it an honour to have worked with them, who she called "inspirational" and "brilliant, both on and off stage."
The star studded party, covered by major news outlets, was held at the Capitale venue. The African theme was based on the classic 1988 Eddie Murphy film "Coming to America." It was Dean's 36th birthday celebration, and Keys is currently around six months pregnant with the couple's second child.
