Wanyah Leon
Creative Producer, Dancer and Photographer, Wanyah “Leon” Frazier is a Milwaukee Born, Jamaican - American Artist & Entrepreneur dedicated to the expansion of Arts Equity. As a Performer, Entrepreneur, Artistic Consultant and avid Arts Educator, he continues to explore the professional Arts world from all sides.
With organizations such as The Milwaukee Repertoire Theater, Black Arts MKE, NeWaukee, MARN ART + CULTURE HUB, Joy Engine and Danceworks in his creative portfolio, he endeavors to build a new Ecosystem for Artists of Color to live and thrive in the Midwest.
Photography
Picking up a camera in 2022, Wanyah Leon quickly fell in love with the ability to capture moods and moments. His photographic portfolio includes a diverse blend of natural light portraiture, lifestyle and event photography.
Through photography, he aspires to capture Artists & Peoples of Color through a luminous lens; giving depth to their creative and lived experiences.
Dance
Movement is ingrained in Wanyah Leon's very being. Diving into his dance journey at the age of 11, Wanyah was inspired to mine the depths of movement. Practicing a plethora of movement styles including Afrobeats, Contemporary, Tap, Latin Styles and Ballroom, he's had the privilege of developing a diverse movement foundation. As he's transitioned from performer to Arts Leader, Wanyah has continued his movement practice though instruction, Choreography and mentorship.
With a spirit of continued scholarship, he seeks new ways to embody the principles of dance methodology and discipline.
Entrepreneurship
Seeking agency in his creative practice, Wanyah Leon founded WoLF Studios MKE 2019. Viewing the company as a more than a business, WoLF Studios has become a vehicle for change in Milwaukee's Creative Community. With a focus on assisting artists with Booking, Administrative Support and Project Management, WoLF maximizes it's impact by ensuring artists (with special attention to Black & Brown Communities) are paid equitably for their work. With more than 5 years, dozens of projects and more than 100 Artists served, WoLF continues to carve out space for the next generation of creatives.
The Ecosystem
As a part of his mission to uplift and support Artists of Color, Wanyah Leon actively works to cultivate the "Ecosystem", a network of organizations, artists and leaders that work collaboratively to create continual opportunities for Artists to create and thrive.
With more organizations planned to launch in 2024, the following orgs are directly under his purview:
WoLF Studios MKE | (Owner) A Multi-media, Multi-genre Design & Production Firm
Black Nativity | (Artistic Direction) A Musical presented annually by Black Arts MKE
LYNZ | (Creative Producer) A performance based short film series
