Welcome to Faith in Motion
Faith in Motion was birthed from a Holy Spirit–led transition of obedience and surrender. Before God called Taniyyah Payne, Artistic Director and Founder of Faith in Motion, to fully dedicate her dance classes to Jesus, her work existed for the world. But when she surrendered her life completely to Christ — including her career in dance — the Lord began to move in powerful and undeniable ways.
Out of this season of transformation, Faith Moves Dance Company was birthed, serving as both a refining ground and a calling into leadership, creativity, and ministry. Through prayer, obedience, and faith, God continued to guide Taniyyah’s steps, shaping her vision and purpose.
Faith in Motion exists as a reflection of that journey — a space where dance is more than performance. It is worship. It is obedience. It is community. And it is a living testimony of what happens when faith leads the movement.
Meet Our Artistic Director
Taniyyah Payne, a Newark, NJ native, graduated ‘23 with her BFA in Dance at Montclair State University. Her dance training began at The Ailey School, where she was awarded a scholarship and trained intensively in Ballet, Jazz, Horton, Contemporary, and West African styles. Throughout her training, Taniyyah has worked with notable choreographers such as Steffanie Batten-Bland, Urban Bush Woman, Earl Mosley, Christian von Howard, and Maxine Steinman. These experiences fueled her passion and prepared her for the professional dance world.
Upon graduation, Taniyyah sought to immerse herself in the New York City dance scene. She completed the Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester in 2024, since then, she has performed with various artists, appeared in multiple music videos—including a recent project with Christian rapper Alex Jean—and was cast in a commercial for an activewear brand Roam Loud, which she found incredibly exciting.
Although choreography and education weren’t originally in her plans, those doors opened unexpectedly. Taniyyah began teaching at Montclair Kimberley Academy, the Hillside Recreation Center, and has also hosted her own pop-up classes. Working with students ranging from high schoolers to senior citizens, her love for teaching quickly grew into a deep passion.
On the choreography front, Taniyyah recently served as a guest choreographer for her former high school’s production of The Descendants. It inspired her to keep creating and using her talents to serve a greater purpose.
Currently, Taniyyah is a professional dancer for the Brooklyn Nets, and she is thrilled to begin her journey with this iconic brand in the heart of Brooklyn!
She is also the Founder and Director of Faith Moves Dance Company, a faith-based collective of creatives who are passionate about giving their gifts back to the One who created them. The goal is to build a community of bold, unapologetic believers who use movement as a form of worship and ministry.
