Dasha (dah-shah) Greek origin, n. “Gift of God”
Just as breathing comes naturally to all humans, singing is like inhaling and exhaling a breath of fresh air to Dasha. From the time she could speak, this Bay Area bred beauty could create the beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion with her voice. It was not until age five when she stumbled upon her mother’s cassette tapes that Dasha knew she had an affinity for music. Instantly hooked, she quickly learned songs like Regina Belle’s “Baby Come To Me” and ZZ HIll’s “Down Home Blues.” Soon after, she won her first talent singing, Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love”. Even at a young age, she was able to captivate and mystify music lovers with the unsuspecting power and soul she possesses. Intrigued by her own natural love of performance and self-expression, she pushed forward with a relentless pursuit to live out her God-given purpose. She started writing songs at the age of 13 and spent most of her adolescent years recording, writing and performing alone in her bedroom. High school is where Dasha began to truly hone her skills as she starred in many musical productions including FAME, Grease, Once On This Island, The King and I, and a few others. It wasn’t long before she found herself on television as she graced the stage at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City following the legacy of greats like Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and a host of others. This would be just the beginning. That same year, she would obtain 3rd place in The California Teen Vocal Championships. These accomplishments catapulted the Bay Area beauty into a new stratosphere where confidence, charisma, and talent would be her lifelong companions.
With these amazing accolades under her belt, it is no surprise that Dasha was one of eight vocalists chosen to enter the UCLA Jazz program in 2004. She would later obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnomusicology with a Concentration in World Music, where she studied under legends like Gerald Wilson, Ruth Price, Barbara Morrison and Kenny Burrell. Before receiving her diploma, she would study classical music abroad in Europe, lead the African Arts Ensemble and direct the campus’ only production of The Vagina Monologues, with a cast of women of color, from Cal Berkeley and UCLA. After graduating from UCLA, Dasha shared her astounding abilities with the youth as performed professionally in children’s theater throughout the Greater Loa Angeles area.
It is in LA where Dasha has truly found her true voice. After hosting Cypher Lounge Radio for 5 years and bringing an unknown platform to a listenership of 78,000, Dasha now knows the awe-inspiring beauty and power she represents. From the Bay to LA, she has diversified her gifts and has taken on many titles such as actress, writer, director, blogger, radio host and most recently, voice over artist.
Not resting on her voice alone, she as landed roles on Tyler Perry’s The Have and the Have Nots, That GUY and Netflix’s animated series, Motown Magic. She has been able to work with Irene Cara, Ray Parker Jr., Evelyn Champagne King, Wallace Scott, Rapper Big Pooh, Don Was and Michael Bearden. This is only the beginning for Bay Area girl who the world will come to know simply as, Dasha.
DASHA 