“A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. You gotta ask.”
Angela Yemi Gibson is a medical biller by day and an arts visionary by night: founder of a nonprofit African Dance Company in Spartanburg, SC.
About
Angela Yemi Gibson seamlessly bridges her dual passions: healthcare administration and African cultural arts. Based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, she works full-time as a medical biller while managing her nonprofit, an African Dance Company she founded over 20 years ago.
Angela’s days are long and varied claim filing and patient communication by day, choreography and performance prep by evening. Her recent highlight: successfully leading an artist residency in Monks Corner, where she and her team taught African dance to local elementary students. “It was way out of the comfort zone, but it was successful,” she recalled.
Angela measures success differently depending on the hat she’s wearing. In billing, it’s financial stability. In dance, it’s audience engagement and community response. Her nonprofit recently secured grants that allowed her to offer free community classes while ensuring her team is compensated.
Angela believes in transparency and resilience. “Sometimes it’s okay to ask for help,” she says. She encourages aspiring creatives to surround themselves with trustworthy collaborators, remain positive, and keep showing up. Her advice is simple and clear: “Keep swimming.”
