Artists

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Abada Capoeira
Capoeira began as a dance disguised martial-arts form developed by Afro-Brazilian slaves used in self-defense against their Portugese slave masters in Brazil. Now capoeira has spread as a sport worldwide, involving many styles, acrobatics, kicks, dance, music and singing
Our Greater Vancouver group has over a hundred capoeristas dedicated to practicing this beautiful combination of martial art, dancing and singing. Our teacher, who is better known to us as Rasta, has great expertise in Capoeira and a positive attitude towards life which makes classes as enjoyable as they can be. Our group ABADA Capoeira is lead by its great founder Mestre Camisa. Capoeira's fighting part is a great physical workout, whereas the singing and soothing sounds of berimbau and other instruments are a great relaxant after a long day at work. We welcome all people of all ages to join us and play!
Adalat
Ada is a professional Uyghur Traditional and Arabic Belly Dancer. She started dancing when she was 7 years old. She completed dance major in China Xinjiang Art institute. After graduating, she worked with Xinjiang Uyghur Art Group, Xinjiang Local TV , and CCTV Beijing. Since 1998, she stayed in Beijing and worked with the A Fun Ti art group which is one of the best dance groups in China.

Ada was also an independent dancer. She performed as a special guest, with a special invitation by groups in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Turkey Etc.

Her last dance journey was to Toronto Canada where she was invited twice to perform in the Toronto Chinese New Year festival.(2002, 2003).

After immigrating to Vancouver, Canada(2003) she took belly dance classes from the famous dancer and dance instructor Rahma. She has never stopped dancing since 2003 and continues in restaurants in Vancouver, important festivals, special events and on the big theater stages.
Curtis Andrews
Curtis Andrews is a percussionist/composer/teacher with global persuasions. A recognized player of most styles of music (African, jazz, Indian, country, rock, free improv) he performs and records with a wide variety of groups and artists.

His studies have taken him to the villages and metropolises of Ghana, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he has developed a deep knowledge of the history/performance of music from these areas. A leader in his field, he recently released his first album of original music entitled “The Offering of Curtis Andrews”.

http://www.curtisandrews.ca
Jennifer Bishop
Jennifer Bishop has been tirelessly promoting, teaching and performing the art of tap dance for over 15 years. She is the Artistic Director of THE URBAN TAP SQUAD and TIME-STEP PRODUCTIONS, a resident tap instructor at HARBOUR DANCE CENTRE, and founder of THE WEST COAST TAP DANCE COLLECTIVE.

She has had the unique pleasure of working both on and off stage in the entertainment world. Locally you may have seen her at The Harmony Arts Festival, The Vancouver Tap Festival or The Chutzpah Festival. She is an eternal student and enjoys the challenging of dancing with local musicians (Including Lache Cercel, Adel Awad, Russell Shumsky)

website: www.s2sproductions.com
Paul Bray 
Paul Bray is a multi-talented percussionist working as a musical educator and performer in Vancouver. Paul has devoted his attention to the study of African influenced music, specializing in Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian folkloric musical styles.

He has studied extensively in Cuba, and has developed a strong command of Brazilian percussion. Currently, Paul is the percussion instructor at the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach program and leads Vancouver's Escola de Samba: Sambata

http://www.sweetjams.com/
N'Nato Camara 
N'Nato Camara comes from the city of Conakry in Guinea, West Africa. Like most children in Africa, she started dancing as soon as she could stand. In her early teens she joined the Ballet Taille, and later went on to perform with the Circus Baobob, Kalley Multicultural and Aklysso.

Prior to moving to Canada, N'Nato was the principal dancer with the Baille Taille, led by Mamadouba Camara, lead soloist (djembe) of the Ballet Djoliba and former soloist for the Ballet Africans - two of West Africa's most respected traditional groups. Due to her passion and excellence as a dancer, people from Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States seek her out for private lessons in Africa.

Website: http://homepage.mac.com
Gary Cohen
RRich, textured, and exotic Middle-Eastern and Balkan rhythms are Gary Cohen’s specialty. With the help of his partner Amber Woods, and the belief that everyone has some sort of rhythm they present dynamic, interactive, multi-level classes and workshops. They have developed a relaxed, fun, step by step, easy to follow teaching style. 

Gary and Amber have taught workshops at the Vancouver Rhythm and Dance Festival, Seattle World Rhythms Festival and the Seattle Northwest Folklife Festival Rhythms Tent. In addition they have taught a series of drumming classes to Belly Dancers in Ladysmith, BC, to seniors as part of a music therapy program, and in French as a fun series sponsored by La Societe Francophone de Victoria. Based in Victoria BC, they have taught at the James Bay Community Centre School as well as at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. /p>

They also perform together as the World Folk Music Duo Kouskous and have performed with a number of belly dancers. Kouskous highlights the exotic beats from the Middle East coupled with Mediterranean inspired guitar stylings and vocal inflections. Kouskous features amusing parodies and unique interpretations of traditional folk songs are soulfully sung in original languages. For samples of our music please visit www.myspace.com/kouskousmusic . Contact us at: kouskousmusic@yahoo.com

Pepe Danza
Joseph 'Pepe' Danza is an electrifying percussionist and multi- instrumentalist. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, he began classical guitar studies at age eight, and started his professional career at thirteen. After studying at the National Conservatory, Pepe developed an interest in world music and spent three years studying shakuhachi in Japan, and two years studying Indian music in India and Sri Lanka

Moving to Canada in 1989 he quickly establishing himself as one of the foremost drummers and band leaders on the West coast. His credits include performances with South Indian master drummer Trichy Sankaran, and concert tours throughout Europe, Korea and New Zealand. Pepe is also an active composer, arranger, producer and Musical Director; and is presently the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Sacred Music Festival.

http://www.pepe-music.com
Nestor De La Zerda

Latin dance choreographer, teacher and coach for competitive team champions.  Former trainer for 2004 world champions in Miami Florida. Nestor's team qualified in the top ten out of the best 60 teams in the world in 1999 in San Juan Puerto Rico. Invited to tour Asia and Europe among the best ten teams in the world. Founder of the first two World Salsa Congresses in Vancouver, 2000 and 2001
Nestor`s team has performed in numerous venues in Vancouver such as the Queen Elizabeth theatre, Micheal J-FOX theater, The North Shore theatre, BC Place Stadium, Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver Hotel, Plaza Hotel, Bay Shore In, The Hyatt Regency, The wall Center, The Chan Center, and many others, as well as in cities such as Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Seattle, Oregon, Los Angeles, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Manila (Philippines).  hhttp://www.bcdance.com
Kocassalé Dioubaté

Kocassalé Dioubaté is a Guinean of the Mandingo tribe of West Africa. A descendant of the tribe's 'Griots' - traditional storytellers and musicians; the keepers of the tribe's oral history. Kocassalé has been dancing, playing and making music since he was old enough to walk.

He was named after his grandfather, who was a musician in the very first national troupe of Guinea (Ballet Nationale de Guinée) under the guidance of the great Guinean musician Koca Bangora. From these men, Kocassalé learned to play and build the traditional instruments of their tribe. He honed his drumming skills playing with his father, a percussionist and singer, at ceremonies all over Guinea. Kocassalé started his first group at the age of seven - banging on some pots and pans with friends in the village and now he has gone on to play music professionally all over West Africa. Career highlights to date include playing as Head Drummer for Ballet Kaloum Lolé in Guinea, soloist for Ballet Bougarabou in Senegal, recording with renowned drummer Moussa M'Boum in the Gambia and playing with Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour. He has also won awards from the Minister of Culture in Guinea for Dance in 2005 and was named Best Male Artist in 2001. Newly arrived from Africa, Kocassalé hopes to share his roots and spread the rich musical culture of West Africa.

http://www.beresanke.com
Jacky Essombe

Jacky Essombe is a professional dancer from Cameroon, West Africa, who now makes her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has toured in Canada, the United States and Europe with major recording artists and has appeared on television and radio numerous times.


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As a dance instructor and workshop presenter, she gives more than just a dance lesson; she offers the experience of openness to the self through movement and body awareness, and a true cultural experience. Over the last three years, Jacky has been presenting the African Healing Dance Workshop for Women throughout BC. /p>

She loves to share the traditions, history and culture of Africa, and the wisdom of her ancestors, and she truly believes that the Western world can benefit from the African traditional wisdom.

Phone: (604) 879 3099

website: www.JackyEssombe.com
Bernard Fernandes

BBand Leader, Cello Pan, Singer, Composer Originator of the bands 'Sweet Pan' and 'Carib X Press', he also performs as a solo artist on steeldrums, piano, vocals, & guitar. He has arranged for and/or led La Tropical, Karib Brass, Cinnamon, Fernandes & Co, Sweet Pan & Panarimba.
With Fernandes & Co, an instrumental & vocal group featuring Caribbean, Latin & North American music, Bernard released a CD of all original music in 1994. For three years, prior to the closing of the Music Gallery he was Music Entertainer at Science World, BC. Finishing his music degree in 1992, he makes his living teaching, making & composing music, & should you realize you want to learn to play the steeldrum, today is your lucky day/div>
Navaro Franco

NNavaro is a cultural translator inspired by ancient traditions of earth based music, rhythm, and dance. She is deeply interested in the current movement of traditional knowledge into present day context, and how it supports consciousness, community, and healing in our modern world.

Navaro draws from over 20 years of experience as a student, teacher and performer in many forms of dance and music. She has spent many years playing within community and professional music groups, taught thousands of people in private, corporate, school and retreat center settings. She has studied widely, spending 3 years in the Zimbabwean Music community here and in Southern Africa, primarily with Marimba Muzuva, and the Chigamba family. She spent 3 years intensively studying and performing as a key member with Gordy Ryan and his Cortes Island 25 member drum ensemble, Island Rhythm. Gordy Ryan was a 26 year member of Drums of Passion, the group of renowned father of the drum in the West, Babatunde Olatunji. Navaro has co-created with Vancouver celebrity Pepe Danza for the past 4 years, and currently co-creates DivaDrum, all female rhythm & movement quartet. As well, Navaro is a dancer who has deeply explored trance, ecstatic and healing movement forms, as a teacher and student. She studied western dance as well as African dance, and is sourced in the essence and translation of tribal wisdoms and forms. She is also informed by modern ecstatic explorations such as the work of Gabrielle Roth and 5 Rhythms, and Leyollah Antara's Kundalini Dance. /p>

Navaro is currently a founding member of The DivaDrum Collective, and holds ongoing weekly classes with Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journeys, and Rhythm Maps Drum Classes.
Please contact her for her current schedule of classes and performance.

www.NavaroFranco.com
navaro@tribal-bliss.com
(778) 239-8444
Allison Griffith

Allison Griffith is DRUM PRAYERS newest member, whose passion in life is for West African dancing, drumming and culture.She has spent over a decade studying with a wide variety of West African teachers. Her love of West African dance and music has taken her to Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria.

She has performed ( primarily as a dancer ) with groups such as ABOUBACAR CAMARA AND DOUNDOUNBA, N'NATO CAMARA AND GLOBAL HEART, KURABA DANCE AND DRUM ENSEMBLE, as well as a stint dancing to the beat of a different drum in the extreme percussion orchestra SWARM.

Allison is currently excited about creating more joy through rhythm and expanding her drumming skills as a member of Joseph Pepe Danza's DRUM PRAYERS.
Arthur Hull

A talented musician and performer, Arthur Hull is recognized as the father of the modern day community drum circle movement. He is a facilitation trainer, motivational speaker, experiential keynote presenter and an internationally acclaimed master at facilitating groups of people through a common experience using music and rhythm.


Arthur has used the Village Music CirclesT metaphor to build team spirit and promote unity in corporations, schools and communities world-wide. With a mission to make the pleasure and the power of rhythm accessible to everyone Arthur brings his fun and inspirational rhythm experience to communities from corporate executives to kids at risk.

A gifted rhythmatist and charismatic facilitator, Arthur leads diverse groups through a joyful and inspiring experience using music and rhythm. From small groups to groups of thousands, English speaking to Mandarin, youngsters to elders, 'rhythmically challenged' to experienced musicians; Arthur's wit and humor motivates people beyond cultural and personal barriers inspiring full, enthusiastic participation and community building.

http://www.drumcircle.com
Kwasi Iruoje

Nigerian born drum master Kwasi Iruoje creates web of intricate rhythm and excitement wherever he goes. Kwasi has taken his infectious beats and charismatic style with him to cities all across Canada and the United States. As a soloist, Kwasi interactively performs with his audience, interpreting African traditions through music and dance.


"Rhythm us the driving force behind my music. Its what makes the world go round." Kwasi promises to leave each of his listeners with a spring in their steps and a smile on their lips. - http://afrikadey.com
Chen Lizra 

Dancer and Founder of Latidos Productions Chen Lizra left an 8-year career as an animator to go to business school and follow her dream of bringing Cuban Sabor (flavour) to Canadians through Cuban dance.


Nicknamed "La Cubanita de Israel" (the Cuban woman from Israel) by Havana locals, Chen is an international performer, a member of the International Dance Council, and possesses an Australian Distinguished Talent Visa. She is an award-winning entrepreneur, is a member of the Cambridge Who's Who, and has been featured in over two dozen media outlets.
www.chenlizra.com
Sandi Millman

Sandi S. Millman of Drum Mama Studios offers private, semi-private and group hand drumming instruction on Djembe and Congas at her studio located in the heart of Kerrisdale. She facilitates rhythm-based events for private functions, corporate and government teambuilding programs and healing drum circles.
Sandi is a recovering psychology major addicted to rhythm. After studying dance for 12 years, she became a percussionist/dance accompanist at many of the finest dance studios in Vancouver. She is a life long rhythm student, recording artist and performer who has played percussion and drum kit for the past decade in local Latin, African, rock, funk, klezmer and alternative bands. As a busy mother of 3 she is now focusing on her true passion: sharing her love and joy of rhythm with others through instruction and facilitation. For more information please visit www.DrumMama.com. You can reach Sandi at (604) 873-9495 or e-mail drum.mama@shaw.ca
Kurai Mubaiwa  

Kurai Mubaiwa was born into mbira music in Mashonaland, an East province of Zimbabwe, and has been performing in ritual gatherings from a young age.
He's also taught and performed in many countries in Europe and Africa as well as North America.
Kevin Noble  

Kevin Noble was born into a family of professional musicians, recording artists, composers and arrangers. Classically trained in Western Style music, Kevin found that he has an unquenchable passion and love for West African music. He considers himself fortunate to have studied, played with and learned from a number of Master Drummers from Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria, South Africa and Côte d'Ivoire
He's also taught and performed in many countries in Europe and Africa as well as North America.

Immersing in West African ballet/ensembles as a guide, he teaches both beginners and intermediate drummer’s traditional rhythms from the entire Western African Region. Kevin is honored to share his knowledge of rhythm, dance and African history he has gained to other enthusiastic drummers of all ages.

An instructor, facilitator, a technical djembe drummer, performing artist and arranger; his musical abilities led to the creation of "The ASW Drum Collective"; a performance group that showcases his students and West African Music for/at various organizations, festivals, and cultural events.

KEEP ON DRUMMING!

http://www.asmallworldonline.com/learn.php?pageid=11

Hari Pal  &nbs 

Best known as a tablas player trained in the North Indian tradition, Hari Pal has crossed the world performing while ever learning new music forms.

After landing in Canada in 1985, he has conducted several percussion concerts to emphasize intercultural fusion of rhythms with African, Latin American, Middle Eastern and North American drummers. With his willingness to try new things, he wows his ever growing following.

http://www.haripal.com
Lyle Povah   

Lyle Povah is a percussionist/singer/guitarist, children's entertainer, drum circle facilitator, and teacher with a special interest in African drumming. He travels throughout North America presenting at conferences, leading corporate team building sessions and bringing musical fun, wellness and learning to a wide variety of musical arenas, including health care centres, youth at risk programs, schools, faith groups, detention centres and community events.
Lyle has shared music with kids at B.C.'s Children's Hospital one day a week for the past 14 years and regularly visits hospitals across Canada and the U.S. Lyle also leads the longest running weekly "drop in" Community Drum Circle in Vancouver, an intergenerational and intercultural musical event moving into its 8th year. He is the President of the Westcoast Sacred Arts Society that recently sponsored the Dalai Lama visit to Vancouver.
http://www.givepeaceachant.org
Milton Randall  

Milton Randall began playing drums for socials and weddings at 13 years old. He received a B. Mus. Ed. from the University of Texas at El Paso (1985) and a n M. Ed. (Music) from the University of North Texas in 1995. Between degrees, Milton performed with the Winnipeg Symphony and numerous jazz and pop music venues and taught in St. Boniface School District in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In 1995, Milton studied with master drummer Godwin Agbeli in his home village of Kopeyia in Ghana on a scholarship from the University of North Texas. He completed his Ph.D. coursework at The University of British Columbia but put his graduate studies on hold in order to perform and give hand with drumming workshops in schools and public venues. From 2001 to 2010, Milton taught in over 650 schools in British Columbia, Hong Kong, and Alberta and has introduced over 200,000 students to hand drumming. He is in increasing demand to provide professional teacher development workshops.

http://creativepercussion.com
Dean Rath  

Dean Rath is a passionate educator who has trained with some of the best drummers in the world, including master drummers Babatunde Olatuji and Malidoma Some.


Dean combines his training as a jazz drummer and classical percussionist with nearly a decade of experience as an elementary school teacher to design workshops that are engaging and educational for students of all ages. Dean is also a skilled craftsman and personally makes all of the high-quality drums used in his workshops.

http://www.innerrhythmdrumming.com

http://creativepercussion.com
Trevor Salloum  

Trevor Salloum is a percussionist, author and teacher who has conducted workshops and performed internationally for over 25 years. Salloum studied music at York University (Toronto) and Escuela Nacional de Arte (Cuba). He has studied with some of the great Cuban masters including Changuito, Enrique Pla, Roberto Vizcaino, Cutumba and Los Munequitos de Matanzas. His studies of percussion have taken him to Brazil, Cuba and the Middle East. 


Trevor resides in Kelowna, BC, Canada and leads two Okanagan Valley bands- Major Mambo and The Trevor Salloum Group. He has performed with Pat Labarbera, Armando Peraza, Alex Acuña, Jane Bunnett, Campbell Ryga, Ross Taggart, Brad Turner, Dee Daniels, Tommy Banks and Ian McDougall.

He is a best selling author with Mel Bay Publications including Fun with Bongos/CD, The Bongo Book/CD, Bongo Drumming:Beyond the Basics/CD, Afro-Latin Polyrhythms/CD , Afro-Cuban Rhythms Vol. 1 & 2., The Art of Bongo Drumming DVD. and The Art of Arabic Drumming DVD.

Trevor Salloum
www.trevorsalloum.com

Fun with Bongos, The Bongo Book, Bongo Drumming, Afro-Latin Polyrhythms,
Afro-Cuban Rhythms Vol.1&2,The Art of Bongo DrummingDVD,The Art of Arabic Drumming DVD (Mel Bay Publications Inc.) www.melbay.com/

Endorser for
www.lpmusic.com/
www.regaltip.com/
Russell Shumsky  

Russell Shumsky teaches and studies West African drumming, accompanies dance classes and performs with his band. He has over 18 years of professional playing and teaching experience. 


He is a percussionist that plays the Marimba, Djembé, Dunduns, Bodhran, Didgeridoo and Congas. He travels to West Africa regularly to study with two of the world's most respected djembé masters, Mamady Keita and Famoudou Konaté.

His performance experience includes touring with Sarah McLachlan and contemporary dance troupes such as Toronto's, "Dancemakers" and Vancouver's "Karen Jamison Dance Company".

http://www.drumming.ca
Odette Slater  

Odette has been practising and teaching body-centered movement and healing disciplines for over twenty years.
She possesses extensive knowledge in the systems of Ashtanga Yoga and Pilates as well as other movement modalities.


She completed a BA(HONS) in Contemporary dance from The Place (London, England) in 1988 and continued to pursue her career in modern dance until 1996 when a severe injury sent her in the direction of healing and then teaching. Odette has also dabbled in Aikido, West African Dance, T'ai Chi, BodyMindCentering, Ideokinesis, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais and is a level two Reiki practitioner. She credits Danny Paradise, Donna Farhi, Dona Holleman, Orit Sen Gupta, Angela Farmer, David Swensen, Lucy Martorella, Pattabhi Jois and Dianne Miller among her most influential Yoga and Pilates teachers
Ron Stelting  

Ron Stelting has lead community rhythm events for over 8 years and he's a regular dance accompanist at SFU, Arts Umbrella and Ballet BC. He believes that drumming is a great community event and has led many processions including the Winter Solstice, the Fringe Festival, Luminaries and the Parade of Lost Souls.

He is professional musician, having recorded with many including Pepe Danza, John Gilliat, Jim Foster and kid performers the buddy system in addition to being an active participant in Corporate rhythm events with the drum cafe. Ron is a founding member of the Vancouver Rhythm and Dance (VRAD) organization.

http://www.vrad.ca
Tannis

Tannis is a registered Dance-movement and Drama Therapist, BC Clinical Counsellor, Spiritual Director and creator of ritual theatre. For the past several years she has been collaborating with Vancouver movement leaders to create community movement rituals.

Devoted to the performing and healing arts for over 30 years, her private therapy practice includes teaching workshops in Authentic Movement, Moving Prayer, and Ecstatic Body Postures, in addition to seeing individual clients for therapy and spiritual direction.

Her passion is to guide others to experience the joy and healing of sacred wisdom as it moves through our bodies.
Keseke Yeo

For Kesseke dance is like a medicine. He started dancing at 7 years and at 11 he went to the Ivory Coast National Ballet and was there for several years dancing locally and touring around Africa and Europe. He also danced for Yelemba d`Abidjan and Ballet Djolem d'Abidjan, la Companie de Wouafou de Abidjan.

In 2001 he moved to Vancouver and currently dances for Masabo Culture Company and his own group West meets West.  He also teaches West African dance in various dance studios in Vancouver (please go to the events and workshops page for current and upcoming dance classes).

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