|
Linda
Tillery is
a veteran drummer, vocalist, , producer and cultural historian whose
career has spanned 34 years. Since the 1960's, Tillery has been regarded
as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most versatile singers.
In the
90's Linda took command of an even broader repertoire, tapping into
the diverse resources of African American roots music. She shares with
us the historic beginnings of Black music through Work Songs, Spirituals,
Play Songs, Field Hollers, Moans and Ring Shouts.
|
Lora
Chiorah-Dye joined us in 2007. She was raised
Zimbabwe and came to the United States in the 1970's. She
created the Sukutai Marimba and Dance Ensemble, one of the
region's
oldest African music ensembles, to celebrate the heritage
of Zimbabwe's Shona people and to provide an opportunity
for teaching
music and dance to Americans.
Lora is an internationally respected dancer,
singer, and Mbira player. She is a professional storyteller
and conveys the values of the Shona culture with stories, songs,
games, dances and crafts projects.
|
|
|
Nurudafina
Pili Abena (Nuru) joined us in 2007. Oral
Traditionalist/Teacher/Musician, Nurudafina Pili Abena has been
drumming for 30 years. She studied drumming as a child
with Master Babatunde Olatunji as well as with many masters of
traditional folklore from African and Eastern origins. She
has performed and studied in West Africa (Senegal), Kenya (East
Africa), and in Cuba as well as nationally throughout the United
States of America.
Nurudafina
founded the "universal Vibrations School of Oral Traditions" in
1976. She is considered one of the original women elders
and is respected internationally as a woman drummer and teacher.
Nuru
is a "Woman on a Mission", using drumming to unite
people from diverse backgrounds and to dispel the ignorance surrounding
African music and diaspora Cultural folklore.
|
Mabiba
Baegne is
an internationally acclaimed teacher, drummer and choreographer
of traditional and contemporary African Dance. Mabiba was born
in Congo Brazzaville and initiated into dancing by her grandparents
at the age of eight.
Mabiba
is an inspiring drummer. In addition to her Congolese dancing,
Mabiba has studied West African dunun drumming with master drummer
Famoudou
Konate
in
Guinea
and she was the first
woman to teach this form in the United States. Mabiba is
also an acclaimed singer and has toured and recorded with Salif
Keita,
master drummer Mamady Keita, and Samba Ngo
|

|
|
Jackeline
Rago is
a Venezuelan-born, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger,
producer and educator who specializes in Venezuelan Folk-Music
as well as music from other countries and the Caribbean.
Currently,
she is a faculty member at the Jazz School in Berkeley, CA,
where she teaches several courses on Afro-Venezuelan percussion,
Afro-Venezuelan rhythms applied to Jazz and Venezuelan Cuatro
(four-stringed guitar). She is also the artistic and musical
director of "The Venezuelan Music Project" and "The
Snake Trio", bands which she performs and travels with
in an ongoing basis. In her workshops, she often showcases
a wide variety of musical styles and traditional instruments
from her native Venezuela, such as the "Quitiplas" (bamboo
ensemble), Venezuelan "Maracas" and "Cumaco" (long "avocado-tree" drum).
Jackeline
Rago has performed nationally and internationally for over
20 years.
|
Carolyn
Brandy is a
composer, performer, and teacher, and has worked in the Bay Area
for many years with many groups such as RhythMix, Jazz Camp West,
The Jazzschool, Oakland Jazz Choir, Oakland Youth choir, Redwood
Cultural Work, Berkeley and Oakland Public Schools, Skin Talk,
the Faye Carol Band, and The San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures
in Music Program. She was a founding member and has four recordings
with the jazz quintet, Alive! And also released a self-produced
CD of her own compositions entitled Skin Talk. Carolyn is currently
writing, arranging and performing music with her new band, OJALÁ
Carolyn
has been a drummer and student of Cuban folkloric music for
many years. She has been a practitioner of the Yoruba-based
Cuban religion, Regla de Ocha, also known as Santeria, since
1977. She was initiated as a priest of the religion in Havana,
Cuba by Amelia Pedroso in 2000.
Carolyn
has led five tours to the Island of Cuba to study Folkloric
music and dance. She has organized workshops in Havana,
Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, Santiago De Cuba, and Guantanamo,
where
the groups studied with masters of Afro-Cuban drumming
and dance.
Carolyn
is the Artistic Director of Women
Drummers International and Co-Producer of Born to
Drum Women's Drum Camp. She is the Creator/Director
of Sistah Boom!
|

|
|
NYDIA ‘LIBERTY’ MATA --
Rooted in the rhythms of her native Cuba. Nydia “Liberty” Mata
is a dynamic percussionist and electrifying performer. Composer,
arranger, and co-founder of the Latin Caribbean duo Harpbeat,
Nydia is best known for her recording credits with Laura Nyro,
Isis, and Latin Fever. She has performed with such legends
as Dizzy Gillespie, Patti Labelle, Art Blakey, And Pete Seeger
as well as playing for former President Bill Clinton at the
Labor Research Association’s 24th Annual Labor Awards
Dinner in NYC.
She
has appeared at Concert Halls and Universities throughout Canada,
South America, and the USA including; Carnegie Hall, Town Hall,
Nassau Coliseum, The Beacon Theater, The Bottom Line, and the
Palace of Fine Arts at the San Francisco World Drum Festival.
In
recent years multi-talented percussionist extraordinaire, Nydia “Liberty” Mata
has added the magic of the Steel Pan to expand her rich tapestry
of sound and to date continues to share her passion for teaching “from
the inside out” with her private students and the women
who answer to “the calling of the drum” at the
Born to Drum Women’s Drum Camp in Northern California.
|
Adwoa
Antoinette Kudoto
was born and raised in Cape Coast,
Ghana. She has been drumming since childhood and at the age
of thirteen and for the next five years
she studied and performed with Nana Kwamena Kum, master drummer
and artist in residence at St. Monica’s Girls’ School in
Ghana. During that period Adwoa’s talent was evident and she
was nurtured and tutored by Ghana’s best drummers. In 2000
Adwoa was selected by the Arts Critics and Reviewers Association
of Ghana (ACRAG) as Ghana’s Outstanding Female Master Drummer,
stating she was “the only versatile female master drummer with
obvious dexterity; skilled in traditional Ghanaian drumming including
djembe percussion.” In fact, the state of Ghana official website
lists Antoinette Kudoto as Ghana’s first and only female
master drummer.
Over the past twenty years Adwoa has performed extensively as
a drummer and instructor at the Center for Intercultural and
Talent Development,
Cape Coast. She is also the founder and director of the Nyame Tsease
African Traditionals where she directs a drum and dance djembe
ensemble and provides workshops for visiting American and other
foreign University
students.
Adwoa has been a visiting artist and educator in Denmark and
in the United States. In 2004 she taught courses at the University
of Michigan
in drumming, dancing, singing and understanding of traditional
African rhythms. In 2006 she taught a similar course at Long Beach
State
University and in 2007 she taught an intermediate course in Ghanaian
drumming and performed in Sebastopol, CA.
Adowa’s resume reflects her accomplishments and expertise, but to really
know her is to play drums with her. Don’t miss any workshop she offers!
|

|
|
Susu
Pampanin -- has
explored and studied all types of percussion instruments and
styles of music, and her incredible talent is especially evident
in her work in Middle Eastern drumming. Susu is well known
for her virtuosity in Arabic drumming and is one of the few
female Middle Eastern drummers highly respected by the Arabic
professional music community.
She
has worked and recorded with fusion ensembles, including Wild
Mango, Keith Terry and Crosspulse, Stellamara, Jazayer, BlueNile,
Vince Delgado Quintet, Susu and the Cairo Cats, and most recently,
Holly Near. She also has a solo drum CD, Hands of Time.
|
Michaelle
Goerlitz --
Since her arrival in 1980 to San Francisco, Michaelle has
been enjoying, absorbing and contributing to the Bay Area's
musical richness. She has played, recorded and toured with
a variety of artists including Soul Sauce, the Snake Trio,
Lichi Fuentes, rhiannon, Patrick Palomo, John Worley, Jami
Sieber, Erika Luckett, Voz do Brasil, Novo Tempo and Dimitri
Vandellos. She was also a founding member of Wild Mango.
For
the workshops, she will focus on Rio-style batucada and possibly
Northeastern styles such as baiao, maracatu and coco. Please
bring surdos, repiniques, tamborims, agogo bells and pandeiros!!
photo by John Spragens Jr.
|

|

|
Elizabeth
Sayre has
performed, published articles about, and organized events around
Afro-Latin, Brazilian, and African music since 1990. She is
a freelance musician, teacher, researcher, writer, and translator/interpreter,
as well as Visiting Instructor at Swarthmore College (Swarthmore,
PA) in the Department of Music and Dance.
In
Afro-Cuban music, she has studied with John Amira, Orlando
Fiol, Amelia Pedroso, Lázaro Pedroso Michael Spiro,
and Michel Aldama in Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco,
and Havana, Cuba.
Since
2000 she has accompanied Afro-Cuban dance classes in New
York City (batá, congas). Elizabeth is percussion
captain for Obini Ashe and founder/musical director of Okan
Iloro, two all women's Afro-Cuban folkloric groups based
in New York. In the mid-1990s she was invited to join Samba
Nosso, the project which eventually became Philadelphia’s
dance band sensation, Alô Brasil.
|
|
Sue
Kaye (Suki) has
been playing conga drums,Ngomas and other percussion for 30 years.
Originally from New York, Suki has studied with many master drummers
from the Congo, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Trinidad , and more.
She has played with a variety of groups including Montuno Groove,
Omeyocan,Zakiya Hooker, Samba Ngo, and Bole Bantu. The styles she
plays are a mix of African, Caribbean,Latin, Jazz, both folkloric
and popular styles. Suki has also been a dance accompanist and
educator , and she is happiest when playing drums!!
|
Janet
Koike's
passion for taiko, has inspired original compositions, combining
rhythm and movement into an exciting performance style. As
a vital part of San Jose Taiko her work has been a highlight
of the group's national concert tours from Arsenio Hall to
Carnegie Hall. Blending traditional San Francisco Taiko Dojo
training with custom built techno taiko, Janet performed
with D'CuCKOO at the Cleveland Bicentennial and Macy's Passport
with Cirque du Soleil. Janet has performed in Hong Kong at
the "New Dimensions Festival" with Mark Izu, and
Brenda Wong Aoki, toured Indonesia with Keith Terry's Body
Tjak and performed with Jennifer Berezan, Kenny Endo, Ondekoza's
Marco Lienhard, Anthony Brown with the Asian Jazz Orchestra
and Theatre Yugen.
Janet
has recently returned from mounting a new work for Odaiko
New England and showcasing at the APAP conference in New
York.
See the Rhythmix
web site for more information about Janet and her current
projects.
|

|

|
Virginia
Lopez was
born in Cuba. She has studied Afro-Cuban drumming with Master
drummer and recording artist, Amelia Pedroso,as well as other
teachers in both Cuba and the United States. She has taught
at drum camps in California, Washington, Oregon, and British
Columbia.
|
Afia
Walking Tree --
Afia Walking Tree’s philosophy is that we are all on a journey to re-emerge as whole beings and be in sync with our universes. She uses African Diasporic drumming, singing, dancing, and the honoring of one’s lineages as vehicle to help her clients and participants cultivate new tools and pathways to realize their destinies. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Afia Walking Tree is a masterful percussionist, visionary facilitator, and outstanding performer, singer-songwriter and recording artist who builds’ bridges across multi-ethnic intergenerational communities. Afia has been a collaborative artist with many luminaries of our time.
In 2007 and 2008, Afia toured with the internationally acclaimed Les Amazones Women Master Drummers of Guinea as one of their lead soloists. This past January, Afia chaperoned thirty three people on her second Drum and Dance Cultural Immersion Tour to Guinea. There she received initiations for playing Djembe and Dunun for numerous ceremonies, dances, and social celebrations. Afia offers intensive study and consultation for individuals, semi-privates (2-4), and small to large groups at all levels. She also brings her work to schools, non-profits, colleges, universities, and corporations internationally.
|

|
 |
Debbie
Guerrero-- (Tlingit/Snohomish/Cowlitz) is a Research
Assistant and Outreach Coordinator for the Native Wellness Research
Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.
She
is considered a Community Resource and conducts sweat lodge
ceremonies for women who need healing and support as they endure
life on life's terms. She is a member of the Native American
Church, and attends on a regular basis.
Debbie
is also a Sundancer. She is widely acknowledged for her beautiful
singing of traditional songs while playing the Native American
drum or rattle. She is the mother of three grown children and
an active Leader in the Native Community in Seattle. Her passion
is working with Indigenous Healers and empowering women.
photo by Jackie Thomason |
Las Bomberas De La Bahia--Las Bomberas de la Bahia was founded in April 2007 and is the Bay Area’s first & only all-women's Bomba ensemble. The group is composed of Bay Area activists, educators, and artists who actively contribute to growing the tradition of Bomba and work to maintain & support Puerto Rico’s oldest African influenced music and dance tradition, which formed in Puerto Rico's sugar cane plantations by slaves as a form of resistance. Las Bomberas de la Bahia have performed throughout the Bay Area for educational institutions, cultural centers, and cultural festivals.
Denise Solis is an activist, labor organizer, and musician who has lived in the Bay Area since 2002. Denise began studying the Afro Puerto Rican musical tradition of Bomba in 2004.
Sarazeta Ragazzi is a Boricua bred in San Francisco's Mission District. She is an artist, teacher and performer with over 15 years experience working in the cultural arts.
|
 |
|
|
 |
Ojalá -- is
a group of 6 talented women who combine a mixture of traditional
Afro-Cuban folkloric music, contemporary and infectious funky
rhythms, beautiful vocals and imaginative original songs. OJALÁ uses
traditional rhythms and songs to express their own unique creative
talents.
Learn more at the Ojalá website.
Carolyn
Brandy, a groundbreaking Bay Area female percussionist, is
the musical director of the band, and the inspiring and moving
vocals are led by Regina Wells and Elouise Burrell. Joining
them are Ava Square-LeVias, Annette Acosta, and Sue Matthews.
photo
by Jackie Thomason
|
| |
| Healing Circle and Spirit
Lodge |
Vicki
Noble -- is
a Healer, Author, Artist, and Wisdom Teacher, Co-creator
of The Motherpeace Tarot and author of
eight books, including Shakti Woman and The Double
Goddess.
Vicki
teaches in the Women's Spirituality Masters Program at ITP
in Palo
Alto and travels internationally teaching Goddess
and Tibetan Buddhist Dakini practices to women around the
world. At
home in Santa Cruz, California, she is a professional astrologer
and works privately with clients and students.
She
has developed an innovative Transformational Ritual Healing
Circle that
combines drumming, chanting, and hands-on healing.
|
|
 |
Odilia
Galván Rodríguez --
Odilia is
an internationally recognized poet, writer, journalist, editor
teacher and activist who has traveled extensively. She has three
books of poetry and her work has been published in numerous literary
journals and anthologies. Her most recent book, Migratory Birds:
New and Noted Poems is about her many journeys the physical as
well as the spiritual.
Odilia
has practiced Native American Spiritual traditions of her
ancestors all her life and the Sun Dance traditions of the
Lakota Peoples,
who adopted her back in the 1980’s. She was initiated
into the Lucumí African Traditional Religion of Cuba,
the tradition of her husband and son, in the mid 1990’s
as an Orisha priestess of Yemaya, which she practices extensively.
As
an avid cultural worker since her early teens, Odilia has always
worked for social justice and says that she does not plan to
stop until she takes her last breath. She trains young artists
to become activists and believes that a social consciousness
must also include a spiritual formation.
|
| |
| Basic
Skills |
Lali
Mejía was born in Ciudad Ojeda and raised in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Lali
specializes in the Afro-Venezuelan Folklore as well as other
Latin American styles of music. She is a permanent band member
of the Venezuelan Music Project (Venezuelan Folk Music) and
has shared the stage as a guest percussionist with Venezuelan
musicians such as the VNote Ensemble, Marco Granados, Aquiles
Baez, Claudia Calderón, Leo Blanco, Gonzalo Teppa, Grupo Eleggua and Rennea Coutennye. In addition, she has studied under master percussionists Alexander Livinalli (Venezuela), Edgardo Cambón (Uruguay), Carolyn Brandy (USA) and Jesus Diaz (Cuba).
Among some of her most memorable concerts are the California World Music Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Moab Music Festival, Venezuelan Sounds at the Smithsonian, Brava Theatre and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.
|
|
|
Sue
Lundquist
has had a passion for music since she can remember. As a child
she studied piano and guitar and longed to play the drums.
Forty
years
ago girls were not encouraged to play. True to her desire to
learn she
finally found her path on the drum twenty years ago. Carolyn
Brandy has been
her inspiration and primary teacher of Afro-Cuban music on
congas and bata drums. Recently, she has been studying and
performing West African music
with Ryan Camara.
Sue
has been sharing her knowledge and joy for drumming with adults
and children in private classes and in the public schools. She
currently
performs with Blue Lightning(a dance band) and with Asesu Hand in Hand
Drummers.
|
Rana
Halpern has been playing drums since elementary
school where she learned Afro-Cuban, Caribbean and Brazilian rhythms.
As a youth under the direction of Carolyn Brandy, Rana performed
throughout the Bay Area alongside artists such as Pete Escovedo.
In high school, she taught drums and percussion at Cazadero Music
camp. She performed at venues such as La Pena, Carnival, American
Music Hall and continues to study and teach drums. |
|
| |
Christine
Sato
|
Tonya
Lyles--Based in Austin Texas, Tonya "Onye" Lyles has founded SistaDrums to rejuvenate, invigorate, and uplift a community through teaching the art of hand-drumming and movement linked to traditional world rhythms.
Her drum path began at four years old. Her first drum was a tambourine played in a gospel choir where she sang and performed weekly. In 1994, her path converged with the West African djembe drum in Las Cruces, NM. Her drumming style has been greatly influenced by her teachers, Babatunje Olatundje Alseny Sylla, Karuna Warren, Edwina Tyler, Mohamed Camara, M'bembe Bangora, Ibrahim Diakate, Mouminatou Camara, Abdoulye Diakate, and Moussa Taore.
Tonya plays the djembe, djundjun, balaphon, shakaree, shakara, congas, bangos, cajon, Mrimba, talking drum, and dumbek. She has been playing and performing traditional rhythms on djembe since 1994 and currently teaches in Austin, Texas. Her performance experiences range from solo artist to member of a sixteen piece West African drum and dance ensemble. Drum on Sistas Drum! |
 |
| Dance |

photo by Jackie Thomason
|
Ava
Square-LeVias--Ava’s joy of ecstatic union
with spirit can be seen in her dance performance, her writing,
and love for family, friends & community. Considered a “proverbial” artist
Ava’s talents include choreographer/dancer, actor, drummer/musician,
poet & videographer. Ava has studied many forms of dance
and considers West African her forte.
Ava
has performed solo and toured with D’Cuckoo, Dimensions
Dance Theater, Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, Harambee
Dance Ensemble, David Rousseve’s “Reality”,
and Canadian award-winning dub-poet, Lillian Allen. She’s
studied with Dr. Albirda Rose, Nontsizi Cayou, Deborah Vaughan,
grammy winner Dr. Zak and Naomi Diouf, Marie Bass, Reggie Savage,
and internationally acclaimed, Alonzo King, to name a few.
Ava
has founded her own dance company, Spirit Theatre of Dance
as well as Spirit Theatre Dance Studio offering performances,
drum and dance classes, workshops, and other classes for the
community. Her studio received the Express newspaper’s “Best
in the Bay” two years running.
Ava
has been a consultant for many public school districts teaching
dance and music theory, theater, and stagecraft. She has
also produced videos, and wrote curriculum. Ava currently performs
and/or teaches with Ojalá, Purple Moon Dance Project, Dreamfish
for sustainability, as well as her freelance solo performance.
Ava
has a self-published book of poetry, A Square Opening. Ava lives in San Rafael with her wife, Elisa.
Ava can be reached at: SpiritTheatreofDance@hotmail.com.
|
Adwoa
Tacheampong is a vocalist, drummer, dancer & actor
who has been performing since the age of 12. She has been playing
Afro-Cuban Batá & studying Afro-Cuban Orisha Dance
for six years. She currently performs with several companies
in the Philadelphia area including PhillyBloco (Brazilian), Voices
of Africa (African & Folk), Tambonito (Afro-Cuban & Afro-Brazilian),
Leana Song (Afro-Cuban & Ghanaian) and Sonic Liberation Front
(Avant-garde jazz & Afro-Cuban), as well as being on call
for other musical and acting opportunities.
Adwoa
plays several instruments including Batá, surdo, sekere,
sakara, agogo, & caixa. She is an avid photographer & writer.
She continually seeks to expand her creative opportunities
including studying conga drumming & continuously strengthening
her voice. |
 |
 |
TerriAnne Gutierrez --
a lifelong student of dance, has been studying and performing
Middle Eastern Dance for over thirty years. TerriAnne is one
of the San Francisco Bay Area?s most well-known and sought
after performers and teachers.
She
specializes in Modern Egyptian and American Cabaret, with stylistic
influences from some of the forerunners of Egyptian Dance,
including the great classic performers Samia Gamal and Tahia
Karioca.
With
a B.A. in Activism and Social Change, she uses her performances
as a form of expression and as a soft voice that encourages
the audience to increase their consciousness in areas that
may otherwise be left dormant. Terri Anne is the director of
the dance company, Joweh.
Visit TerriAnne's Web site.
|
| Guest
of Honor |
| Carolina Sanchez |
|
| |
Honored Teachers
and Guests from Previous Years
|
Edwina
Lee Tyler
Edwina
Lee Tyler is master of the West African Djimbe drum. She is
acclaimed as one of the earliest pioneers of the women’s
drumming movement. During the 1970's Edwina heard the call
of the drum and went to Africa to study. Edwina was the founder
and director of "A Piece of the World" an African
American women’s drum and dance ensemble. She has also
toured extensively as a soloist.
Edwina
is known internationally. She has performed on Broadway, television,
radio, and video. Her drumming spirit is an inspiration to
all. Her credits include Urban Bush Women, Lady Gourd Sangoma,
Merian Soto, Ancestral Messengers, Prowess Dance Arts Collective,
and more.
|

|
 |
Akiba
Onada-Sikwoia --
has
been participating in ceremony, conducting workshops and maintaining
a healing practice for
the past twenty-five years. Akiba's
Spiritual
practices,
coupled with knowledge that we are so much more than our physical
bodies, have afforded her the gift to believe in the miraculous. |
Jeannette
Anglin is
Tribal Secretary of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,an
elected position of the Tribe. She is learning the Coast
Miwok language, basketry of the Coast Miwok and Southern
Pomo and is part of a group revitalizing the cultural aspects
of the Tribal history.
She
has been instrumental in overseeing tribal scholarships
and starting a Youth Council.
Jeannette
is a retired secondary public school teacher and administrator.
In retirement she also serves on the Sonoma State University
Academic Foundation, the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation
Board of Directors, and the Chop’s Teen Center Board
of Directors in Santa Rosa
|
|
Thoz
Womenz --
Above all else, we lift credit to our Creator for giving us
purpose and the strength to chase our dreams. All-women drums
are not new. Women have served in many roles throughout history,
with Native women accepting responsibility in every area of
life in our world. Our purpose at the drum has always been
to mentor youth along a cultural road, to keep our language
and songs, and to follow the heartbeat of the drum. Along this
journey we pursue our health, identity, language and knowledge
through the heartbeat of the drum.
Our
style is women’s - not Northern nor Southern.
It is our hope that our songs are accepted with
the respect in which we share them. Language is
the foundation of culture. Our original songs have
daily messages seeking to preserve the Cherokee
language. Language preservation towards cultural
resilience is a goal we share with many other women’s
drums. Like those drums, we seek to serve our communities.
o
- gi - na - li - i o - tsa - tla - nv - dlv – i
(My friend. We are all sisters and brothers.)
Visit Thoz
Womenz' website for more information about
them and their music.
|

|
| |
|
|
Barbara
Borden joined
us in 2006 and 2007. A drummer,
percussionist, keeper of the beat, she began drumming at
age ten. Her musical expression is diverse: composer and
recording
artist (latest album Beauty in the Beat); performing artist
(solo "percussion play" She Dares to Drum); member
of the band Alive! (eight years, three albums); and educator
(community drum circles, workshops, clinics, retreats, and
private students). With the Heart Drum---a very special community
gathering drum---Borden does her part to help keep the heartbeat
of life alive and well.
|
. Simone
LaDrumma joined
us at the 2007 camp. She has been composing and performing
on hand drums since 1987. She has studied many different styles
of drumming including Afro-Cuban, West African and Middle Eastern,
and drumset. Simone was founder and Director of Ladies Don’t
Drum, an all-female percussion ensemble. In 1991 Simone created "Drumming & The
Holistic Expression of Rhythm," a simple and joyous method
of learning to play hand drums.
Over
the years, Simone has brought the magic of rhythmic expression
to thousands of people of all ages, genders and skill levels
across the U.S., Canada and Europe, both as a teacher and as
a performer. Simone’s entertaining and effective teaching
style is perfect for the “raw beginner” with no musical
background, as well as those with more experience. For more information,
see her web
site
|
|
|
Shawn
Nealy has been walking with the drum
for the past 6 years & actively apprenticing & performing
throughout the Bay Area (2 years) with Afia Walking Tree, learning
traditional rhythms from West Africa, as well as learning how
to utilize the drums for healing & liberation.
As
a progressive, social justice educator, she continually introduces
her high school students to the power of the drum and its history
of empowerment for African people as a nourishing tool to cultivate
change.
|
 |
Leilani
Birely, Hawaiian Priestess and ceremonialist,
brings ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom to the community.
She is the active mother of two girls. Graduated from George
Mason University in Fairfax VA with a degree in Business, and
a graduate of the Masters in Womyn’s Spirituality from
New College in San Francisco. On Summer solstice of 1996 she
founded Daughters of the Goddess Womyn’s Temple. In August
of 1998, she was Ordained as a Dianic High Priestess by Z Budapest
at the Goddess 2000 womyn's Festival in La Honda, CA. For more
information please see our website at DaughtersoftheGoddess.
|
Amanda
Vincent Villepastour is
a London-based musician and scholar who has done significant
comparative research about the bàtá in Nigeria
and Cuba. Since the mid 1990s, Amanda has been moving between
West Africa and Cuba working with Yorùbá master
bàtá drummers, most notably Chief Rábíù Àyándòkun
and in Cuba, masters including the late Regino Jiménez
and Cha Chá Estéban Vega.
Amanda
teaches at Goldsmiths College in London where she leads a specialized
music teacher training. She is currently on sabbatical and
doing a research fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington DC.
Amanda’s
first book, Ancient Text Messages of the Yorùbá Bàtá Drum,
is about drum language and will be published by Ashgate in 2009.
With Michael Marcuzzi, she is also co-editing a collection of
articles titled Wood That Talks: Trans-Atlantic Perspectives
on the Orisha of Drumming.
|
|
|
Eli
PaintedCrow was our
guest of honor at Born to Drum 2007.
Eli
PaintedCrow 22yr Native American (Yaqui) retired Army veteran.
Mother of two veterans and grandmother of 8 grandchildren. Currently
lives in merced California and devotes her time to bring
awareness and clarity of militarism and its effects
on human life.
Eli's speech at the Veterans for Peace 2006 National
Conference is available here on
YouTube.
|