Teaching Artists
Who We Are
Teaching Artists
Our expert team of diverse Teaching Artists are highly qualified, dedicated professional artists with an extensive list of performing achievements, awards and leadership experiences in the United States, Europe and Africa. Their language fluency includes English, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, German, French, Thai and Italian.
Elayn J. Taylor*
Theatre Arts, Vocalist
Elayn J. Taylor*
Theatre Arts, Vocalist
As an actress, living and working in Los Angeles, Elayn has starred or co-starred in more than 80 stage, film, television and commercial presentations. On stage she starred as Lena Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN at the Ensemble Theatre, for which she won an award for Best Actress for their 2006-2007 season. For 17 weeks she played “Rose” in August Wilson’s FENCES at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles, and received a Best Actress “Ovations” award nomination for her work. Recent television appearances include ABC’s BROTHERS AND SISTERS, CBS’ episodic, JOURNEYMAN, and as guest star on an episode of HBO’s new series, TRUE BLOOD, created by Alan Ball. Elayn’s film appearances include SONY’s SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE, YOU OWN ME, DEFILED, and HUMBOLDT COUNTY. Elayn has previously worked with Inside Out Community Arts.
* Elayn was a founding performer and teaching artist for Secrets of the Heart in 2008. She will be truly missed. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of children who continue to see her as Saphinne in the Secrets of the Heart opening performance.
* Elayn was a founding performer and teaching artist for Secrets of the Heart in 2008. She will be truly missed. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of children who continue to see her as Saphinne in the Secrets of the Heart opening performance.
Anindo Marshall
Vocalist, Drums, Dance
Anindo Marshall
Vocalist, Drums, Dance
Anindo began her musical and dance career in her homeland of Kenya as a vocalist, dancer and percussionist. She enjoyed a successful solo career in Europe as a vocalist, signing a recording contract with EMI Spain, and becoming known as Kenyas singing sensation. Anindo has performed with Babatunde Olatunji, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, among others. Today Anindo is a certified Dunham Technique instructor teaching all over the world, at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Dimensions, Lula Washington Dance Theater, Occidental College, LMU, LACSHA and at Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at USC.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Babe Evans
Theatre Arts
Babe Evans
Theatre Arts
Babe Evans’ extensive theatre experience in Southern California includes acting and producing, often on projects that reflect her passion for working with youth. Former president of the Burbage Theatre Company, she also was the Artistic Director of 4305 Village Theatre. At Highway Performance Space, she collaborated with curator Kevin Spicer to produce a series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the lynching of Emmett Till, and in conjunction with National Children’s Book Week, she produced “Ears are Burning, Children are Learning” for the California African American Museum. For the NAACP, she served as Assistant Director for the 2005 Theatre Awards Ceremony; and that same year, she co-produced the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival as well as the Mother’s Day Concert at the Madrid Theatre. As the Women’s Theatre Festival’s Director of Education, she played an integral role in developing a partnership between that organization and the LAUSD. Her recent television credits include a recurring role on the critically acclaimed ABC Family show, “Lincoln Heights.” Babe is a member of African American Women for Peace and Justice, is married to actor, Art Evans, and is a proud mother.
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Tomoka Nomura-Jarvis
Musican, Calligrapher - Shodo
Tomoka Nomura-Jarvis
Musican, Calligrapher - Shodo
Originally from Gifu, Japan, Tomoka Nomura-Jarvis started to play Piano at age 6 and saxophone at age 17 and earned Masters in Music from the State University of New York at Buffalo in saxophone performance. She has appeared on ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live" with mFat Joe, Remy Ma and Ty Dalla $ign. She also appeared in a recently released NPR "TIny Desk" Concert series with American rapper and singer-songwriter Rod Wave, and has toured in Japan and the United states with legendary Japanese blues singer Kenichi Mikawa (美川憲一). She is a member of all female jazz group Jazz in Pink and all female sax quartet The Saxations.
Tomoka has performed for numerous music festivals including the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl (2019), Cancun Jazz Festival in Mexico (2019), Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City FL (2019), the Catalina Jazz Trax festival (2017), and the Long Beach Jazz Festival (2017, 2019) to name a few.
As a performer with Armed Forces Entertainment (1999-2010), Tomoka performed in over 40 countries for soldiers, ambassadors and other diplomats at U.S. embassies and military bases. In classical settings, Tomoka performed with the Buffalo (NY) Philharmonic Orchestra, Dortmund Symphony Orchestra (Germany), and Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra (New York)
Tomoka Nomura-Jarvis’ previous non-musical activities include working as a translator for the Kanazawa sister city program, as well as working in Texas providing medical translation between young asthmatic patients, their families, and health care professionals. Tomoka has worked extensively for an antique and art dealer specializing in Japanese artifacts, plus she achieved a high proficiency category in the art of Japanese calligraphy.
Tomoka has performed for numerous music festivals including the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl (2019), Cancun Jazz Festival in Mexico (2019), Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City FL (2019), the Catalina Jazz Trax festival (2017), and the Long Beach Jazz Festival (2017, 2019) to name a few.
As a performer with Armed Forces Entertainment (1999-2010), Tomoka performed in over 40 countries for soldiers, ambassadors and other diplomats at U.S. embassies and military bases. In classical settings, Tomoka performed with the Buffalo (NY) Philharmonic Orchestra, Dortmund Symphony Orchestra (Germany), and Bemus Bay Pops Orchestra (New York)
Tomoka Nomura-Jarvis’ previous non-musical activities include working as a translator for the Kanazawa sister city program, as well as working in Texas providing medical translation between young asthmatic patients, their families, and health care professionals. Tomoka has worked extensively for an antique and art dealer specializing in Japanese artifacts, plus she achieved a high proficiency category in the art of Japanese calligraphy.
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Phylliss Bailey Brooks
Vocalist, Songwriter, Actor
Phylliss Bailey Brooks
Vocalist, Songwriter, Actor
Phylliss Bailey Brooks, a native of Los Angeles realized her passion when her wise mother enrolled her in USC’s prestigious Children’s Institute For The Performing Arts at the tender age of 7. There she was introduced to classical studies of piano, voice, theatre and dance.
Phylliss has composed songs for original stage pieces including productions of “Brand New Day”, “Men’s”, “Out Of The Mouths Of Babes”, and “Soul Ranger”. Theatre credits includes “Jelly’s Last Jam” at The Mark Taper, Little Shop Of Horrors at The Long Beach Civic Light Opera, Ain’t Misbehavin’ at The Westchester Playhouse“ and “Proud” at The Henry Street Settlement Theatre Off- Broadway, in which she received NY’s “Audelco” Award nomination for Best Actress for her work. She has served as Musical Director and/or Vocal Arranger/Director for productions of “Eubie” and “Fats”, at the Ivar Theatre, “Out Of The Mouths Of Babes” at The Cast/Circle Theatre, “Jungle Bells” at The Actors Gang, and “Mens” at The Geffen Theatre, in which she was nominated for Chicago’s “Jefferson” award for Best Original Music. Phylliss has also received 2 Hollywood NAACP Theatre awards, as well as three 3 Los Angeles Dramalogue awards for theatre. Also, Phylliss is presently the Vocal Director and member of the popular all women, international drumming and vocal group “ADAAWE”.
Her recent television credits includes the voice of “Birdie” on the syndicated animated series, CBS’s “Creature Comfort”. Having majored in Television /Film Production, she is able to maintain a career working behind the television camera, and in her senior year at USC, Phylliss was hired as the first woman Boom Operator to work on groundbreaking network television series such as “All In The Family”, “Good Times”, “The Jefferson’s”, “One day At A Time”, “Who’s The Boss”, “Charles In Charge”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, Rosanne”, “In Living Color”, “Mad Tv”, and most recently, Disney’s “Ant Farm.” She dedicates the joy in all that she does to her hero, her mother, Dorothy Lee Bailey.
Phylliss has composed songs for original stage pieces including productions of “Brand New Day”, “Men’s”, “Out Of The Mouths Of Babes”, and “Soul Ranger”. Theatre credits includes “Jelly’s Last Jam” at The Mark Taper, Little Shop Of Horrors at The Long Beach Civic Light Opera, Ain’t Misbehavin’ at The Westchester Playhouse“ and “Proud” at The Henry Street Settlement Theatre Off- Broadway, in which she received NY’s “Audelco” Award nomination for Best Actress for her work. She has served as Musical Director and/or Vocal Arranger/Director for productions of “Eubie” and “Fats”, at the Ivar Theatre, “Out Of The Mouths Of Babes” at The Cast/Circle Theatre, “Jungle Bells” at The Actors Gang, and “Mens” at The Geffen Theatre, in which she was nominated for Chicago’s “Jefferson” award for Best Original Music. Phylliss has also received 2 Hollywood NAACP Theatre awards, as well as three 3 Los Angeles Dramalogue awards for theatre. Also, Phylliss is presently the Vocal Director and member of the popular all women, international drumming and vocal group “ADAAWE”.
Her recent television credits includes the voice of “Birdie” on the syndicated animated series, CBS’s “Creature Comfort”. Having majored in Television /Film Production, she is able to maintain a career working behind the television camera, and in her senior year at USC, Phylliss was hired as the first woman Boom Operator to work on groundbreaking network television series such as “All In The Family”, “Good Times”, “The Jefferson’s”, “One day At A Time”, “Who’s The Boss”, “Charles In Charge”, “Diff’rent Strokes”, Rosanne”, “In Living Color”, “Mad Tv”, and most recently, Disney’s “Ant Farm.” She dedicates the joy in all that she does to her hero, her mother, Dorothy Lee Bailey.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Ashley Maher
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Ashley Maher
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Ashley Maher's lifelong love for African music and dance has steadily narrowed to focus on Senegal. Born in Montreal and raised in California, Ashley's recording career began in London, where Virgin UK released her first two records to critical acclaim. After releasing a third album independently, she then relocated to Los Angeles, where she recorded albums 4 and 5, while raising her children.
In 2007, Senegal's superstar, Youssou N'Dour, released Boul Bayekou, a song Ashley had co-written with Jason Hann. N'Dour then invited Ashley to perform for him as a sabar dancer in Dakar and Paris in 2008. Since then, Ashley has returned to Dakar over 15 times to record with Dakar's top musicians, film her music videos, and perform. She has collaborated with Senegalese artists around the world and completed Made in Senegal, (album 7) at Papis Konate's Dakar studio in 2019.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Danya Schwartz
Percussion, Vocalist, Dance
Danya Schwartz
Percussion, Vocalist, Dance
Dañya is a multi-talented, multi-lingual, international percussionist, singer, and dancer whose life-long passion for music, dance, language and cross-cultural education has propelled her to travel the world. She has performed and studied in Cuba, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, South America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States.
Dañya’s vibrant and passionate performance style, combined with her professional background as a California Certified Interpreter (Spanish and Portuguese) and scholar of African and Latin based folkloric traditions, result in rich, textured, performances, each one a memorable experience.
Skilled in a wide variety of musical and performing styles, Dañya has performed with several son and rumba groups in Cuba and has recorded with members of The Septeto Nacional De Cuba. She has also performed with Frankie Avalon, The Go Big Daddy band, Wayne Foster Entertainment, Rhythm Slam, Peter Tork (The Monkees), Goldie, A Rick James Tribute Band, Moacir Santos, Adaawe, Makina Loca, Harriet Shock, Coughlin and Reed, Swing Brazil and many others. She also appeared as a percussionist in the parade, “Eureka, A California Adventure” at the Disney California Adventure theme park. As a freelance artist, Dañya performs with several local orchestras, plays for Afro Cuban dance classes in the Los Angeles area, and has appeared in films, commercials, and television shows, including “Living Out Loud”, “Exit to Eden” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, “Hundai Sonata”, and “The Bill Cosby Show.”
Danya has worked as a teachers’ assistant for a bilingual classroom of 1st grade students, a substitute teacher for The Culver City School District, worked worked with youth at Camp Kilpatrick and at the Raven Drum Foundation and taught private drumming to children. She has taught all subjects including dance and music.to elementary thru high school students. With her adept faculty for crafting cultural immersion experiences utilizing music, dance and the arts, Dañya creates a bridge to cultural understanding and love.
Dañya’s vibrant and passionate performance style, combined with her professional background as a California Certified Interpreter (Spanish and Portuguese) and scholar of African and Latin based folkloric traditions, result in rich, textured, performances, each one a memorable experience.
Skilled in a wide variety of musical and performing styles, Dañya has performed with several son and rumba groups in Cuba and has recorded with members of The Septeto Nacional De Cuba. She has also performed with Frankie Avalon, The Go Big Daddy band, Wayne Foster Entertainment, Rhythm Slam, Peter Tork (The Monkees), Goldie, A Rick James Tribute Band, Moacir Santos, Adaawe, Makina Loca, Harriet Shock, Coughlin and Reed, Swing Brazil and many others. She also appeared as a percussionist in the parade, “Eureka, A California Adventure” at the Disney California Adventure theme park. As a freelance artist, Dañya performs with several local orchestras, plays for Afro Cuban dance classes in the Los Angeles area, and has appeared in films, commercials, and television shows, including “Living Out Loud”, “Exit to Eden” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, “Hundai Sonata”, and “The Bill Cosby Show.”
Danya has worked as a teachers’ assistant for a bilingual classroom of 1st grade students, a substitute teacher for The Culver City School District, worked worked with youth at Camp Kilpatrick and at the Raven Drum Foundation and taught private drumming to children. She has taught all subjects including dance and music.to elementary thru high school students. With her adept faculty for crafting cultural immersion experiences utilizing music, dance and the arts, Dañya creates a bridge to cultural understanding and love.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Michelle Merring
Theatre Arts, Vocalist
Michelle Merring
Theatre Arts, Vocalist
A NYC native, Michelle performed the lead in off-Broadway productions including Spiritwoman at the Harold Clurman Theatre, Down Home Sausage Meat with the Negro Ensemble Company, and Space Trek: A Musical Parody at the Chelsea Playhouse. On the Los Angeles stage, she has had the privilege of playing Queen Faery Fand in The Faery Hunt, the longest running children’s show in LA as well as Lady M in MacBeezy at Kinghtbridge Theater, Miss Nanalu Branch in the Award winning Bluebonnet Court at the Hudson Theater, Aphrodite in the premier LA theatrical production of Carpe Dream at the Theatre District, the lead role of Murray in LAME: the Musical at The Stages Theater and the musical Once Upon a Primetime at the Powerhouse Theater in Santa Monica.
She was also seen on many film and TV productions including: Viola on General Hospital, Hannah Montana, Conversations with God directed by Stephen Simon, Medical Investigation, Strong Medicine,Bold and the Beautiful, The Girls Next Door, the suspense short Water Falls and Florida At Night.
Michelle is committed to children’s programing and has created theater classes for preschoolers with The Faery Hunt. She has also written and produced family friendly shorts: Yogurt Girl, Soul Mates and the upcoming Three with her production company Kissing In A Tree Productions.
She was also seen on many film and TV productions including: Viola on General Hospital, Hannah Montana, Conversations with God directed by Stephen Simon, Medical Investigation, Strong Medicine,Bold and the Beautiful, The Girls Next Door, the suspense short Water Falls and Florida At Night.
Michelle is committed to children’s programing and has created theater classes for preschoolers with The Faery Hunt. She has also written and produced family friendly shorts: Yogurt Girl, Soul Mates and the upcoming Three with her production company Kissing In A Tree Productions.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Clarice Cast
Percussion, Drums
Clarice Cast
Percussion, Drums
Clarice Cast, native of São Paulo, Brazil, earned a Bachelor of Music from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in World Percussion from the California Institute of the Arts. She has been nominated for the 58th Grammy Awards in the category of “Best Arrangement Instruments & Vocals” with the sophisticated Lado B Brazilian Project’s debut album. Clarice has always been fascinated and influenced by a diversity of musical styles, and it has been her driving force to learn, perform, write, and teach these styles. Besides being an active performer, and maintaining a private teaching studio for students of all ages, Clarice teaches at a variety of educational programs in the Los Angeles area and is a regular clinician at colleges, universities, and percussion festivals around the United States.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Nateli Ruiz
Dance
Nateli Ruiz
Dance
Nateli M. Ruiz, is a hispanic, St. Croix native of the U.S. Virgin Islands, graduated from Jacksonville University in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program for Dance in Jacksonville, FL. She has been dancing since the age of four, starting at Music in Motion then at the age of five, continued her training at Pointe Dance Academy.
Professionally she has had the opportunity to work with American Ballet Theatre II, David Parsons, Jennifer Muller and Rosero Mccoy, Debbie Allen and Disney Parks, where she danced with Mariah Carey. A pivotal moment in Nateli’s career was when she made her debut in her first film “Bessie” featuring the talented actress/icon Queen Latifah.
Nateli continues to share the skills she’s learned in dance, teaching a variety of styles at studios around the country spreading her profound love and passion for dance. Natalie will be teaching Dance In America for Dream A World Education.
Professionally she has had the opportunity to work with American Ballet Theatre II, David Parsons, Jennifer Muller and Rosero Mccoy, Debbie Allen and Disney Parks, where she danced with Mariah Carey. A pivotal moment in Nateli’s career was when she made her debut in her first film “Bessie” featuring the talented actress/icon Queen Latifah.
Nateli continues to share the skills she’s learned in dance, teaching a variety of styles at studios around the country spreading her profound love and passion for dance. Natalie will be teaching Dance In America for Dream A World Education.
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Koi Anunta
Music, Visual Arts
Koi Anunta
Music, Visual Arts
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Koi Anunta began private classical studies in piano at age 4 and violin at age 8, as well as ballet and tap dancing lessons. Having always been fortunate enough to attend schools that heavily emphasized arts education, she grew up singing, playing, and dancing in several musicals, plays, and choral/orchestral/ dance recitals and concerts per year, thus cultivating a lifelong passion for musical performance which also helped her to overcome natural shyness. Being equally adept at science, math, and language, by 24, she had already become a medical doctor (M.D., University at Buffalo School of Medical Sciences), spoke fluent French (plus some Thai, German, and Spanish), and had received a B.A. in English from Yale University. Koi decided she would much rather serve the world and heal souls by playing music rather than heal bodies through medicine, and so she moved to Los Angeles to become a professional musician.>br>
Koi has since toured the U.S. and Europe several times over performing and working with artists like Macy Gray, Adam Lambert, and Grammy-nominated Gallant on the CBS Late Late Show with James Corden. She has always been enthusiastic about teaching, whether it was giving private violin lessons to special needs children as young as 6, or leading classes of high school and college students at UCLA and Pepperdine in SAT and MCAT prep. Koi also fronts and writes for her own original project, "In Love & WAR." When she isn’t playing, writing, recording, or teaching, Koi enjoys her rescued horses and dogs and reading great books!
Koi has since toured the U.S. and Europe several times over performing and working with artists like Macy Gray, Adam Lambert, and Grammy-nominated Gallant on the CBS Late Late Show with James Corden. She has always been enthusiastic about teaching, whether it was giving private violin lessons to special needs children as young as 6, or leading classes of high school and college students at UCLA and Pepperdine in SAT and MCAT prep. Koi also fronts and writes for her own original project, "In Love & WAR." When she isn’t playing, writing, recording, or teaching, Koi enjoys her rescued horses and dogs and reading great books!
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B. Lanoil
Puppeteer, Actor, Voice Artist
B. Lanoil
Puppeteer, Actor, Voice Artist
Bruce”B” Lanoil, spawned in Brooklyn N.Y., raised on steady diet of Saturday morning cartoons, Sugary cereals, Mad Magazines, Jerry Lewis and Classic Star Trek,Today, a proud and grateful 28 year veteran Muppeteer, the beaten path was never in the mix!
As a Theater major at Cal State Northridge, a vaudevillian improvisational clown at heart, fate truly lent a “hand” when Master Puppeteer Tony Urbano chose Bruce from hundreds, for Sid and Marty Krofft’s exclusive 1980 workshop. Many Commercials and videos followed, furthering his performance skills with Master teachers, Paul Sills, Avery Schreiber, (Spolin Theater Games), and Harvey Kalmanson (V.O.).
Destiny and Jim Henson came knocking when Brian Henson cast Bruce as “Charlene Sinclair”, in TV’s DINOSAURS for five glorious seasons on ABC/Disney (1990-93). Animatronics and Facial Puppeteering was a specialty as Bruce traveled the world complements of the incomparable Jim Henson Creature Shop, both in Films, Dr. Doolittle (1998), Adventures of Pinocchio (1996), Jack Frost (1998), Cats and Dogs 1 & 2, (2001 2010) and Television, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat, Nickelodeon Season one (1996). Bruce helped pioneer Real-time CG animation with Henson’s HDPS-Digital Puppetry System, Are We There Yet (2005),Francis(2008), Sid the Science Kid Movie (2012) and partnered Dave Barclay Studios for Where the Wild Thing Are (2009), and Ice King (2017).
Muppet madness included MuppetVision 3D (1991),The Muppets Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2016), The O2 (2018), recent FEATURE FILM/TV reboots, The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014), and Muppets Tonight (1996), Muppets (2017). Live-action Reference Puppetry, MonkeyBone (2001) Henry Selick Dir.,and Looney Tunes-Back in Action (2003) Joe Dante Dir., and numerous V.O. gigs, including voicing Lion King’s TIMON (SAFTY SMART! video series) for Disney.
Bruce is extremely grateful for lifetime of collaborative joy and laughter, and believes, that Everyone deserves to give themselves the Inner permission to pursue their truth and passion with an open heart. As a Teaching Artist, his quest is to release fear and doubt, allowing each learner the opportunity to connect, to share, to Soar! We stand upon the shoulders of all the creative souls that enabled us to now celebrate the beauty of life’s unpredictable journey, illuminating all our lives with the Magical gift of Play:)
As a Theater major at Cal State Northridge, a vaudevillian improvisational clown at heart, fate truly lent a “hand” when Master Puppeteer Tony Urbano chose Bruce from hundreds, for Sid and Marty Krofft’s exclusive 1980 workshop. Many Commercials and videos followed, furthering his performance skills with Master teachers, Paul Sills, Avery Schreiber, (Spolin Theater Games), and Harvey Kalmanson (V.O.).
Destiny and Jim Henson came knocking when Brian Henson cast Bruce as “Charlene Sinclair”, in TV’s DINOSAURS for five glorious seasons on ABC/Disney (1990-93). Animatronics and Facial Puppeteering was a specialty as Bruce traveled the world complements of the incomparable Jim Henson Creature Shop, both in Films, Dr. Doolittle (1998), Adventures of Pinocchio (1996), Jack Frost (1998), Cats and Dogs 1 & 2, (2001 2010) and Television, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss as The Cat in the Hat, Nickelodeon Season one (1996). Bruce helped pioneer Real-time CG animation with Henson’s HDPS-Digital Puppetry System, Are We There Yet (2005),Francis(2008), Sid the Science Kid Movie (2012) and partnered Dave Barclay Studios for Where the Wild Thing Are (2009), and Ice King (2017).
Muppet madness included MuppetVision 3D (1991),The Muppets Live at the Hollywood Bowl (2016), The O2 (2018), recent FEATURE FILM/TV reboots, The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014), and Muppets Tonight (1996), Muppets (2017). Live-action Reference Puppetry, MonkeyBone (2001) Henry Selick Dir.,and Looney Tunes-Back in Action (2003) Joe Dante Dir., and numerous V.O. gigs, including voicing Lion King’s TIMON (SAFTY SMART! video series) for Disney.
Bruce is extremely grateful for lifetime of collaborative joy and laughter, and believes, that Everyone deserves to give themselves the Inner permission to pursue their truth and passion with an open heart. As a Teaching Artist, his quest is to release fear and doubt, allowing each learner the opportunity to connect, to share, to Soar! We stand upon the shoulders of all the creative souls that enabled us to now celebrate the beauty of life’s unpredictable journey, illuminating all our lives with the Magical gift of Play:)
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
Chris Pierce
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Chris Pierce
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Chris Pierce has released eight independent albums worldwide. Pierce’s hit co/write "We Can Always Come Back To This” was prominently featured in three separate scenes on the #1 US Primetime TV show This Is Us and was nominated for "Best Song/Recording Created for Television" by The Guild of Music Supervisors. The song was also nominated for “Best Song” by the Jerry Goldsmith Awards. In 2020, Pierce’s new song “It’s Been Burning for a While” debuted on Playing for Change and made its radio premiere on 88.5FM KCSN and was also featured as Nic Harcourt’s “Fresh Squeezed Track of the Day” on KCSN.
In addition to headlining road tours, he has either performed on stage with or opened worldwide tours for Seal, B.B. King, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Jill Scott, Sara Bareilles, Buddy Guy, Keb’Mo’, Al Green, Blind Boys of Alabama, Cold War Kids, Toots and the Maytals, Aaron Neville, Jamie Cullum and many others. His voice & music have been heard in films and T.V shows including This is Us, Rosewood, Soul Men, Crash, True Blood, Brothers & Sisters, Single Ladies, Eli Stone, In Plain Sight, Dawson's Creek, Army Wives, Crash as well as Lexus & Banana Republic ad campaigns. His song “We Can Always Come Back to This” charted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for consecutive weeks and #12 on the iTunes Top 100 songs.
Pierce is also recording and performing with War & Pierce, a music project with musician Sunny War. He recently received the high honor of working on a classic Soul recording project in Muscle Shoals, AL with The Swampers, Muscle Shoals Horns & Shoals Sisters as the lead vocalist on a new critically acclaimed album “You’ve Got To Feel It!”. He also just finished writing and composing the highly anticipated original work for theatre entitled Reverend Tall Tree’s Blues Opera of which he performs the leading role in. www.chrispierce.com
In addition to headlining road tours, he has either performed on stage with or opened worldwide tours for Seal, B.B. King, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Jill Scott, Sara Bareilles, Buddy Guy, Keb’Mo’, Al Green, Blind Boys of Alabama, Cold War Kids, Toots and the Maytals, Aaron Neville, Jamie Cullum and many others. His voice & music have been heard in films and T.V shows including This is Us, Rosewood, Soul Men, Crash, True Blood, Brothers & Sisters, Single Ladies, Eli Stone, In Plain Sight, Dawson's Creek, Army Wives, Crash as well as Lexus & Banana Republic ad campaigns. His song “We Can Always Come Back to This” charted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart for consecutive weeks and #12 on the iTunes Top 100 songs.
Pierce is also recording and performing with War & Pierce, a music project with musician Sunny War. He recently received the high honor of working on a classic Soul recording project in Muscle Shoals, AL with The Swampers, Muscle Shoals Horns & Shoals Sisters as the lead vocalist on a new critically acclaimed album “You’ve Got To Feel It!”. He also just finished writing and composing the highly anticipated original work for theatre entitled Reverend Tall Tree’s Blues Opera of which he performs the leading role in. www.chrispierce.com
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
Eartha Robinson
Dance
Eartha Robinson
Dance
A veteran in the Entertainment Industry, working alongside some of the most legendary Choreographers and Directors of our time, including Debbie Allen, George Faison, Michael Peters, Gary Marshall, Spike Lee, Wes Craven and Norman Jewison.
From NY’s famed Performing Arts high School to The Wiz on Broadway, with Stephanie Mills, Televisions’ A Different World through School Daze to Malcom X & on the Creative Teams of 10 Academy, Emmy & Grammy Award Shows.
Eartha has been Creative Director and Choreographer to Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Beyoncé & Jill Scott – to name a few – along with Actors Angela Bassett, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, etc., her career has spanned from the iconic TV Show Fame to Academy Award winning LaLaLand.
Eartha’s commitment to sharing her joy and creative spirit is a gift to all her students and those who know her.
From NY’s famed Performing Arts high School to The Wiz on Broadway, with Stephanie Mills, Televisions’ A Different World through School Daze to Malcom X & on the Creative Teams of 10 Academy, Emmy & Grammy Award Shows.
Eartha has been Creative Director and Choreographer to Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Beyoncé & Jill Scott – to name a few – along with Actors Angela Bassett, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, etc., her career has spanned from the iconic TV Show Fame to Academy Award winning LaLaLand.
Eartha’s commitment to sharing her joy and creative spirit is a gift to all her students and those who know her.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Jennifer Ing
Music, Vocalist, Visual Arts
Jennifer Ing
Music, Vocalist, Visual Arts
Jennifer Ing is from Victoria, B.C. Canada! She started playing piano by age 4, saxophone by age 10, and picked up flute, oboe, clarinet, and tuba in the passing years. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Victoria. She taught at the Victoria Conservatory of Music Jazz Workshop and St. Michael’s University School’s Jr. Jazz Workshop as well as teaching elementary and middle school students and accompanying church choirs.
Now residing in Los Angeles she has performed with children’s music groups such as Birdie’s Playhouse, Jenny & Jason, produces an annual children’s concert sing-a-long of Charlie Brown Christmas and is on faculty at the Rhodes School of Music, teaching their “Mini Music” program for children under 5.
Jennifer co-leads jazz quintet, Thelonious Monkey as keyboardist, soprano, alto saxophonist, lead vocalist, arranger and composer performing in famed local spots like the Baked Potato. Jennifer can be heard in background vocals and keyboard tracks with Margo Rey and John Oates, and backing Pink Power Ranger, Elle tu Four. She has also performed with American icons such as Brian Johnson (ACDC) and Jason Paige (Pokemon Theme Song).
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Cecilia Noel
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Cecilia Noel
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Cecilia Noel is a performer, songwriter, producer, bandleader, mentor, and force of nature. A Peruvian native who is now an LA institution with her band, The Wild Clams, Cecilia lights up every stage she touches from the evening jazz set and the late night dance party to the headline spot both as a solo artist and with her husband, singer/songwriter and legendary frontman of Men at Work, Colin Hay.
Her most recent album, Havana Rocks, is the best example of this - an ambitious genre-bending project that took Cecilia to Havana to record MTV-era hits like “Whip It” and “I Touch Myself” and eventually earned Cecilia the Cubadisco International Award 2015, the first American album to win after the embargo. The album paired Cecilia with some of that country’s top musicians including Cubadisco Award winning tres player – San Miguel Perez.
She will be touring this Year starting August & September as a member of The Colin Hay Band and Men at Work.Her newest single and video “Famosa en el Barrio” (“Famous in My Neighborhood”) directed by Jorge Sayegh, is out now from Compass Record and available on all platforms: https://compassrecords.lnk.to/famosaenelbarrio
Her most recent album, Havana Rocks, is the best example of this - an ambitious genre-bending project that took Cecilia to Havana to record MTV-era hits like “Whip It” and “I Touch Myself” and eventually earned Cecilia the Cubadisco International Award 2015, the first American album to win after the embargo. The album paired Cecilia with some of that country’s top musicians including Cubadisco Award winning tres player – San Miguel Perez.
She will be touring this Year starting August & September as a member of The Colin Hay Band and Men at Work.Her newest single and video “Famosa en el Barrio” (“Famous in My Neighborhood”) directed by Jorge Sayegh, is out now from Compass Record and available on all platforms: https://compassrecords.lnk.to/famosaenelbarrio
Gabe Noel
Musician – Bass & Cello
Gabe Noel
Musician – Bass & Cello
From Kendrick to Cooder, Me'shell to Misty, Gabe Noel has been lurking in the background of hundreds of records, film scores, video games, world tours, and sound designs. As a Bassist, Cellist, and Multi-Instrumentalist, Gabe loves to explore new ways of musical expression, and making a joyful sound wherever he goes!
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Jennie Jethwani
International Dance
Jennie Jethwani
International Dance
Jennie is the founder and Managing Director of Absolute Bollywood, Jennie has taken the company from strength to strength in the last 8 years. She is an International dance teacher, choreographer and performer. She is extremely passionate about teaching and has had the opportunity to teach Bollywood in many different cities across the globe.
Jennie has performed and choreographed for several dance troupes in London with styles including Bollywood, Belly dance, Street, Soca and Reggaeton. Prior to Absolute Bollywood, Jennie was the Managing Director and Co Founder of Bollywood Dance London for over two years. Her inspiring and dynamic choreographies seamlessly and respectfully fuse these dance traditions. Captivated by the art of belly dance as well, Jennie introduced this seductive and sultry style to her repertoire and created a specialised class known as BellyBolly.
She has performed publicly and privately at numerous venues in and outside of London and provided choreography for several large scale performances. Notable performances include the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, the Asian Music Awards at Wembley Arena, Cannes Film Festival and a guest appearance on BBC Newsnight to name a few. Jennie also produced her own live show “50 Years of Bollywood” with Bollywood singers and Absolute Bollywood dancing showcasing the best of Bollywood over the years.
Jennie has performed and choreographed for several dance troupes in London with styles including Bollywood, Belly dance, Street, Soca and Reggaeton. Prior to Absolute Bollywood, Jennie was the Managing Director and Co Founder of Bollywood Dance London for over two years. Her inspiring and dynamic choreographies seamlessly and respectfully fuse these dance traditions. Captivated by the art of belly dance as well, Jennie introduced this seductive and sultry style to her repertoire and created a specialised class known as BellyBolly.
She has performed publicly and privately at numerous venues in and outside of London and provided choreography for several large scale performances. Notable performances include the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, the Asian Music Awards at Wembley Arena, Cannes Film Festival and a guest appearance on BBC Newsnight to name a few. Jennie also produced her own live show “50 Years of Bollywood” with Bollywood singers and Absolute Bollywood dancing showcasing the best of Bollywood over the years.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Jessica Carma Winward
Theatre Arts
Jessica Carma Winward
Theatre Arts
Jessica Carma Winward is a classically trained actress, teaching artist, and a director. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Theatre from Southern Utah University and graduated summa cum laude. Upon graduating she accepted an international two-year touring contract with Missoula Children's Theatre. She toured to 37 states and 5 countries performing, teaching, and directing. Since her move to the LA area, she has worked with Center Theater Group, The Geffen Playhouse, A Noise Within, Shakespeare by the Sea, Young Storytellers, and various schools across Los Angeles doing in-classroom residencies, directing, and leading professional developments. In the summer of 2019, in conjunction with Pasadena Unified School District, Jessica created core aligned Theatre Arts integrated units and lessons across all subjects for kindergarten through fifth grade. She regularly presents professional developments with PUSD. She is currently writing and creating digital resources to make the lessons accessible during distance learning due to Covid-19. She is also the program assistant for the arts-based social-emotional program Secrets of the Heart with Dream a World Education. In May 2020, Jessica completed a certificate from California State University: Los Angeles in the pilot Community Teaching Artist Certificate program. She is currently working towards a single subject teaching credential in English and Theater with a specialty in urban education.
Kara Mack
African Dance, Choreography
Kara Mack
African Dance, Choreography
Kara Mack, a true ‘southern gal' got her start in Columbia, South Carolina, her birthplace, performing for youth ministries, schools and conferences as a singer/songwriter, dancer, and poet. Since her move to Los Angeles, she has developed into a beautiful, budding performing artist, choreographer, creative director, and founder of her own trademarked brand Africa in America®. Her love for African Diasporic music and dance has taken her all over the world studying and performing. You can see her work has been seen on stages for the Grammys (Kendrick Lamar), Saturday Night Live (Chance the Rapper), the sequel to the cult classic Coming 2 America, Coachella (Kanye West), and much more! With her jovial spirit, Kara, through dance and song, expresses her love for the rhythm in music, which is why she embraces and continues to learn more about the different forms of African diasporic dance. Kara believes that through her gifts she can stir up the gifts in young people; renewing hope in their hearts, inspiring them to reach for the impossible. Kara Mack is truly an artist you must personally encounter.
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Michael Paul
Ventriloquist
Michael Paul
Ventriloquist
Michael Paul began his career in local television at age 16. Sustaining a 25 year comedy career, he honed his craft touring with such names as James Brown, Lisa Lampanelli, Wynonna, Joan Rivers and Don Rickles. An audience with Queen Elizabeth II, voted Atlantic City Magazine’s “Act of the Year,” becoming a headliner in over 40 countries along with television credits on The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent & Youtube videos hitting over 12 million.
Michael’s film career includes motion pictures such as “27 Dresses” opposite Katherine Heigl, “The Ten” co-starring with Winona Ryder and Paul Rudd, and “The Ventriloquist” with Kevin Spacey. Also lending his voice to Pixar, Jim Henson Productions and Disney and is well known for creating branded puppet characters including, “Nadia Coma: The World’s Oldest Gymnast” and MTV‘s “CJ and Peanut” as well as training casts of “The Lion King” and “Avenue Q”.
Behind the scenes Michael has provided script coverage or directing for Netflix, ABC Digital, The Disney Channel, CBS Comedy Division, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Hudson, Joshua Rush, Bradley Cooper, Tiffany Haddish punched up jokes for David Letterman, Bill Maher, the Comedy Central Roasts and he has taught at UCLA, NYC, PACE, SAG-AFTRA’s Master Class and the Eugene O'Neill Conference
Michael’s film career includes motion pictures such as “27 Dresses” opposite Katherine Heigl, “The Ten” co-starring with Winona Ryder and Paul Rudd, and “The Ventriloquist” with Kevin Spacey. Also lending his voice to Pixar, Jim Henson Productions and Disney and is well known for creating branded puppet characters including, “Nadia Coma: The World’s Oldest Gymnast” and MTV‘s “CJ and Peanut” as well as training casts of “The Lion King” and “Avenue Q”.
Behind the scenes Michael has provided script coverage or directing for Netflix, ABC Digital, The Disney Channel, CBS Comedy Division, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Hudson, Joshua Rush, Bradley Cooper, Tiffany Haddish punched up jokes for David Letterman, Bill Maher, the Comedy Central Roasts and he has taught at UCLA, NYC, PACE, SAG-AFTRA’s Master Class and the Eugene O'Neill Conference
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Raul Baltazar
Visual Artist
Raul Baltazar
Visual Artist
Raul Baltazar (b.1972, Los Angeles) is an artist who works through aesthetic notions given in Mesoamerican and Western culture. Baltazar often mixes performance, video, photography, drawing, painting, murals, and community-based projects, to create new relations for the decolonial art object. His work is often driven by the struggle of Mestizo, Xicanx, POC and Mesoamerican Indigenous communities and their revolutionary vision for change in the context of Los Angeles. In addition, his work postulates responses to trauma and the body, examining the experience and rational abuse of power and authority by means of sanctioned or unsanctioned reiterations of violence in contemporary life. Baltazar challenges this by participating in the creation of contemporary cultural production rooted in an artistic research of ancient cultures. Where his work opens up a space for healing, communication and reflection; in order to engage publics and communicate the value of a self-reflexive identification with indigeneity.
Raul Baltazar received his MFA in Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design in 2013, and his BFA in Sculpture and New Genres from Otis College of Art and Design in 2008. He has exhibited extensively in Los Angeles, and internationally in Mexico, Australia, Vienna, Egypt, and Taiwan, and was the 2015 recipient of the California Community Foundation, Fellowship for Visual Arts, LA County Arts Commission Short List, 2015 and recipient of The Armory Teaching Fellowship, 2016.
Raul Baltazar received his MFA in Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design in 2013, and his BFA in Sculpture and New Genres from Otis College of Art and Design in 2008. He has exhibited extensively in Los Angeles, and internationally in Mexico, Australia, Vienna, Egypt, and Taiwan, and was the 2015 recipient of the California Community Foundation, Fellowship for Visual Arts, LA County Arts Commission Short List, 2015 and recipient of The Armory Teaching Fellowship, 2016.
Sunny War
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Sunny War
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Sunny War enlivens traditional folk and blues by freshening her musical attack and writing lyrics that reflect 21st century concerns. Her first album, Worthless, arrived in 2014, and she continued to gain attention over the next few years as she built up a cult following that crested with the release of 2018's With the Sun.
Born Sydney Lyndella Ward to a single mother in Nashville, the singer/songwriter spent her childhood moving around the United States with her parent, spending significant time in both Nashville and the Detroit suburb of Rochester. During this time, she learned to love a wide variety of music, picking up the guitar at the age of 13.
She’s looking to give back to her community, to uplift those who may be going through hardships she experienced at a young age. And she’s looking for new ways to organize and protest, new ways to make change. But most of all, she’s looking to art to bring solace in hard times. Sunny is currently touring the US promoting her latest music.
Born Sydney Lyndella Ward to a single mother in Nashville, the singer/songwriter spent her childhood moving around the United States with her parent, spending significant time in both Nashville and the Detroit suburb of Rochester. During this time, she learned to love a wide variety of music, picking up the guitar at the age of 13.
She’s looking to give back to her community, to uplift those who may be going through hardships she experienced at a young age. And she’s looking for new ways to organize and protest, new ways to make change. But most of all, she’s looking to art to bring solace in hard times. Sunny is currently touring the US promoting her latest music.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
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Valerie Pinkston
Vocalist
Valerie Pinkston
Vocalist
A veteran in the music industry, Valerie Pinkston started her career as a vocalist/songwriter and producer in Detroit, Michigan. She began recording professionally with Detroit’s own Anita Baker and Soul/R&B self-contained group Chapter 8. After recording several albums as lead vocalist with Chapter 8, she was recognized as a consummate vocalist/songwriter/ arranger and performer.
With over 20+ years in the industry, Valerie has appeared on many nationally syndicated shows such as, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The Emmys, The NAACP Awards, American Idol along with many film, TV, and theater productions. In addition, Valerie has had the opportunity to perform for two sitting Presidents, Bill Clinton & Barack Obama.
She has proved herself as a diverse vocal force called upon by some of the greatest recording artists of our time such as; Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Carole King, Patti LaBelle, Josh Grobin, Seal, Whitney Houston, KISS, Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Miguel, Lenny Kravitz, Patti Austin, Goo Goo Dolls, Gavin DeGraw, John Fogerty, Chaka Khan, Michael Buble, Michael McDonald, Neil Diamond, Ledisi, Lisa Fischer, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Beck, Sara Bareilles, Annie Lennox, James Ingram, The Crystal Method, Morrissey, The Zac Brown Band, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, Bette Midler, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, George Benson, Eric Benet, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, and many more...
With over 20+ years in the industry, Valerie has appeared on many nationally syndicated shows such as, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The Emmys, The NAACP Awards, American Idol along with many film, TV, and theater productions. In addition, Valerie has had the opportunity to perform for two sitting Presidents, Bill Clinton & Barack Obama.
She has proved herself as a diverse vocal force called upon by some of the greatest recording artists of our time such as; Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Carole King, Patti LaBelle, Josh Grobin, Seal, Whitney Houston, KISS, Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Anita Baker, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Miguel, Lenny Kravitz, Patti Austin, Goo Goo Dolls, Gavin DeGraw, John Fogerty, Chaka Khan, Michael Buble, Michael McDonald, Neil Diamond, Ledisi, Lisa Fischer, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Beck, Sara Bareilles, Annie Lennox, James Ingram, The Crystal Method, Morrissey, The Zac Brown Band, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, Bette Midler, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, George Benson, Eric Benet, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, and many more...
Yrneh Gabon
Visual Artist
Yrneh Gabon
Visual Artist
Yrneh Gabon Brown is a Jamaican born, Multi-disciplinary, Mixed media and performance artist based in Los Angeles. Having graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) BFA with (Hons) and Otis College of Arts and Design, (MFA). Yrneh is a multi-disciplinary artist that seeks to balance and intersect artistic representation with social activism and social commentary, particularly regarding issues pertinent to Africa and people within its Diaspora. In 2014, after travels and research in Tanzania, Jamaica and across American, Gabon was given his first solo and major body of work at the California African American Museum CAAM entitled “Visibly Invisible”; Albinism in Tanzania, Jamaica, and the USA through his eyes
In 2017, Gabon completed a summer residency at the Fundación Sebastián in Mexico City, Mexico. His work, entitled “Roots and Symbols,” explored the invisible people of African heritage in Mexico and the lack of equitable resources in communities of color in the black coastal Mexico. Gabon has held exhibitions in New York, California and internationally in Vancouver Canada, Dakar Senegal and Jamaica, West Indies. In December 2018, Gabon had the distinct honor and privilege to be one of the featured international artists at the Musée des Civilizations Noires inaugural exhibition in Dakar, Senegal.
A true artist in heart and soul, Gabon has been in the arts and entertainment for over 35 years and has worked as a poet, actor/singer, director, producer, playwright, special effects make-up artist and creative director. His work continues to create new narratives and extend dialogue between Africa and its Diaspora, both in the first and the developing world. Gabon 2022 Dakar biennale selecting “Salt” was inspired by his travels to Lac Rose in Senegal and explores the intersection of salt as a commodity in Africa and the United States.
In 2017, Gabon completed a summer residency at the Fundación Sebastián in Mexico City, Mexico. His work, entitled “Roots and Symbols,” explored the invisible people of African heritage in Mexico and the lack of equitable resources in communities of color in the black coastal Mexico. Gabon has held exhibitions in New York, California and internationally in Vancouver Canada, Dakar Senegal and Jamaica, West Indies. In December 2018, Gabon had the distinct honor and privilege to be one of the featured international artists at the Musée des Civilizations Noires inaugural exhibition in Dakar, Senegal.
A true artist in heart and soul, Gabon has been in the arts and entertainment for over 35 years and has worked as a poet, actor/singer, director, producer, playwright, special effects make-up artist and creative director. His work continues to create new narratives and extend dialogue between Africa and its Diaspora, both in the first and the developing world. Gabon 2022 Dakar biennale selecting “Salt” was inspired by his travels to Lac Rose in Senegal and explores the intersection of salt as a commodity in Africa and the United States.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
Megha Nabe
Theatre Arts
Megha Nabe
Theatre Arts
Megha Nabe is a performer/writer and educator with a focus on art for social change. After graduating with her MFA from the University of Iowa, she began the Drama Arts division of the Children’s Aid Society in Harlem, NY. She is also a company member of the Obie and Drama Desk Award Winning Flea Theatre in Manhattan.
Megha is an experienced teaching artist, who has taught students ranging from 4 years of age through the college level, and she previously specialized in working with kids in the special needs network.
Recently, Megha graduated with her CA Arts Standards Teaching Artist Certification from the Actors Fund. Always wanting to shape and inspire young minds, Megha has been a head mentor at the Young Storytellers Foundation for several years, and a mentor at Unusual Suspects Theatre Company. A fervent believer in arts inclusion and diversity promotion, Megha has helped create a theatre program in collaboration with the Fountain Theatre, specializing in low-income school districts that have lost their enrichment funding.
Megha is an experienced teaching artist, who has taught students ranging from 4 years of age through the college level, and she previously specialized in working with kids in the special needs network.
Recently, Megha graduated with her CA Arts Standards Teaching Artist Certification from the Actors Fund. Always wanting to shape and inspire young minds, Megha has been a head mentor at the Young Storytellers Foundation for several years, and a mentor at Unusual Suspects Theatre Company. A fervent believer in arts inclusion and diversity promotion, Megha has helped create a theatre program in collaboration with the Fountain Theatre, specializing in low-income school districts that have lost their enrichment funding.
- Phone:+1 (859) 254-6589
- Email:info@example.com
Edwin Rivera
Latin Dance
Edwin Rivera
Latin Dance
Edwin Rivera is widely known as an influential artist in today's Latin dance and music scenes. With a career spanning over two decades, he has made an impact as a dancer, DJ, music producer and Salsa Festival promoter around the world. Based in Los Angeles, Edwin was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and is proud of his Puerto Rican heritage. He specializes in Salsa/Mambo, Deep House, Latin, Salsa electronic dance fusion, Moombahton, Trap, Progressive house and Twerk music. When Rivera Rhythm arrives, the place comes alive!
Lynn Okimura
Animation & Media Arts
Lynn Okimura
Animation & Media Arts
Lynn is an experienced Animator and Educator of Animation and Media Arts. She is dedicated to sharing the artistic and creative process with students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. She has been an Adjunct Professor and Instructor at the UCLA Film School, CalArts, Woodbury University and US Performing Arts where graduates move on to work at leading animation, film, visual effects and game studios. As a Teaching Artist in Residence with The Music Center in Los Angeles County and The Segerstrom Center's Arts Teach program in Orange County, she creates animation and visual arts workshops (K-12) that make connections to social-emotional learning and to subjects across the curriculum from language arts and social studies, to STEAM curriculum.
As an Industry Professional, her work includes animation, visual effects, puppetry, and mixed media projects for Disney, HBO, Motion Fiction, Secret Plan Studios, National Geographic, The Science Channel and The Cooking Channel.
As an Industry Professional, her work includes animation, visual effects, puppetry, and mixed media projects for Disney, HBO, Motion Fiction, Secret Plan Studios, National Geographic, The Science Channel and The Cooking Channel.
Sheree Brown
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Sheree Brown
Vocalist, Songwriter, Musician
Sheree Brown is a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. She began her career as a rhythm & blues and pop recording artist on the Capitol Records label in the early eighties. While on the label she penned all songs from her, Straight Ahead and The Music albums.
Sheree has achieved gold and platinum record status over the years for songs that she has written or co-written for various artists; including Kirk Franklin’s hit “Looking for You.” She is a “Song of the Year” Stellar Award nominee and has received various ASCAP Awards. She has also collaborated with friend and fellow artist, Patrice Rushen co-writing such songs as “Haven’t You Heard” and “Settle for My Love” along with Zhane’s “Groove Thang.” She co-wrote with another friend, the late Motown's Syreeta Wright, one of her hits “Dance for Me Children.” She co-wrote songs for the acclaimed movie, Hollywood Shuffle and has released two independent recordings, Beautiful Woman by SBPR and ’83.
Sheree performed a one-woman show in Germany, Egypt, Israel, and Italy. She co-wrote the first House of Blues “School House Tour” program and performed in it for over two years at the former Hollywood House of Blues. Additionally, she spent time guest hosting for the popular weekly Gospel Brunch at the same venue and received an Emmy® Award nomination for co-producing a public service announcement and music video for “youth against violence.” She is endorsed by Taylor Guitars.
She has collaborated with her husband and educator, Deacon Douglass Johnson, Sr., and award-winning director/ art director, Pixote Hunt, to co-write the children's book, Zhakanaka the Word along with its inspired music CD and a DVD that accompanies the book. This project is for ALL AGES and promotes literacy, anti-bullying, self-esteem, and youth against violence. Additionally, it has birthed the national "Peace in the City" campaign and the Zhakanaka Peace Award which has been accepted by Oprah Winfrey, Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), and a host of others. She has been performing nationally promoting this campaign.
Sheree’s follow-up to her book Messages from The Heart is Messages from The Spirit, which includes music and art dedicated to the young adult women who tell their life challenging stories. The album is Messages from The Spirit…The Collective, released on Expansion Records (UK), ahead of the book publication. It is designed to uplift the spirit and touch one's heart. This project launches Sheree’s mentorship initiative for girls, teens, and young adult women. Its mission is to encourage healthy healing by using tools of music, art, and storytelling to mentor and inspire others. Her first single, “Take A Walk with Love” reached #1 on the UK Soul Chart. The album reached the top thirteen on the Album Soul chart. She recently released her new single “Sorry ‘Bout Bein’ A Ghost (Ghosted Remix)” ahead of her book release. The song is co-written by one of the featured storytellers in the book. Further, she has introduced her stage play We Tell Our Stories, which premiered at the Barnsdall Theater in Los Angeles, CA and was inspired by the Messages projects.
Sheree is enthusiastic about children and their causes. She has also been performing songs from her children's CD, We're All Only Children and has a song ("It's Time to Get Together") featured on First 5 CA's Pandora music playlist. Her goal is always to encourage them to believe in themselves.
It is the joy that comes with sharing her music that continues to inspire Sheree to do what she does musically. It is the giving of music which is universal that allows her to share her heart.
www.realshereebrown.com
Sheree has achieved gold and platinum record status over the years for songs that she has written or co-written for various artists; including Kirk Franklin’s hit “Looking for You.” She is a “Song of the Year” Stellar Award nominee and has received various ASCAP Awards. She has also collaborated with friend and fellow artist, Patrice Rushen co-writing such songs as “Haven’t You Heard” and “Settle for My Love” along with Zhane’s “Groove Thang.” She co-wrote with another friend, the late Motown's Syreeta Wright, one of her hits “Dance for Me Children.” She co-wrote songs for the acclaimed movie, Hollywood Shuffle and has released two independent recordings, Beautiful Woman by SBPR and ’83.
Sheree performed a one-woman show in Germany, Egypt, Israel, and Italy. She co-wrote the first House of Blues “School House Tour” program and performed in it for over two years at the former Hollywood House of Blues. Additionally, she spent time guest hosting for the popular weekly Gospel Brunch at the same venue and received an Emmy® Award nomination for co-producing a public service announcement and music video for “youth against violence.” She is endorsed by Taylor Guitars.
She has collaborated with her husband and educator, Deacon Douglass Johnson, Sr., and award-winning director/ art director, Pixote Hunt, to co-write the children's book, Zhakanaka the Word along with its inspired music CD and a DVD that accompanies the book. This project is for ALL AGES and promotes literacy, anti-bullying, self-esteem, and youth against violence. Additionally, it has birthed the national "Peace in the City" campaign and the Zhakanaka Peace Award which has been accepted by Oprah Winfrey, Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), and a host of others. She has been performing nationally promoting this campaign.
Sheree’s follow-up to her book Messages from The Heart is Messages from The Spirit, which includes music and art dedicated to the young adult women who tell their life challenging stories. The album is Messages from The Spirit…The Collective, released on Expansion Records (UK), ahead of the book publication. It is designed to uplift the spirit and touch one's heart. This project launches Sheree’s mentorship initiative for girls, teens, and young adult women. Its mission is to encourage healthy healing by using tools of music, art, and storytelling to mentor and inspire others. Her first single, “Take A Walk with Love” reached #1 on the UK Soul Chart. The album reached the top thirteen on the Album Soul chart. She recently released her new single “Sorry ‘Bout Bein’ A Ghost (Ghosted Remix)” ahead of her book release. The song is co-written by one of the featured storytellers in the book. Further, she has introduced her stage play We Tell Our Stories, which premiered at the Barnsdall Theater in Los Angeles, CA and was inspired by the Messages projects.
Sheree is enthusiastic about children and their causes. She has also been performing songs from her children's CD, We're All Only Children and has a song ("It's Time to Get Together") featured on First 5 CA's Pandora music playlist. Her goal is always to encourage them to believe in themselves.
It is the joy that comes with sharing her music that continues to inspire Sheree to do what she does musically. It is the giving of music which is universal that allows her to share her heart.
www.realshereebrown.com
Joselyn Wilkinson
Musician, Vocalist, Drummer
Joselyn Wilkinson
Musician, Vocalist, Drummer
Joselyn Wilkinson is a professional musician, arts educator and administrator who graduated with honors from UCLA World Arts and Cultures. After extended study in West Africa, Wilkinson founded ADAAWE, women of the voice and drum, and toured the U.S. She has developed and taught arts curricula in schools throughout Southern California, managed award-winning programs and created original theater and music performances with youth for over 20 years. She served as Director of Arts Education for Grand Vision Foundation from 2014-2019, and currently works with them as their Arts Education and Development Specialist. When she’s not sharing the joy of music with the next generation, Wilkinson releases and performs original music with Joselyn & Don and with ADAAWE.
(www.joselynwilkinson.com).
(www.joselynwilkinson.com).
Jason Luckett
Musician, Vocalist, Songwriter
Jason Luckett
Musician, Vocalist, Songwriter
Jason Luckett is a musician and writer from Los Angeles. Over a 30 year career he’s released 6 albums, performed internationally in clubs, theaters and festivals including Glastonbury (UK) and SXSW. His essays and lyrics have been published in anthologies including, “Voices from Leimert Park” (Tsehai) and “The Black Body” (Seven Stories). He’s read or performed at Beyond Baroque, Highways, The World Stage and LA Central Library (as part of the ALOUD series). He also writes music for films and theater, and appeared in the movie “La La Land.” And over the past decade he’s performed over 1500 school shows for over a quarter of a million young students, teaching lessons on environmental stewardship and social emotional learning through songs and comedy.
Magatte Sow
Drummer, Composer
Magatte Sow
Drummer, Composer
THREE-GRAMMY® AWARD WINNER AND CREDITED DRUMMER/COMPOSER FOR THE "BLACK PANTHER" MAGATTE SOW, OR AS MANY PEOPLE KNOW HIM AS MAGATTE FALL.
Meet three-time Grammy® Award Winner and credited drummer/composer for “Black Panther, Magatte Sow, or as many people know him as Magatte Fall.
Coming from a long line of musicians, it is no surprise that Magatte’s first performance experience began at the youthful age of 2 years old for his parent’s West African Drum and Dance Company. During this time Magatte knew that he wanted to be a percussionist, and studied intently on djembe, sabar, and tama. His djembe teachers includes his father Malik Sow and Kissima Diabate. For sabar, he’s studied with Omar Mboup, Chiekh Tirou Mbaye; and Tama he’s studied with the late great Ndongo Mbaye. As he learned, he continued to perform with different artists in Los Angeles; and served his own community by drumming for many dance classes that he continues to do until this day.
As he got older, the demand for his budding talents got greater. He was cast in the movie “Amistad” and has recorded on albums for Ashley Maher, Angelique Kidjo, Rob Thomas, and many other artists. He has performed on many televised award shows as a percussionist, including the Nobel Peace Prize Awards; and has performed with artists from many different styles of music like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, The Very Best, Andre Manga, Munyungo Jackson, Leon Mobley, Youssou N’Dour, Baba Maal, and Salif Keita, John Legend, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae, Dianne Reeves,Raja Kasis, Paulo Stagaro, and Pedrito Martinez.
Magatte Sow has toured with the living-legend Debbie Allen as not just a percussionist, but as a cast member of her musical “Oman Oman”, and for the past 9 years, has been the percussionist for the world-renowned singer Angelique Kidjo; winning his first Grammy for playing on her Best World Music Album “Eve”. He has played at many different festivals and historic venues both nationally and internationally, including the Blues Festival, Womad Festival, Festival Modial des Art Negres, Newport Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and opening of the African-American Museum in Washington D.C.; and he is regularly brought to numerous cities in the U.S. to attend drum and dance festivals.
In 2018, Magatte held the prestigious honor of being a credited soloist alongside the great tama player Masamba Diop and world-renown singer Baba Maal on the "Black Panther" movie score. His musical contributions included him as a djembe and sabar player/composer. Throughout all of his accomplishments, Magatte never lost the connection to his family and culture in Senegal. In Los Angeles, he is a member of his father’s group Fara Toro, but in Senegal Magatte is a member of Generation Percu and Kondiof; both groups including both his family and friends there. He continues to go back to Senegal to learn and to restore keeping that connection alive through music. In Los Angeles, he now assists his father in teaching djembe and sabar through weekly classes to the community, and through school demonstrations within Los Angeles County by way of The Los Angeles Music Center. Magatte Sow is an amazing artist, percussionist, teacher, and performer that continues to excite everyone every time he touches a drum. Though he has experienced so much at such a young age, Magatte Sow’s future is very bright; and he will continue to be a trailblazer in every style of music that he approaches.
Meet three-time Grammy® Award Winner and credited drummer/composer for “Black Panther, Magatte Sow, or as many people know him as Magatte Fall.
Coming from a long line of musicians, it is no surprise that Magatte’s first performance experience began at the youthful age of 2 years old for his parent’s West African Drum and Dance Company. During this time Magatte knew that he wanted to be a percussionist, and studied intently on djembe, sabar, and tama. His djembe teachers includes his father Malik Sow and Kissima Diabate. For sabar, he’s studied with Omar Mboup, Chiekh Tirou Mbaye; and Tama he’s studied with the late great Ndongo Mbaye. As he learned, he continued to perform with different artists in Los Angeles; and served his own community by drumming for many dance classes that he continues to do until this day.
As he got older, the demand for his budding talents got greater. He was cast in the movie “Amistad” and has recorded on albums for Ashley Maher, Angelique Kidjo, Rob Thomas, and many other artists. He has performed on many televised award shows as a percussionist, including the Nobel Peace Prize Awards; and has performed with artists from many different styles of music like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, The Very Best, Andre Manga, Munyungo Jackson, Leon Mobley, Youssou N’Dour, Baba Maal, and Salif Keita, John Legend, Jill Scott, Janelle Monae, Dianne Reeves,Raja Kasis, Paulo Stagaro, and Pedrito Martinez.
Magatte Sow has toured with the living-legend Debbie Allen as not just a percussionist, but as a cast member of her musical “Oman Oman”, and for the past 9 years, has been the percussionist for the world-renowned singer Angelique Kidjo; winning his first Grammy for playing on her Best World Music Album “Eve”. He has played at many different festivals and historic venues both nationally and internationally, including the Blues Festival, Womad Festival, Festival Modial des Art Negres, Newport Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and opening of the African-American Museum in Washington D.C.; and he is regularly brought to numerous cities in the U.S. to attend drum and dance festivals.
In 2018, Magatte held the prestigious honor of being a credited soloist alongside the great tama player Masamba Diop and world-renown singer Baba Maal on the "Black Panther" movie score. His musical contributions included him as a djembe and sabar player/composer. Throughout all of his accomplishments, Magatte never lost the connection to his family and culture in Senegal. In Los Angeles, he is a member of his father’s group Fara Toro, but in Senegal Magatte is a member of Generation Percu and Kondiof; both groups including both his family and friends there. He continues to go back to Senegal to learn and to restore keeping that connection alive through music. In Los Angeles, he now assists his father in teaching djembe and sabar through weekly classes to the community, and through school demonstrations within Los Angeles County by way of The Los Angeles Music Center. Magatte Sow is an amazing artist, percussionist, teacher, and performer that continues to excite everyone every time he touches a drum. Though he has experienced so much at such a young age, Magatte Sow’s future is very bright; and he will continue to be a trailblazer in every style of music that he approaches.
Emilia Moscoso Borja
Percussionist, Composer
Emilia Moscoso Borja
Percussionist, Composer
Emilia Moscoso Borja is Ecuadorian multi-percussionist, composer, and teaching artist. She has broad training in world percussion, classical/contemporary music, and composition.
Strongly influenced by Latin American culture, she has created her own original music and artwork fusing traditional music from Latin America and world music with new music and jazz. She also has performed in numerous ensembles including Chacombo Afro-Peruvian ensemble, CalArts Brazilian Drumming Ensemble, Trio Acústico de las Americas, Tambora, Afro-Uruguayan Comparsa Medio Mundo, Orquestra de Berimbaus Paraguassu, Cambamberos traditional Colombian ensemble, and several multidisciplinary projects including The Lost Tribes, a Theatre Dybbuk production in Los Angeles under the direction of Aaron Henne and Michael Skloff.
Besides being an active performer, recording artist, and composer, she has taught at a variety of educational programs in Ecuador, Brazil and Los Angeles.
Bachelor of Music by Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" Masters degree in World Percussion by the California Institute of the Arts
Strongly influenced by Latin American culture, she has created her own original music and artwork fusing traditional music from Latin America and world music with new music and jazz. She also has performed in numerous ensembles including Chacombo Afro-Peruvian ensemble, CalArts Brazilian Drumming Ensemble, Trio Acústico de las Americas, Tambora, Afro-Uruguayan Comparsa Medio Mundo, Orquestra de Berimbaus Paraguassu, Cambamberos traditional Colombian ensemble, and several multidisciplinary projects including The Lost Tribes, a Theatre Dybbuk production in Los Angeles under the direction of Aaron Henne and Michael Skloff.
Besides being an active performer, recording artist, and composer, she has taught at a variety of educational programs in Ecuador, Brazil and Los Angeles.
Bachelor of Music by Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" Masters degree in World Percussion by the California Institute of the Arts
Mychal McCulley
Dance
Mychal McCulley
Dance
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mychal has trained in multiple styles including ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, African, Flamenco, hip hop, tap and many more. He teaches at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy as well as the Nicholas Dance Studio. Mychal has performed across the United States and throughout Europe having worked with greats such as Desmond Richardson, Rasta Thomas, Darell Moultrie, Nathan Trice and George Faison.
Mychal is a SAG/AFTRA member and has performed with Missy Elliot, Destiny’s Child, James Ingram, Michael Jackson Immortalized and with Stevie Wonder in the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Mychal is a SAG/AFTRA member and has performed with Missy Elliot, Destiny’s Child, James Ingram, Michael Jackson Immortalized and with Stevie Wonder in the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Chris Scott
Dance
Chris Scott
Dance
Christopher Anthony Scott is a native New Yorker, professional dancer and educator. He is well versed in all styles of dance with training stemming from Gregory Hines, High School of Performing Arts, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Joffrey Ballet. He teaches in the states and abroad sharing his passion through art, and touches the lives of many. Most recently he received an Emmy Award for choreography, assisting the great Debbie Allen in Dolly Parton’s film “Christmas on the square”.
