Saeed Abbas was born in Accra, Ghana a diverse country rich with a variety of music and art. Saeed’s interest in playing music began at the age of five. As a young boy Saeed was not allowed to play music. His parents forbade music due to the lack of opportunity in his future as a musician. Saeed, a child prodigy, knew he was blessed with the gift of music and left his house prior to becoming a teenager to pursue his musical dreams. As a teenager Saeed dropped out of school to become a Music Teacher for Ghana's Public Schools teaching all over Ghana. One evening at a school a man walked by and heard Saeed's music. It stopped him in his tracks and he invited Saeed to interview with the National Dance Ensemble, Ghana's National Group. After his interview he was accepted into the group and traveled with them all over the world performing, teaching, and studying music from many different languages. Saeed performed many places, as well as, for many different people including the Queen of England, Bill Clinton, and other world leaders. After five years with Ghana’s National Dance Ensemble, Saeed resigned and moved to London, England. In England Saeed performed and recorded a CD with Brekete, a Traditional African group from Ghana. After two years in London, Saeed followed the American Dream and adventured to the United States. He moved to Portland, Oregon, where he played professionally and recorded music with other Ghanian and American musicians such as Obo Addy and White Rhino, as well as taught for schools and businesses ranging from elementary to the university level. His journey was not over. Saeed married and moved to Whidbey Island, Washington with his wife where they currently reside and created the CD Gye NyamE in 2004. Saeed currently teaches and performs in the Pacific Northwest as well as around the country. gyenyamemusic@hotmail.com

Obo Addy, the son of a Wonche medicine man in Ghana, West Africa, was designated a "master drummer" at the age of six. Surrounded by his enormous family (his father had 55 children by 10 wives) and thoroughly immersed in the core musical traditions of his people, Addy embodied the skills and deep values of Ga music as few could.

During his teenage years and after World War II, he absorbed the international pop music which had seeped into his home town of Accra. Addy played in Joe Kelly's Band, The Ghana Broadcasting Band, and the Farmers Council Band for many years mostly playing European and American music. He later gravitated to Highlife, the new blend of African and European instrumentation. In 1969, he was employed by the Arts Council of Ghana as a Ga master of the national music. In 1972, he and his brothers performed at the Olympic Games in Munich and embarked on an international tour. They lived in London and toured extensively until 1978 when he moved to the United States and settled in Portland, Oregon. With his wife, Susan, he created Homowo Africian Arts and Cultures (www.homowo.org ), a not-for-profit organization which hold an annual festival which has introduced thousands of people to the music of Ghana. He's a richly skilled teacher who conducts numerous in-school residencies and workshops. Obo's currently writing music which blends African rhythms with classical instrumentation.

Obo Addy currently teaches music at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He travels throughout the country conducting teaching residencies and performing both solo and with his performing groups. He leads two ensembles which tour nationally- Okropong, dedicated to traditional tribal music and dance of Ghana, and Kukrudu, which performs original music written by Addy. His numerous recordings include two recent works entitled Let me Play My Drums and Okropong. Obo's newest recordings, Wonche Bi and Afieye Okropong, were released on the Alula label.

In 1996 Obo Addy was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the highest honor a traditional artist can receive in this country. Obo is the first African born artist to ever receive the award.
www.oboaddy.com

Anzanga has been performing since 1987. The nine-member ensemble has toured throughout the West Coast, East East Coast, Canada, and China. The group performs traditional and contemporary African marimba music. The director, Sheree Seretse has studied, taught and performed African music since 1970. Anzanga has produced four recordings: Anzanga, Nyaradzo, Vakati Kurudzira and Shinga Moyo. www.anzanga.org

Michael Beach: vocalist, multi-ethnic drummer/percussionist and founder [1975] of Brothers of the Baladi. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Brothers perform traditional Middle Eastern and World Music featuring vocals in seven languages [Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Farsi, Spanish, French & English] and instruments from around the world. The five piece band tours the U.S. and Canada and has shared the stage with many national acts. Their 1995 CD Eye on the World was produced by Michael Shrieve from the original Santana. The Brothers' nine recordings, including the newest CD Hope, continue to be distributed nationally and internationally.

Michael's own Basic Middle Eastern Drums & Rhythms recordings offer his personal how-to methods - available on audio and VHS video.
His brand new CD Hands of a Thousand Dances proves that Michael is still true to the music of his heart. It features many different kinds of drum solos on tabla/doumbek/darbuka, tar/framedrums, riq/daff and drum kit, a heavy folkloric/tribal piece, a haunting Persian vocal mawal/gazel and even a modern house/remix dance piece.

A multi-linguist, multi-instrumentalist and a world traveler, Michael is a rare American who had embraced the true meaning of World Music. www.baladi.com

Carolyn Brandy is a composer, performer, and teacher, and has worked in the Bay Area for many years with many groups such as The Faye Carol Band, RhythMix, Jazz Camp West, The Jazzschool, Oakland Jazz Choir, Oakland Youth choir, Redwood Cultural Work, Berkeley and Oakland Public Schools, Skin Talk, and many other groups. She was the founder of Sistah Boom, and was also a founding member of the all women jazz quintet Alive! which toured nationally for ten years, and produced three albums, which have recently been released on a compilation CD, Always Alive! She has worked with many great artists, and creative ensembles in the Bay Area. She has also been a featured performer at the Seattle World Rhythm Festival in 2002, and 2003.

She released a self-produced CD of her own compositions in 1995, entitled Skin Talk.
Carolyn has also been the recipient of several California Arts Council grants, and has also received support from the Rockefeller Foundation for her compositional skills.
Carolyn has led four 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 have studied with masters of Afro-Cuban drumming and dance.

Carolyn is currently working with the Faye Carol band, which plays world class Jazz and Blues. She also teaches percussion to children in the Oakland public schools and is currently working on a book about teaching children percussion.
Carolyn has a degree in music from Holy Names College, in Oakland, Ca.
cbrandydrum@sbcglobal.net

Erik Brown is a teacher and performer of Arabic Percussion. Erik has studied with Master Middle Eastern Percussionists: Souhail Kaspar, Uncle Mafufo,Faisal Zedan, Tobias Roberson, as well as Mustafa Alkedairy. Erik Brown performs regularly in Seattle with the some of the finest belly dancers in the Northwest playing solo as well as with other Middle Eastern instrumentalist. Erik has performed with Jeremiah Soto of Solace, John Bilezikjian, Orchestra Habibi of Seattle, Americanistan of Eugene Oregon, DJ Kazan of MTV Asia. Today, Erik is quickly becoming one of the most sought after Middle Eastern percussionists in the Northwest.
www.doumbec-drum.com

Etienne Cakpo is a professional dancer, choreographer and musician from Benin, West Africa. He directs Gansango Music & Dance, based in Seattle, and the company is available for workshops, private lessons, and performances. He teaches and performs traditional African dance from Benin as well as contemporary African dance styles. Etienne has been building his repertoire of traditional and modern dance for twenty years. In addition to conducting personal research to learn regional dances and musical traditions in his country, he has worked in remote areas of Benin with international ethnomusicologists, musicians and filmmakers.

Currently based in Seattle, Washington, Etienne has performed dance and music with artists from many countries, including Haiti, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Senegal, France, Mali, Uzbekistan, Bolivia, Brazil and the United States. In 2004 Gansango Music & Dance toured a show for children, Kaleta: A West African Children's Festival, at venues including the J.F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Philadelphia International Children's Festival. CD available at: www.cdbaby.com/cakpoatchade. www.gansango.com

Naby Camara is a master griot musician from Guinea, West Africa who brings with him over 20 years of musical knowledge, training, and world touring experience. Naby leads his world music group, Lagni Sussu, with originally composed, dynamic rhythms and songs coming from an over 1,000 year artistic tradition. Well versed on the 21-barred balafon, dundun, and djembe, Naby's modernistically traditional style of music and song acknowledge history, honor to ancestors, joy and praise to events and people, and human conditions found worldwide. All ages and cultures of people enjoy the bright, joyful, rhythmic sounds of this music that originates from Guinea and is now coming to touch the hearts, minds, ears, and souls of people living throughout the Pacific Northwest.
www.nabycamara.com

Janelle Keane Campoverde has taught Afro-Brazilian dance at festivals and colleges throughout the U.S. including Cornish College of the Arts, Antioch College, Evergreen State College, Whitman College, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Washington. She also teaches in children's programs for the Ethnic Heritage Council of the NW's International Dance Program, the Northwest Folklife Festival Youth Program and South Sound Kids Drum and Dance. She studied Brazilian dance at the Universidade Federal da Bahia and with Filhos de Ghandy in Salvador, Brazil. She traveled to Santiago, Cuba to study dance with Cutumba Dance Company. She dances professionally with performing folkloric and contemporary Brazilian dances throughout the northwest and performed with DanceBrazil from NYC. She is the dance director and choreographer of Seattle's Samba group GiraSol, performing for events for such sponsors as Nike, Starbucks and Seattle Public Library at venues including EMP and the international tribute at the All-Star Game. As a certified Feldenkrais practicioner and yoga instructor Janelle applies her skills of observation, accelerated learning, and increased awareness to performing and teaching.
www.sambadance.com

José Carrión is the principal dancer and core professor of Ballet Folklórico Cutumba de Santiago. For over 25 years, he has been researching, collecting, conserving, revitalizing & presenting the folkloric manifestations of Afro-Franco-Haitian-Cuban origin found primarily in Cuba's Eastern (Oriente) provinces. A new arrival in Seattle, José will be presenting the rich cultural traditions of Cuba's African legacies. He will be teaching a variety of classes selected from a vast repertoire which includes the sacred music and dance traditions of the Yoruba Orishas & the Kongo, the Afro-Franco-Haitian dances vodú, gagá, tajona, tumba francesa, congo layé & masún, as well as the popular traditions of rumba, son & conga santiaguera. More About José & Cutumba: José has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Canada and the United States. Most recently, CUTUMBA was the featured company at the Dance Africa fetes in New York City and Chicago, El Festival Cubano in Philadelphia, the International World Festival of Folkloric Dance in Cugans and Confolens, France and Paris' Disneyland Latin Fest. Contact José for his percussion and dance class schedule.
nbierman@hotmail.com

David Casteal

Born in New York to a Jewish family, Lori's musical gifts were discovered early on. With unconditional support from her parents she began formal musical studies at age 6. Although piano was her primary instrument, she began to explore her voice more intensely at performing arts high school (Cultural Arts Center, Long Island) with her first Jazz mentor Dave Burns Sr., renowned trumpeter with such musical luminaries as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody and Thelonious Monk. It was during her classes with Burns in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz History that she discovered the possibility of using her voice as an instrument, with a particular emphasis on scat singing up-tempo instrumental melodic material from the bee-bop tradition.

In 2002, Grammy award winning World Music master drummer/composer Glen Velez invited Lori to collaborate in the recording and performance of some of his compositions and this led to their 2003 CD release called “Elephant Hotel” (DafTof Records). They recently completed their new CD called “Rhythms of Awakening” to be released in 2005 on the Sounds True label.

Glen and Lori have been receiving rave reactions to their live performances which feature raucous audience participation in overtone singing and rhythmic chanting, along with their spellbinding drum voice duos, some of which spotlight Lori’s lightening fast renditions of South Indian vocal percussion (Konakkol).

Lori has also performed and recorded recently with saxophone legend Sonny Fortune (Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner), Grammy winning harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy (original member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), Bansuri flute master Steve Gorn (Paul Simon, Jack DeJohnette), South Indian flute master V.K. Raman, Javier Paxarino (renowned Spanish composer/recording artist), Yousif Sheronick (Philip Glass, Ethos), Shane Shanahan (Yo-Yo Ma ), Grammy winning cellist/composer Eugene Friesen (Paul Winter Consort), pianist Enrique Haneine (Ricky Martin) , among others.

Lori is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and is active in the commercial music field, recording for film and TV using her wide knowledge of composition and vocal stylings. She composed music for a 9/11 documentary called “In an Instant,” by esteemed filmmaker Bruce Ashley. She recently recorded vocals for a film score by composer Robert Miller (a protégé of Aaron Copland), for a Eugene Jarecki documentary called “Why We Fight,” winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance FIlm Festival, 2005.

Since earning her Masters Degree in Music Therapy from New York University, Lori has gained professional recognition for her clinical work in Adult Psychiatry, Autism Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome and at-risk teens. Her achievements in the Music Therapy field led to an invitation to teach at The New School University in NYC. She is also an active board member and consultant for the nonprofit organization “Musicians Wellness, Inc.,” founded by Music Therapy pioneer and psychoanalyst, Dr. Louise Montello.

Lori holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music and a Masters Degree in Music Therapy from New York University. Since 2000 Lori has been a Professor of Music Therapy at The New School University in NYC and also teaches Voice in the Jazz Department there. Lori Cotler's appearance at the 2005 World Rhythm Festival is sponsored by Remo.
www.loricotler.com

Joseph 'Pepe' Danza is an electrifying percussionist and multi- instrumentalist. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, he began classical guitar studies at age eight, and started his professional career at thirteen. He continued his studies in guitar as well as in piano, composition, music history and the physics of sound at the National Conservatory.

Pepe developed an interest in world music which led him to spend three years in Japan studying Shakuhachi, another two years in India and Sri Lanka for Indian music, Brazil for studies in Afro-Brazilian, Samba and Bossa Nova music, and shorter periods in Indonesia (studying gamelan), Korea and the Philippines. He also has lived in Europe and the USA, performing and recording Latin, Jazz and Contemporary music with a number of local ensembles.

Moving to Canada in 1989 he specialized in the study of world percussion while quickly establishing himself as one of the foremost drummers and band leaders on the West coast. His credits include performances with South Indian master drummer Trichy Shankaran, singers Ann Mortifee and Christine Ducan, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Choir, and concert tours throughout Europe, Asia and New Zealand. In his extensive touring he has shared the stage with the likes of Ani DiFranco, Oscar Lopez and David Lindley. Pepe is the leader of his own groups: Drum Prayers, a multi-cultural drumming ensemble, and the recently formed Latin Jazz group Sarava.

As a teacher Pepe has been working with Vancouver's School Board, teaching Samba music to children of all ages. He regularly travels to the USA to teach rhythm skills in Suzuki Method camps. He also conducts group and private percussion lessons at home, and travels across British Columbia giving two or three day intensive workshops.

Pepe is also an active studio musician, composer, arranger, producer and Musical Director, presently working and touring with Vancouver Moving Theatre, as well as with his world music group ASZA. He is also the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Sacred Music Festival, now in its third year. He has received countless award nominations including Musician of the Year in 1999 (West Coast Music Awards), Juno award for his work with Asza, Leo award for his work in film music, and Jessie awards for his theater scores.
More information can be found at http://www.pepe-music.com/ or jdanza@direct.ca

Dora De Oliveira has performed and taught Afro-Brazilian dance for twenty five years and has lived in Seattle, WA for ten. Ms De Oliveira's career as a professional dancer began in 1976 when she joined the renowned Brazilian folkloric dance troupe, Exaltação à Bahia. After obtaining a professional dance degree from the prestigious Federal University of Brazil, Ms De Oliveira moved to the United States. Ms De Oliveira's repertoire ranges from Afro-Brazilian dance forms through jazz, ballet, and modern dance. To her credit Ms De Oliveira has Dora has toured the world as the principal dancer with the world famous samba bloc, Olodum, been featured on the opening credits of the Brazilian dance episode of the PBS Dancing series, has developed a large student following teaching at Tully's Coffee Factory. Ms De Oliveira has recently worked as choreographer for VamoLá and SambaOlywa. Currently, she continues to tour as lead dancer with Ocheami and Show Brazil.
www.showbrazil.com/dora.htm

Thione Diop, master drummer from Senegal West Africa has taught and performed in the Seattle area for the last 5 years. He specializes in djembe but also plays the Djun Djun, sabar and tama. Thione was raised in the Griot tradition and has extensive knowledge of West African rhythms. He performs with his percussion ensemble Yeke Yeke and is also a member of the band Iguales. Thione has an instructional DVD and several CD's, one of them newly released after a recent recording session in Senegal with many master musicians.

Yeke Yeke is a percussion ensemble lead by master drummer Thione Diop. The group uses a variety of traditional drums and is accompanied by singing and dance.
www.thionediop.com

Dizzy (alias Paul Blair) is a circus artist, comedian, group activator and gyronaut who has circled the globe spreading his message of peace and hoopiness. Dizzy has performed for dozens of schools, corporations, stadiums and ball parks and has opened for bands including 3 times for String Cheese Incident, the B-52's and Heart. Dizzy holds world records for running while hula-hooping. He has been seen on television's the Daily Show and Evening Magazine, as well as on Univision International and NTV Japan. His main focus however has always been to teach creative play to kids and to get adults to act like kids. As Mr. Vader once said, "the centrifugal force is strong in this one".
dizzyshows@yahoo.com

Matt Dressler is a professional percussionist and educator specializing in Afro-Cuban musical traditions. His performance credits include Bumbershoot, Folklife and the World Rhythm Festivals. He continues to study the art of drumming with master drummers from around the world and teaches weekly classes in Seattle.
www.mattdressler.com

Kerry Greene

Steve Gausch is the co-founder and leader of the band Nueva Era. His outstanding percussion playing has been recognized throughout the Northwest, in New York and his native Puerto Rico. He has played with most of the Northwest's salsa bands, including Latin Expression, Pa'lante Alegre and Caliente, and he has accompanied Marvin Santiago and Lalo Rodriguez, among others.
sguasch@msn.com

We are an ensemble cast of players who love West African rhythm and dance. We have been working together for over a year to develop a program that we hope will express and share our love and respect for the music of Guinea, West Africa.
Gonyaloobey@yahoo.com

Jordan Hanson became hooked on polyrhythmic music as a kid living in Indonesia. Over the past fifteen years he has combined his interest in percussion with a love of traveling, studying with various teachers in West Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, he teaches classes through his Hand Drum Rhythms percussion school. Jordan’s greatest satisfaction as a teacher is connecting local students with some of the fantastic musicians he has studied with, either through local workshops, or through overseas study trips. Some of the players that he studied with and hosted as guest teachers at his percussion school in Canada include: Mamady Keita, Bruno Genero (Zap Mama), Seydou Zon (Farafina), Fana Soro (National Ballet of Ivory Coast), Nii Tettey Tetteh (Baka Beyond), Juan de Marcos & Adel Gonzalez (the Afro-Cuban All-Stars), Mestre Barrao (founder of Grupo Axé Capoeira), Yaroldy Abreu (Irakere) and Jerry Steinholtz,(Diana Ross) and Celso Machado.
www.drumvictoria.com

Soleil blends eighteen years as a manager and coach with an accumulation of nearly three decades as a facilitator and student of dance, yoga, performance, and healing arts creating a safe haven for the exploration, transformation, and healing of Body, Mind, and Spirit. Paul Wagner says that Sahlee “Spirit Music” opens the door to your Spirits and through this door connects you to all things of beauty. The name Sahlee comes from the Salish/Saanich where it means Spirit. Music, dancing, and the life-force of all living things feed this circle of people.
www.soleilRising.com

Arthur Hull is recognized as the father of the community drum circle movement. He is a motivational speaker, keynote presenter and an internationally acclaimed master at facilitating groups of people through a common experience using music and rhythm.
As a performing musician for 30 years Arthur has studied and worked with many renowned percussionists including Babatunde Olatunji, Hamza El Din, and Mickey Hart of The Grateful Dead. His studio work has placed his rhythms on many recorded albums including those of The Small Village Music Ensemble, The Nigerian Highlife Orchestra, Katoja, and Babatunde Olatunji’s African Rain.
More information can be found at Village Music Circles.
Arthur Hull's appearance at the 2005 World Rhythm Festival is sponsored by Remo.
www.drumcilrcle.com

Johnny Conga is a "specialist" in Afro-Caribbean Drumming and Music. For over 35 years "JC" has done over 17 International World Tours with such artists as Sergio Mendes and Brasil 77, Paquito D'Riviera, Gloria Gaynor, and many many more. His group, Origins, is an Afro-Caribbean drum and dance ensemble. Afro-Caribbean drumming is melodic, rhythmic and expressive music, consisting of collective improvisations, with form, unity, imagination, and direction. Origins will perform an array of the rhythms to include Chachalokefun, Bomba, Rumba, Comparsa, Iyesa, and Afro-Samba using bata, jimbe, congas, timbales, bongos, drum set, and assorted hand percussion. Origins members are Tor Dietrichson, Steve Cherena, Ivan Galvez, Patty, and Tahoma. johnnyconga@hotmail.com

Geoff Johns is an exciting performer and masterful teacher with over 25 years of experience. He plays and teaches traditional percussion and vocal music from a variety of sources, including West Africa, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, India, and Bali. His teachers include Zakir Hussein, Mamady Keita, Erica Azim, Jorge Alabe, and Kobla Ladzekpo. Before moving to Vashon Island in 1993, he was on the faculty of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO. He has produced 3 CDs of drumming instruction and performance and developed a comprehensive system of percussion notation. The Washington State Arts Commission has repeatedly chosen him to serve as artist-in-residence in the public schools. He teaches classes in Seattle through the University of Washington's Experimental College and performs occasionally with local artists such as Gina Sala (global chant) and Kane Mathis (kora).
geoff@rhythmjoy.com

Kalani has performed with such music legends as Kenny Loggins, David Sanborn, Max Roach, Barry Manilow, Vic Damone, John Mayall, Chante Moore, Dr. John, Michael Kamen, Melissa Manchester, and Yanni. He has authored several books including All About Congas, All About Jembe, All About Bongos, Together In Rhythm, and The Amazing Jamnasium and has produced over 15 instructional videos for a variety of instruments. He is the founder of Drumlesson.com, featured in the New York Times and on CNN Live. He is a consultant for the Kaman Music Corporation, Peripole-Bergerault Educational Instruments, The House of Blues foundation, and others. He is a certified (level III) Orff Schulwerk specialist and has received numerous awards from DRUM! Magazine for his work as a performing artist, percussion clinician and drum circle facilitator. His company, Kalani Music, is an approved continuing education provider for music educators, music therapists, and health care professionals and offers levels training in Drum Circle Music™ facilitation. Kalani teaches children and adults in the Los Angeles area and abroad. For more information, visit www.kalanimusic.com , www.drumcamp.com or www.drumcirclmusic.com

Drawing from authentic West African traditions, KuUmba features red-hot drumming including splendid solos, precise choreography and a variety of West African music. The group has performed throughout the northwest and is planning a trip to Africa next summer to study drumming and culture. KuUmba are students from Gonzaga Prep. High School and have been together four years. The drummers are Minh Tran, Jessica Cloyd, Alyssa Lotze, Carrisa Nevers, Jade Schubach, Kelly Henthorn, and Sarah Weeden. David Casteal, a schoolteacher and PhD candidate from Spokane, Washington, leads KuUmba. David has studied African rhythms, music, and culture in Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Egypt over the years.
davidca@SpokaneSchools.org

Simone has been composing and performing on hand drums since 1987, first as a member of several Seattle-based bands and then, from 1992 to 1999, as founder and Director of Ladies Don’t Drum, a unique all-female percussion ensemble. “Ladies” performed and recorded with the Seattle Men’s Chorus, Maya Angelou, Holly Near and Bobby McFerrin, among others, and their CD, Nailin’ It, received excellent reviews. In 1991 Simone began teaching drumming “for a loving” with the creation of Drumming and The Holistic Expression of Rhythm, a method of learning to play hand drums that bridges the gap between our ancient tribal heritage and modern life. Since that time she has brought the magic of rhythmic expression to thousands of people across the U.S. and Canada, both as a teacher and as a performer. She has a studio in Seattle where she offers drumming classes on Afro-Cuban congas and African djembes for four levels: “Raw Beginners”, “Medium Rare Beginners”, “Cooked Beginners”, and, of course, “Well-Done Beginners”. Simone also brings her drums to parties, rituals, schools, libraries, prisons and everywhere the Spirit of the Drum leads her. simone@ladrumma.com

Dale Largent (Chicago) began the study of western percussion in Illinois' public schools at age 7. While Dale studied classical percussion methods at Interlochen Music Academy, it was in 1989 he discovered hand drumming. Immediately converted, Largent has built a performance and teaching reputation based upon 30 years of study, including consulting with Eastern Oregon University's West African Drum Ensemble. Ranging from Chicago's Orchestra Hall to nightclubs across the country, Largent has performed Blues, Folk, Dixieland, Classical, Jazz, Rock, Worldbeat, and Bluegrass. Having performed on guitars, drum set, classical percussion, timpani, marimba, xylophone, and even hammer dulcimer, Largent now exclusively plays and records hand drums. His recordings include albums with COYO, Dress Casual, Old Friends, the Blue D'arts, Carl Ventis, Shannon Ames, BabelFish, and the Surging Generals. Largent also performs with world percussion ensemble Cadence3. www.CoyoDen.com

"Simply, I believe that humanity is worth more than money…. Relationships are worth more than material. These thoughts pervade everything that I do."

Mark Lilly began his studies of the Afro-Cuban Arts at Portland State University. At that time the former college athlete was searching for a way to connect with his African ancestry. The study of Orisa dance provided the foundation of spirituality, politics, ideology and aesthetics that he was looking for. Orisa became his oasis in this country’s traditional fog of institutional racism and bigotry.

In 1991 Lilly received a scholarship to attend a gathering of Cuba’s finest musicians at Stanford University. At Stanford he began his study of Bata with master drummer Regino Jimenez, director of Danza Contemporanea De Cuba. In 1993 Lilly founded the Afro-Cuban Dance Company Bembe Olele. That same year he received his B.Sc. in Psychology from Portland State University. In 1995 Lilly was awarded an apprenticeship grant to study with dance instructor Roberto Borrell. In 1997 Bembe Olele recorded a CD of Orisa music with a grant from the Jack Straw foundation. Most recently, master drummer Alfredo “Coyute” Vega initiated Lilly to Ayan.

Although Lilly is an initiate and traditionalist in his presentation of Afro-Cuban Folklore, he differs significantly in his views on religion and spirituality, “I don’t believe in the imposed hierarchy of human worth. Religions, including Orisha, are political and financial institutions hidden behind benevolent ideologies. Religion is seen as the door to everything that is. The problem arises when people get stuck worshiping the door”.

Lilly’s teaching style focuses on technique and the development of spiritual energy through dance and focus. He currently lives in Seattle where he performs with Bembe Olele and teaches folkloric song and dance.
Ogunde52@hotmail.com

Gania has been studying West African dance for the last 10 plus years. She has spent time in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia and her favorite Guinea, Conakry. It is her goal to share the beauty, joy, and complexity of the traditional dances with her peers and students. Gonyaloobey@yahoo.com

Lance Lu is a shekere specialist, teaching and performing Afro-Cuban style shekere for over a decade. His teachers include Dennis Miu, Michael Spiro, Ricardo Cane, Jesus Alphonso, Regino Jimenez, and Sandy Perez. He has performed with diverse musical artists, including Abdul Doumbia, Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Tony Gable, Yerba Buena, the Supersones, MangoSon, and his own group, Out of My Gourd. His workshops have been well attended by professional and amature persussionists throughout the history of the WRF. Lance is also a dancer, specializing in Cuban popular dance. His teachers include Roberto Borrell, Jose Baroso, and Maiensy Sanchez. He has performed dance concerts with TropiCuba and Yerba Buena.
Gourd@teleport.com

Jaqui MacMillan is a Washington DC based percussionist, teacher and drum circle facilitator. Her drumming quest began in the early 1980''s, playing sessions with D.C. area musicians. Since then, she has studied with many Masters, including Mamady Keita, Babatunde Olatunji, Sam Turner, Carlos Moore and at the Tam Tam Mandingue School in DC. She is a graduate of the 1999 Drum Facilitators Playshop and the 2001 Facilitators Mentor Training in Hawaii with Arthur Hull. Jaqui won the Washington Area Music Asso! ciation''s 'World Music Instrumentalist Award' every year from 1995 through 2002, and is a Mountain Rythym endorsee and facilitator. Having performed and recorded for over 15 years with some of the top names in the business, Jaqui has also facilitated drum circles for schools, summer programs for children, corporations, conventions, hospitals, juvenile detention centers and at centers for homeless and battered women. She is a founding and board member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild (DCFG), a non-profit organization based in Washington DC. Jaqui has taught privately and given workshops around the country for over ten years through her program called, Drum For Joy!. Currently, she is working on a book about women who drum and was featured in the November 2000 issue of DRUM! Magazine. Jaqui believes that healing happens through the arts and music. Her web site is at www.drumforjoy.com

Mame' N'gala performs traditional dance and wrestling rhythms from Senegal, West Africa under the direction of Mapathe Diop. Performances begin and end with the Tagoumba, beginning and ending rhythm prayers.
Karenslone@earthlink.net

Deborah Masterson, certified TaKeTiNa teacher, was inspired to begin her investigation of the power of rhythm in 1988 upon attending a Samulnori concert. For many years, she concentrated on Korean percussion and dance, both in Honolulu and in Korea. More recently, her explorations have included dundun, conga, dumbek, and frame drum. Deborah is a member of "Damned Spot Drums", an eclectic group that provides music for, among other events, the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival.
mastersn@hawaii.edu

Bill Matthews is a devoted student and teacher of African and Afro-Caribbean drum rhythms. Bill is the owner of the Fremont Drum Shop/School, which offers a wide variety of hand drums and classes. He is the author of several books, videos and CDs on traditional rhythms in a clear, easy to read format. For over 10 years Bill has been teaching beginning through advanced drum classes.
www.congajoy.com

Choreographer, performer, teacher, Lara McIntosh has danced all her life and has been active in the drum and dance communities of Seattle for 14 years. She has been teaching Positive Sweat for 12 years. She teaches residencies locally in schools and internationally in a retreat style. She is on the all volunteer Board of Directors for SWPS since 2000. Other community projects include directing ensembles for the Fremont Summer Solstice Parade and Pageants (five years) and various micro-lending fund raising projects in Africa. Travels for cultural study include trips to Brazil and Mali, Africa.
www.positivesweat.com

Born in Puerto Rico, Paoli was twelve when he first played conga, listening to "Patato" Valdés, Batacumbele and Irakere. Paoli’s musical talent developed in the streets watching and absorbing the styles of his mentors, eventually playing along side them. Paoli studied Afro-Cuban percussion with José Ramírez. and first played with Rafu Warner, José Nogueras, and Charlie Sepúlveda. He has worked with Luis Enrique, Marc Anthony, La India, Seis del Solar, Tito Puente, Dave Valentín, Danilo Pérez, David Sánchez, Kip Hanrahan, Paquito D’Rivera, Chick Correa, and Conrad Herwig among others. Recently, Paoli recorded Alex Acuña's Acuarela de Tambores (Grammy nomination), and Masterpiece by Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri (Grammy winner). Paoli toured the world as sideman to Eddie Palmieri for more than 8 years, recording and playing in the largest jazz festivals. This exposure to world music gave Paoli international recognition, and became the foundation of his first solo CD Mi Tambor (2004). Mi Tambor shows Paoli's talent as both a percussionist and leader of his own Latin Jazz band. Paoli’s music demonstrates his knowledge and appreciation of rhythm patterns from all over the world.
www.paolimejias.com

Eduardo Mendonça, multitalented Brazilian recording artist, percussionist, vocalist, composer, and musical arranger, was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Mendonça traces his lineage to a royal African family bearing the hereditary title of Mambeka (“prophet of the royal court”). His grandfather, José Maria de Mendonça, who secretly maintained the Mambeka title, is pictured in a rare book, property of the Instituto Geográfico e Histórico da Bahia, which shows the elder Mendonça discussing the need for freedom and established social rights for Afro-Brazilian former slaves at a crucial meeting. Mendonça received his B.A. in Arts Education at the Instituto de Música da Universidade Católica do Salvador and performed as featured musician in many venues in Bahia, including command performances for Brazilian President João Baptista Figueiredo and Pope John Paul II. He also performed in trios elétricos, brightly lit mobile soundstages for festivals and public dancing, with artists such as Dengo da Bahia, Papa Léguas, and Marcos Medrado, and toured locally and internationally as vocalist and percussionist with the folkoric troupe, Exaltação á Bahia. In 1991 Mendonça was featured in Paul Simon’s documentary music video, Born at the Right Time. Since 1995, Mendonça teaches and performs as an artist in residence in many Washington State public schools. In addition, he is music director for Show Brazil!, an internationally performing ensemble featuring traditional and contemporary Brazilian music and dance.
www.showbrazil.com

Sarah Lee has an Undergraduate Degree in Exercise Science, Nutrition, and Health and Wellness from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She has been a student and teacher of wellness and prevention, and is passionately committed to sharing what she has learned about being a whole, healthy person. Among other things, she has been a member of the University of Minnesota Repertory Dance Company, managed the Fitness Program at the West Seattle YMCA, and has studied the healing effects of meditation. Over the past 5 years Sarah Lee has studied with dozens of West African dance instructors, including spending the last two Januarys studying with her favorite instructors, Youssouf Koumbassa and Mariama Camara in Guinea, West Africa, dancing upwards of 4-5 hours a day. Sarah Lee teaches weekly classes Seattle at the Fremont Drum Studio on Monday nights from 6:30-8 p.m. www.oneworlddance.com

Planet Percussion Brings the World Together
Receipients of the 2004 Thurston County Cultural Diversity and Community Service Award

Presenting only percussion instruments to express the diversity of earth's rhythms and cultures - Planet Percussion is unique. All our songs are done without lyrics or electronic sounds using only percussion instruments.

Planet Percussion intertwines its own new rhythms with other cultural rhythms, playing on a variety of hand drums, as well as using instruments to create a variety of Mother Nature's sounds. Together with our group of dancers we put on a high energy, foot stomping show encouraging audience participation.

Planet Percussion has participated in the Procession of the Species, a community celebration of Earth's diversity of animal life and cultures, and other special events in Olympia, Washington and other nearby communities.

We originally got together in the spring of 1998 for the Procession of the Species. We play a variety of instruments from all over the world including djembes, congas, hang drums, ocean drums, steel drums, log drums, talking drums, and a number of other percussion instruments representing different cultures of the world. The key mission of our group is to celebrate cultural diversity and to bring the world together through percussion music, art, and dance as well as celebrate the different musical styles associated with many cultures

Our band invites members of the community to join and welcomes people of all color, gender, age and musical ability to learn about percussion instruments, how to play a variety of these instruments, how to perform in public, and how to have fun in a community/family environment.

We sincerely hope that you come enjoy our band.

Jay Sicilia - Founder and Director
Lisa Swihart, Dance Director

www.planetpercussionband.com

MME, MT- BC Music Therapist, Drum Circle Facilitator and Educator, Kathy Quain provides a bridge between drum circles and music therapy to enhance the lives of persons with special needs. A music therapist for over 10 years, she has served as Regional President of the American Music Therapy Association and holds a Master's in Music Therapy. Founder of musicfortherapy.com, Kathy and three collaborative music therapists serve many special needs groups including high-risk teens, adults with autism and elders with Alzheimer‘s in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kathy educates teachers to apply drum circle facilitation to teach academics to youth. She is a consultant with San Francisco’s Music in Schools Today and collaborates with New England Conservatory's Music-In-Education program. An energetic facilitator, Kathy has worked through Arthur Hull’s Village Music Circles and has collaborated with Mickey Hart, Cameron Tummel, and Heather MacTavish. Her drum circle training includes Rhythm for Life, Health Rhythms and Village Music Circle Hawaii Playshops. Learn more at www.musicfortherapy.com

Craig Ramsell is the inventor of the Boomwhackers Tuned Percussion Tubes and President of Whacky Music, Inc., which produces and distributes the musical tubes and related products. Having played the classical guitar for most of his adult life, Craig has been “bit by the percussion bug” ever since inventing the award-winning musical tubes. His invention has created a fun and simple way to make music and has revolutionized learning music in schools around the world. It also adds an entirely new dimension to the drum circle experience. Craig has appeared on several TV programs and has been written up in Newsweek magazine. He has created memorable musical experiences with Boomwhackers tubes for numerous groups, ranging from a few to over a thousand people, including school assemblies, workshops, fund-raising events and an MIT alumni reunion. He also produced, composed, and performed songs for the CD Whack Tracks: The Boomwhackers® Sessions www.boomwhackers.com

Weaving together dance styles and cultural nuances from the Middle East, North Africa, India, Spain and beyond, Raqs Halim Dance Ensemble's repertoire includes a diverse variety of belly dance genres ranging from traditional folkloric and oriental to more modern styles such as tribal and world fusion. With a sublime balance between the old and new, tradition and innovation, this company of accomplished dancers has earned an ever growing following and reputation for artistic and moving performances throughout the Pacific Northwest since 1998.

Bellydance is one of the oldest forms of dance, passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, generation to generation. With their breathtaking and mesmerizing signature style, Raqs Halim Dance Ensemble is known for transcending the boundaries of this time-honored art form, while maintaining an ancient sentiment that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds.

Raqs Halim Dance Ensemble has appeared at many local and national events, festivals, benefits and private engagements. These include the Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle Arab Festival, 12 Minutes Max presented by On the Boards, Seattle Rhythm Festival, Seattle Mediterranean Festival, ‘Global’ at The Catwalk, ''Beyond the Veil'' Theatre Show, guest artists at Seattle Bellydance Superstars Show, Portland Tribal Quest Northwest (OR), Sebastopol Tribal Fest (CA), guest artists at the Breitenbush Resort (OR), and their recent sold-out theatre show ''Winds of Passage''.
www.raqshalim.com

Roda de Fogo is a Seattle-based Capoeira group that displays an excellence in artistry and skill in the Brazilian martial arts and dance that is known as Capoeira. Great comradere, traditional movements, and eye-defying feats of physical acrobatics combine to give this challenging art-form a broad appeal and excitement. In the roda (circle) players collaborate with and challenge their partners as they move and play to call-and-response songs, drum, pandiero, and the soulful string of the birembau. Roda de Fogo is based in Greenlake (Seattle) and is recieving aclaim for its performances of the Capoeira arts. www.rdfcapoeira.com

Coming from a musically infused childhood, Arturo Rodriguez shares his passion for percussion with the Pacific Northwest and beyond. An accomplished musician, author, and teacher, Rodriguez has performed worldwide, sharing the stage with music legends that include Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, and Pete Escovedo. Rodriguez says, "It is an honor and a privilege to have worked with these great musicians and icons of Latin music."

Never one to stand still the LP endorsed percussionist is both a popular face and a powerful force on the local Seattle music scene. One night you might catch him tearing up a Salsa set with his quintet configuration at The Triple Door and the next performing more intimate Latin jazz with his trio configuration at Axis. While moving through many musical boundaries, Rodriguez has an amazing talent for bringing and keeping people together. Rodriguez grew up in Los Angeles, in a household where his mother was a passionate mambo and salsa dancer, and his father was an avid conguero who played with the Hispanic Music Association and formed the group Salsa Express. "Each morning my mother would wake us up for school with the music of Celia Cruz and Ismael 'Cortijo' Rivera, and a lot of soulful footwork in the living room."

Rodriguez' early love of percussion led him to study with several prominent ethnomusicologists, and eventually became the genesis of his own company, Interact and Learn, that offers self-study courses, workshops, and public and private training for beginner through advanced students. Now, with three books in his Ethnic percussion Series published by Mel Bay Publications, Rodriguez' teaching style stresses the importance of community. "I see music as an opportunity for people to learn to work together. Playing music within a group is a lesson in social awareness and collective consciousness. Ultimately the goal is to give of one's self - to be as one with the music and the musicians."
www.arturorodriguez.com