KWABENA OSEI APPIAGYEI (Musical Director)
was born and raised in a family of traditional musicians in Ghana, West Africa. Being surrounded by the rhythms and instruments used in traditional music during his youth, moved Osei to follow in his family's footsteps. For 13 years, Osei served as a master musician and educator for the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the University of Ghana-Legon and The Institute of African Studies. He was also an instructor in African percussion instruments at the School of Performing Arts in Legon. In addition to being a master musician, Osei is also a master drum maker. He has traveled extensively in Africa, Europe and Asia, and continues to tour with the African American Dance Ensemble. Osei has a CD of traditional and contemporary music available. It makes a valuable addition to any serious music collection.
STAFFORD C. BERRY, JR. (Associate Artistic Director)
has taught, choreographed, and performed African rooted dance and theatre throughout the United States. As a teacher, he is known for his terrific energy, warm spirit and clarity, and as a performer, he has been called "a real standout among many talented individuals" and a performer "with great presence". He has danced in works by Melvin Purnell, Dennis Wayne, David Dorfman, Assane Konte, Dr. Kariamu Welsh Asante, Dr. Bill Banfield, Penny Bridgers, and Dr. Chuck Davis.
Originally from Chester, Pennsylvania, Mr. Berry received his education in theatre, dance, and music from Temple University. He is eternally grateful for the knowledge imparted to him from several masters. They include: Larry Wilson, Ernie Davis, Zadia Ife, Dr. Kariamu Welsh Asante, Dr. Yhema Mills, Jin Wen Yu, Gail Poch, Melvin Purnell, Craig "Spider" Moore, Jeannine Osayande, Hodari Banks, Ed Shockley, Youssouf Koumbassa, Amadou Bangoura, Trazana Beverly & David Hammond (Classical Theatre Workshop) and Dr. Chuck Davis. In 1997 Mr. Berry was Assistant to the Choreographer for Kariamu & Company: Traditions, with whom he'd also been a principle dancer for 5 years. In 1992 he co-founded the Seventh Principle Performance Company and in 1997 he co-founded the Berry and Nance Dance Project.
He was awarded the 1994 Neumann Cultural Enrichment Grant to create a new work, and he was certified in 1996 as a teacher of the Umfundalai Technique. In 2000, Mr. Berry received a choreographers' fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council, which permitted him to conduct research in Guinea, West Africa with Les Ballet Africains and in 2002, he was the recipient of a Cooper Foundation Grant to collaborate with C. Kemal Nance on a choregraphic project. In 2003 Stafford and Kemal received a grant from the Five County Arts Fund in PA to create a new ballet. His work, a combination of dance, theatre, & music, can be seen in the archives of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
ELIZABETH DROESSLER (Technical Director)
holds a BS degree in Dance and a M. Ed. in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the arts administrator for Wake County Public Schools and has enjoyed her association with Chuck Davis since 1983.
BIANCA HARRIS, M.ED (Dancer) was born and raised in Bronx, New York. She began her dance training at Ruth William Dance Studios in Harlem, New York. She later trained with Mary Barnett and Melba Lucas in the areas of Modern, Ballet and Jazz. Harris received her BA in Broadcasting in 2000 and her Masters in Dance Education in 2003. In 2001 she began training with Kariamu & Company: Traditions under the direction of Dr. Kariamu Welsh. Bianca thanks God and her family for all her accomplishments. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
ERIN HOLMES (Dancer) graduated from Temple University with a BFA in dance, with a minor in Psychology. She has worked with many artists including Tania Isaac, Paul turner's C.O.U.R.T. and Clyde Evans, Jr. she has performed as a member of Kariamu & Company: Traditions and Dance Theatre X, and she has apprenticed with Urban Bush Women. She would like to thank God, her family, and Baba Chuck!
STEPHANIE HOPE (Dancer)
was born in 1976 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to a family of Bajan immigrants. She is co-founder of "Urban Daughters IV Life," a black theater and dance production in her hometown. Stephanie's athletic ability in high school motivated her to pursue a career in dance. Since her journey to Cuba in 1998, Stephanie has danced and performed with a host of companies in the African Diaspora including: Afro-Brazilian, Haitian, Cuban and West African companies. From 1993 to 1995, Stephanie performed with "Nommo Literary Society," a poetry and spoken word collective in New Orleans.
KAMU JOLIZE MIMY (Dancer) is a dancer/actress who began her career on stage at the age of 4, and at 8, began studying dance and culture in the Senegambia region of West Africa. She has studied with a number of well-known directors and choreographers including Chuck Davis, Marie Bass Wiles, Alfred Gallman, and has performed with Gallman's Newark Dance Theare, Carolyn Dorfman's Dance Company, Maimouna Keita West African Dance Co., Umoja Dance Co., and Djole African. Kamu has been featured in Endangered Species, For Colored Girls…, The Colored Museum, Kumtoa Africa and Scapino, and she's appeared in the films Harlem Nights, Lean on Me, and House Party 1 & 2. She thanks her family -but most of all her mother- for their support.
CHEICK ADAMA SISSOKO (Musician)
is Malian and Kahisian. He is one of 11 children born in the Ivory Coast, West Africa to his father, Sekou Sissiko - a professional musician, and his mother, Kadi Sissoko - a singer. At a young age, Cheick began dancing with a dance troupe in Bouake. The manager of Lion D'or De Koumassi, a small dance company in Ivory Coast, approached Cheick to perform with his company in live performances, television shows and competitions. In 1998, after touring the United States, Cheick decided to create a life here in the U.S. as a professional dancer and drummer. He soon became a regular drummer and teacher at the Djoniba Dance and Drum Center while teaching in various elementary schools throughout New York and New Jersey.
TAMARA S. THOMAS (Dancer)
was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She received her B.S. from Cornell University with a major in Policy Analysis and Management and a concentration in Family and Social Welfare. On the Cornell campus, she served as President and Choreographer for the Caribbean Students Association Dance Ensemble and the Uhuru Kuumba Dance Ensemble. Her dance interests include African, Modern and Hip-Hop. Tamara would like to give thanks to the higher power for giving her breath and life. She would also like to say thank you to her family and friends for their immense support. This is Tamara's second season with the Ensemble, and she looks forward to the growth and energy that the AADE promotes.
Atito (Musician),
born Bi Gohi Johnson, is originally from Belfla, a small village in the Ivory Coast of West Africa. At age fourteen, he realized that he had a natural talent and love for dance. He formed a small dance troupe in Belfa that performed throughout the villages. As Johnson became well known, particularly for his skill in dancing Zaouli, a former dancer of the National Ballet heard about him and became interested in auditioning him for her company. It was while working for the Nayai Club in Abijan, the country's capital that he auditioned and joined the National Ballet. It was with the National Ballet that Atito came to the United States to perform. He later continued his career in New York with the Mask Dance Company of the Ivory Coast. He has taught at Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre, St. Augustine School in the South Bronx, and has performed as a dancer and musician at Disney World, The Guggenheim Museum, The Museum of Natural History, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Brooklyn Academy of Music, HBO, Henry Street Settlement and Summer Stage. Atito most recently directed an African Dance Vozolo System.
|
