Artistic Director
Isaac Akrong
Isaac hails from the Ga people of the coastal belt of Ghana. He completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Ghana, School of Performing Arts, and joined the Ghana Dance Ensemble. He has been a guest performer with Madagascar Slim, workshopping with Mor Thiam, and toured and recorded with many groups worldwide. Pursuing a PhD in Ethnomusicology at York University's Department of Music, his interests are in the ethnic music and people. He believes that, as humans, "We sing and dance through our lives on earth and beyond."
Board Members
Leonard Williams
Leonard Williams is a professional in the education system in Toronto.
Pablo Idahosa
Pablo is a Professor in the Division of Social Sciences at York University, where he also directs the African Studies Program, and teaches development Studies. He has written on development ethics, African political thought, the politics of ethnicity, and globalization and development.
Christina Akrong
Christina is a York Masters of Education student.
Advisors
Pablo Idahosa
Pablo is a Professor in the Division of Social Sciences at York University, where he also directs the African Studies Program, and teaches development Studies. He has written on development ethics, African political thought, the politics of ethnicity, and globalization and development.
Faculty from a variety of disciplines.
Founding Participants
Frederique Ulman-Gagné
Frederique has spent the past four years studying at Concordia University, Montreal, mostly in the department of Painting and Drawing. She is now completing her undergraduate degree in the Visual Arts department of York University and mainly working in the field of video installation. Her main interest is observing how motherhood seems to be a taboo inside of the feminist movement, and how feminist artists seem to avoid talking about themselves as mothers.
Cara Krueger
Cara moved to Toronto to begin her visual arts studies at York University in the fall of 2002. Over the past four years she has pursued her interest in all areas of printmaking and print theory. She is currently living in Toronto and hopes to enroll in grad studies next fall.
Kristin Force
Kristin Force received a Bachelor of Music degree from Brock University in 2003, where she studied alto saxophone. In 2004, she obtained her M.A. in Musicology from the University of Ottawa. Her Master's thesis dealt with the evolution of minimalism and audience response through the compositional techniques of La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. Kristin is currently pursuing her PhD in ethnomusicology at York where her current research focuses on audience response to films with soundtracks composed by Philip Glass, in addition to Glass's fusion of Eastern and Western compositional styles.
Bert Smith
Bert answered the call of the drum over twenty years ago. Originally from Jamaica, he was a member of the Gayap Rhythm Drummers, a percussion group based in Toronto during the 1980s. In the 1990s he become interested in the relationship between drumming and dancing, so he joined many African drum and dance groups in Toronto. Recently, he became a member of the African Dance Ensemble (ADE), where he hopes to continue to help with the promotion of African culture through drums, songs, and dances.
Guy Doucette
Guy Doucette is a recent graduate of the York University Theatre Studies ad Creative Ensemble Program. His recent credits include performing in and collectively creating KD and the BOMB, 2005 (Back Burner Productions), Passes, 2005 & I.F, 2006 (Joseph Green Studio Theatre), Let's Talk About Beds, 2007 (Back Burner Productions) and assistant directing for Julius Caesar 2006 (Word Smyth Theatre).
Jeff Stevenson
Jeff holds an Honours undergraduate degree in Theatre from York University and a degree in Education from the University of Ottawa. His experiences in the theatre world have landed him in several musicals, children's shows, Shakespeare plays and clown. Jeff is a graduate of the famed Second City conservatory program for improv and sketch comedy.
Beth Stevenson
Beth is a graduate of York with a major in theatre. She completed a Masters in Drama Therapy at Concordia University, and currently has her own practice as a creative arts therapist in Toronto at the "CBFL Health and Wellness Centre." She is currently taking on new clients.
Sky Juice
This band has been together since 2005. We all come from different backgrounds, and form eclectic fusion of African, Caribbean, jazz, and reggae styles. Newton, drummer and a singer, has performed at Jamaica Day Festival, Caribana, toured in East and South Africa and the Caribbean. Currently, his "Jamming on the Train" and "Be Humble" singles are being reviewed by several major radio stations. Alissa, graduate music student at York University, performed in many venues, including Havana Feelings, and Momo's Bistro, Drake Hotel, and The Great Hall at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. While living in South America, Alissa studied Cuban and Brazilian percussion. She is studying Middle Eastern and Ghanaian percussion and dance. Alexandra, the piano player and graduate music student at York University, has been playing for Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a pianist for several contracts and is currently teaching piano in Toronto. Inquiries about piano lessons can be directed to (416) 879-2416. Jessie Powers is currently doing her Masters in Ethnomusicology at York University. Her undergraduate was from Memorial University in Newfoundland. She is new to Toronto and looks forward to taking advantage of performing opportunities in GTA. Although Nadia has been singing for many years, the first Humanity in Harmony concert was her debut. She is studying vocals with Tammy Frederick. Byron, the bass player, is working with various international artists in Toronto. Daniel, the guitar player and music student at York University, plays jazz and reggae.
Alexandra Breede
Alexandra recently graduated from York University's Theatre program. Specializing in classical drama, some of her acting credits include Mary Magdalene in The Digby, Mary Magdalene, Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Andro mache in The Trojan Woman. in 2002 she wrote and produced The Mother Monologues; then spent a year in England studying physical theatre and classical acting at Northumbria University.
Zehra Leverman
Zehra is an accomplished Toronto actor who has had roles in theatre, television, and film. She hones her craft by continuing to study with leading Toronto acting coaches.
Sponsors
The African Studies Program
Department of English
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Arts
Departments of Music and Dance
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts
CIUT 89.5 FM
Music Africa
African Dance Ensemble (ADE) |
