A lifelong student of dance, TerriAnne Gutierrez has been studying and performing Middle Eastern Dance for over thirty years. TerriAnne is one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most well-known and sought after performers and teachers. She specializes in Modern Egyptian and American Cabaret, with stylistic influences from some of the forerunners of Egyptian Dance,[…]
Afia’s vision for transformative cultural healing across multi-ethnic, intergenerational communities has been an anchor for much of her life’s work. With roots born out of deep African Diasporic ethno musicological spiritual and cultural lineage in Jamaica, Afia has spearheaded many initiatives which bring women and youth into empowerment and voice. As an educator, Afia utilizes[…]
Simone LaDrumma has been composing and performing on hand drums since 1987. She has studied many different styles of drumming including Afro-Cuban, West African and Middle Eastern, and drumset. Simone was founder and Director of Ladies Don’t Drum, an all-female percussion ensemble. In 1991 Simone created “Drumming & The Holistic Expression of Rhythm,” a simple[…]
Vicki Noble is a Healer, Author, Artist, and Wisdom Teacher, Co-creator of The Motherpeace Tarot and author of eight books, including Shakti Woman and The Double Goddess. Vicki teaches in the Women’s Spirituality Masters Program at ITP in Palo Alto and travels internationally teaching Goddess and Tibetan Buddhist Dakini practices to women around the world.[…]
Ava’s joy of ecstatic union with spirit can be seen in her dance performance, her writing, and love for family, friends & community. Considered a “proverbial” artist Ava’s talents include choreographer/dancer, actor, drummer/musician, poet & videographer. Ava has studied many forms of dance and considers West African her forte. Ava has performed solo and toured[…]
Michele (Buffy) Drysdale has studied West African, Brazilian, Jamaican and other Caribbean dance forms for over 15 years. Since 1994 she has focused her studies on Cuban folkloric and popular dances. She has traveled to Brazil, Cuba, Canada, and California to study with master Cuban dancers from the Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, Los Muñequitos de[…]
Akiba Onada-Sikwoia has been participating in ceremony, conducting workshops and maintaining a healing practice for the past twenty-five years. Akiba’s Spiritual practices, coupled with knowledge that we are so much more than our physical bodies, have afforded her the gift to believe in the miraculous.
A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Lali started her musical training at the age of nine at the “Colegio Bellas Artes” in Maracaibo. Lali Mejía specializes primarily in the Afro-Venezuelan Folklore as well as other Latin American styles of music. She is a permanent band member of the Venezuelan Music Project (Venezuelan folk music) and the[…]
Leilani Birely, Hawaiian Priestess and ceremonialist, brings ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom to the community. She is the active mother of two girls. Graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax VA with a degree in Business, and a graduate of the Masters in Womyn’s Spirituality from New College in San Francisco. On Summer solstice[…]
Ojalá is a group of 6 talented women who combine a mixture of traditional Afro-Cuban folkloric music, contemporary and infectious funky rhythms, beautiful vocals and imaginative original songs. OJALÁ uses traditional rhythms and songs to express their own unique creative talents. Learn more at the Ojalá website. Carolyn Brandy, a groundbreaking Bay Area female percussionist,[…]
Eli PaintedCrow Native American (Yaqui) retired Army veteran. Mother of two veterans and grandmother of 8 grandchildren. Currently lives in merced California and devotes her time to bring awareness and clarity of militarism and its effects on human life. Eli’s speech at the Veterans for Peace 2006 National Conference is available here on YouTube.