Education & Community Engagement > Meet our Artists

Dre’ Anderson

DeAndre Anderson (He/His) Is a Seattle native through and true, ingrained in the community. Dre’s goal is to help people learn to metabolize trauma by utilizing the five pillars of hip-hop. As a philosopher, rapper, and actor, Dre performs under the moniker, Doc HighDr8 tha Philosoraptor. In 2014, Dre graduated from Seattle Pacific university with a double major in Philosophy and Performance Theatre. He then went on to get his M.A in Education from Antioch University and Islandwood’s inaugural cohort for the Urban Environmental Education program in 2016. Dre can be found blazing the stage at Unexpected Productions Theatre in Pike Place Market, where he is the director of the currently running Improvised Hip-Hopera: Love Revival. Dre is the developer of the Introduction to Hip Hop Fundamentals Curriculum, and Hogan Cup Coach for the students at Seattle Center School. Dre has a talent for connecting to an array of individuals from diverse backgrounds, creeds and beliefs. He specializes in encouraging growth in a fun, safe and engaging way. Dre is one of the most outgoing and gregarious teachers you will ever encounter.

Angie Bolton

Angie Bolton (she/her) has been an instructor with the STG Dance for Parkinson’s program since it began in 2008. She is an ACE certified instructor teaching Fitness for Living, a program she developed at Spectrum Dance Studio The class is focuses on people 40 years old and up. Some of her students are in their 80’s and many of them have exercised with her for over 10 years. Angie is an actress, singer, dancer and teaching artist. She is performer with Tickle Tune Typhoon an award winning children’s and family music group. Angie came to Seattle to study with the Bill Evans summer institute in 1979 and decided to stay. In the 40 years living here she has been a teacher for Powerful Schools and numerous other school residencies. Angie has performed for the Bathhouse Theatre, Alice B. Theatre, Village Theatre, Mirror Stage, Seattle Public Theatre, Arts West and numerous other venues.

Niyafath Cakpo

Niyafath Cakpo is an Afrobeat dancer from Benin Republic and has been teaching Afro beat in Seattle since 2017. Niyafath discovered her love for dance after arriving in the States at the age of 14. Her father’s company Gansango helped her unfold her passion for dance which led her to discover her love for Afro beat. Afro beat is a diverse style originating from Sub Saharan Africa. It is an evolution from Traditional African dance styles following the creation of Afro beat music. Throughout Niyafath’s dance career, she performed in Canada as an open stage dancer for one of the Nigeria biggest Artist “Burna Boy”. Besides performing, she teaches beginners and advanced level afro classes in different studios in Seattle and is looking to merge into teaching all around Washington and around the world. As she started to grow in her dance career, she decided to gravitate into her other passion which is her love for social work. Niyafath graduated with her Masters in Social work from the University of Washington. She strongly believes in the importance of human relationship and has the ability to address social problems while serving people in need. She’s incredibly passionate about the improvement of child and family conditions, especially for families experiencing complex circumstances mental health decline, poverty, and environmental barriers. She strives to empower individuals to become the best versions of themselves. She strongly believes in equity, advocating for silenced communities and working alongside those communities to implement strategies that will be successful. Niyafath believes in Dance Movement Therapy and is looking forward to merge both her passion to assist communities in need and her love of dance.

Shakiah

Shakiah is a Seattle-based emcee and choreographer. She enjoys fusing different genres of music and dance to broaden the scope, language and usage of hip-hop. As a choreographer, Shakiah saw over the Hip Hop program at NW Tap Connection and with that group her piece, "Hell You Talmbout", went viral with its pressing and vital message. As an emcee, she has collaborated with Gabriel Teodros, Rell Be Free, Debra Kendrick and more. Shakiah is inspired by her community in the South Sound and Tacoma area. Listen to some of her work on Spotify.

Kyle Danielson

Kyle is a Seattle based spoken word artist with Restoration of the Arts (ROTA) a non-profit performing arts organization (under the direction of Debra Kendrick) that utilizes the creative expression of the arts to reach the community. He enjoys the creative element of raw truth and transparency interlaced within his spoken word pieces. His artistry is intense, revelatory, relatable and provocative. He has an undeniable ability to use his art to capture emotions and confront your inside voice.

Ginevra Deianni

Ginevra Deianni has been working professionally in the Deaf community since the early 1990s. She joined the STG family when she moved to Seattle in 1997, and has been the volunteer ASL Coordinator for the past 16 years. She is a nationally certified interpreter who works in all settings, but has crafted a specialization in complex medical and theater/concert arenas where she finds parallels in the human experience of vulnerability, tragedy and joy. In her business life, Ginevra works at Amazon as a global leader in accommodations on the Center of Excellence team for Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees. She has built accommodation programs to support hiring D/deaf and neurodiverse perspectives in the workplace. She is most proud to have developed the first global sign language interpreting service for a major corporation, and to work locally with STG leadership on providing equal access to Deaf patrons at all three STG venues.

QuiQui Dominguez

Marquicia Dominguez (they/them), known as QuiQui to most, is a Director, Actor, and Teaching Artist in the Seattle area. In 2012 they received a B.F.A in theatre from Cornish College of the Arts and in 2018 received a Master’s in Education: Applied Behavior Analysis Programing and Instruction from Arizona State University. QuiQui has worked with companies such as ACT, Book-It, Greenstage, Seattle Repertory, and Seattle Shakespeare Company. Outside of teaching, QuiQui is a Licensed Assistant Behavioral Analyst where they use theatre and creativity to teach life skills to individuals with autism. Their desire is to create inclusive arts programs for all individuals, no matter that individual’s abilities.

Oriana Estrada

Oriana Estrada was born in Nicaragua, but raised in the vibrant central district of Seattle, Washington. She has loved music and dance since a young age and has studied, performed and taught with various Latinx dance groups in the PNW. She is currently the administrative director, as well as a musician, in a Caribbean steel pan ensemble known as The Seattle Steel Pan Project.

Oriana holds a Master's in Social Work administration and is adjunct faculty at Bellevue College, teaching Sociology and Cultural and Ethnic Studies.

Sydnii Hodge

Sydnii Hodge (she/her) started dancing when she was four years old and has maintained a love of the arts ever since. In her youth she participated in the productions of MAAFA put on by the Sankofa Theater and Macbeth put on by the UW Actors Group. She has been working with kids younger than her since she was in high school, mentoring middle school students to do better in school and extra-curricular activities. All while staying active in the arts by participating in Honor Choir as well as school plays. After graduating she worked in the educational field as an after- school program assistant through Puget Sound Educational Service District. She has found her passion in teaching and helping to inspire a love of dance and the arts in our youth. For the past two years she has spent her summers as a Group Leader for STG's AileyCamp.

Sadiqua Iman

Sadiqua Iman is a space holder, a director, teacher, healer, and performing artist. She founded the non-profit organization Earth Pearl Collective, a queer black woman social justice arts collective dedicated to healing communities through creative collaboration. Her most recent project was directing August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean at Chattanooga Theatre Centre in Tennessee in January 2020. Sadiqua Iman earned her Master's of Fine Arts in Arts Leadership at Seattle University and was awarded the 2019 Arc Fellowship award by 4Culture and used the funds to establish Nile’s Edge Healing Arts.

Nakeya Isabell

Nakeya Isabell is a native of Seattle, WA. She is one of nine children. She uses her voice, creativity, and compassion to spread hope. Nakeya is a former student athlete participating in basketball. She is a Cleveland High alum (2004) and Pepperdine University alum (2009). Currently, her title is a Case Manager and Success Coordinator at Cleveland High School. Nakeya continues her community outreach speaking within organizations utilizing her art to inform, motivate, and encourage. She released a spoken word album entitled “Love, Justice & Truth.” Nakeya says “I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world." The greatest gift has been connecting with people and creating safe spaces. My aspiration is to create impactful art that gives vision and words to my thoughts and experiences. My goal is to inspire generations to use their voices and be the pillars for our communities. Our stories are imperative to history. I will live full so that I can die empty. @nakeya.isabell, @nisabell3, FB: Nakeya Isabell

Aishé Keita

Raw vulnerability, exquisite poise and wide emotional range are some words used to describe Aishé Keita on stage. Aishé is a two-time award-winning actress. She is based in Seattle, WA but has been seen on stages throughout the US. Aishé appeared in Seattle Magazine's 2019 issue as must-see artist. Where she also received recognition for her work at Seattle Repertory Theater and The Guthrie Theater for the co-production of Familiar by Danai Gurira. Aishe's first solo show, Griot, produced by Earth Pearl Collective premiered in 2018 and still tours today. She holds a B.F.A from Cornish College of the Arts in Original Works (playwriting, acting, directing) with a minor in applied theater. Aishé has taught healing through creative expression at Gig Harbor Women Correctional Facilities for five years and currently teaches acting/improv to first year students at her alma mater, Cornish.

Neve Mazique

NEVE (they/he) is a multiply Disabled multigender femme fop mixed-race {Indigenous} Black Choreographer/Dancer, Composer/Singer, Writer/Actor, Painter/Model, Hoodoo Voodoo Magician, and Performance Artist based in Duwamish (Seattle) and other Unceded Coast Salish Territories (Puget Sound), though they hail from other waters, growing up in occupied Lenni Lenape land (New Jersey). NEVE creates body-based storytelling through a mixture of dance, music, and theatre particularly for people with body, space, and place-based trauma, in order to continue our true evolution towards liberation. Vice President/President-Elect of the Dance Educator’s Association of Washington. Selected participant in the Intiman Theatre Emerging Artist program 2018 and 2020, cast in ensemble devised THE RACE 2020. 2020/21 Pina Bausch Fellow for Dance and Choreography. Anarchist, Abolitionist, AntiCapitalist. Unitarian Universalist. Vodouisant. Cofounder of Access-Centered Movement, Mouthwater, and Lover of Low Creatures LLC. Neve is currently an arts writer contributing poet at The South Seattle Emerald. He has also been published in Curve, The Black Scholar, Everyday Feminism, and MaximumRockNRoll among others. Levar Burton, Reading, and Rainbow Lover. Great Great Grandchild of the Author of The Velveteen Rabbit. A river fairy and a merqueer and chip of hard sap shimmering down to the bottom if there ever was one. They love drinking wine, tea, water, tears, other fluids, and sinking into the dance. He is not afraid to rescue you from the sunken place or assist you in seeing her more clearly. They are polyamorously gay married, and they talk to animals, including their two King Charles Spaniels, but the talking to animals came first and shed light on future relating. Much like the aforementioned rabbit, they are magic, mutable, and real.

Follow them and support on:

Instagram, Twitter, Patreon, Facebook, YouTube

@nevebebad & nevebebad.com, AllMyLinks.com/nevebebad

Elba Moise

Elba Moise is a bilingual Afro-Latina and proud daughter of immigrant padres de Haiti y El Salvador. Born and raised in Houston Tejas, she is an education PhD student at the University of Washington (UW), and works for UW’s Center for Teaching and Learning. She is an actor and facilitator for UW's Theater for Change Program, which uses Theater of the Oppressed, an interactive theater approach, as a pedagogical tool creating transformational learning experiences around systems of power and privilege. She has worked with youth and adults, locally and abroad, for several years. For Elba, educación is a liberating tool that can guide learners to increase consciousness of positionalities and societal issues for change. Elba cares for the souls of students and acknowledges students’ diverse lived experiences as assets to the classroom.

Tia Nache` Yarbrough

Seattle Native, Educator, and Spoken Word artist Tia Nache` has been sharing her gift of truth and power throughout the Seattle community and beyond for almost two decades. Her passion for social justice and spirituality often serve as themes for many of her poetic pieces. As a teaching artist, Tia Nache’ has facilitated and led a number of professional developments and trainings for school districts, and community organizations. She is a believer of speaking truth to power and being a living example of the message, she shares.

A dynamic orator, Tia Nache’ has shared the stage with a number of national recording Artist, as well as Social Media influencers. Whether its writing tributary poems for gospel icons like, The Clark Sisters or Marvin Sapp, opening for Dr. Maya Sotoro Ng, (Barack Obama’s Sister) or KevOnStage Studios, Tia Nache` is using her voice to influence the heart of others. A deep passion for social justice and community, Tia Nache` served as one of the community organizers and leaders, for the “We Want To Live” March & rally, attended by more than 10,000 people, gaining national attention during the protests that swept the nation on the heels of the country’s racial reawakening in 2020.

Her artistic style and performance presence has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers. Her voice is only rivaled by the weight of her message. Her poetry transforms and transcends space, leaving those who listen longing for more.

Currently serving as an assistant principal for Seattle Public Schools, she is also an advocate for education and youth voice. When Tia Nache` is not writing and performing, she is spending time with her loving husband and three daughters. She is in the process of releasing her children’s book, and a work of selected poems in the Spring of 2021.

Aaron Reader

Aaron Reader, an Oakland native is a practitioner, poet, activist and educator, with extensive experience in diversity, equity & inclusion in higher education. He has served higher education in a number of capacities over the last decade from teaching, presenting on social justice and education equity, and currently is the Vice President of Student Services at Highline College. In addition to his work in higher education he has a passion for poetry and spoken word. Aaron has been identified as workshop leader, facilitator and speaker for colleges, summits and conferences. Aaron has been recognized as a local spoken word artist who has a powerful, emotional, real, and conscious style.

Chelsey Richardson

Chelsey Richardson is a mother, teacher, and poet. She grounds her work in the notion that her role as an artist is to tell the bittersweet truth. “Her writing requires you to think critically and examine the world in which we live. She is a writer that truly represents independent poetic expression.” – CD Forum for Arts and Ideas. In 2019-2020 she was awarded the role of "Master Poet" by The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, and is a member of The Humanities WA, Speakers Bureau. She released her debut poetry book, All Water has Perfect Memory in February of 2021. You may have seen or heard her work in Poetry on the Bus, The South Seattle Emerald’s Fiction Friday, The Carter Center’s Forum on Human Rights in Atlanta GA or Reimagine Seattle. Look out for her upcoming work in Natasha Marin’s second edition of Black Imagination. Chelsey holds a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington and Master's in Teaching English Education. She currently works as an educator in the Federal Way School District.

Yirim Seck

Yirim Seck is a wordsmith MC whose music both reflects the golden era of hip-hop and holds a roadmap to the future. Yirim is not only held firm by his roots -- bridging the illustrious musical legacy of Seattle’s Central District and his family’s rich Senegalese heritage -- but propels his insight and drive into a sound and a message all-too-relevant for today. Known for his searing lyricism and impassioned performance, Yirim Seck has become one of Seattle’s most well-respected and sought-after MCs. Building on his critically acclaimed debut HEAR ME OUT in 2009, Yirim has performed at venues as diverse as community festivals, upscale nightclubs, college campuses and company parties, connecting with audiences across borders and delivering global discourse through music. His music critiques and calls out shots from the perspective of a dedicated father and community activist and empowers listeners through his gift of storytelling and honest reflection.

Den’ea Simone

Den'ea Simone is the Co-Programmer and Production Stage Manager for the long running Seattle Parks and Recreation, Teen Summer Musical. Ms. Simone has more than 20 years experience with Stage Managing theatre productions and concert shows for National musicians such as Gerald Albright, David Sanborn, Sheila E., Boney James, Marcus Miller, the late great George Duke and more. Den'ea is a board member of the high school dance competition, Bubblin' Brown Sugar as well as the Event Coordinator. Extending her insight of Seattle’s talented youth, she serves as a consultant to the Seattle Seahawks Dance Teams' annual camp. In 2018 the socially conscious rap group, Black Stax, granted Den'ea Simone the opportunity to accomplish a longtime dream of becoming a Tour Manager.

Ms. Simone resides in her hometown of Seattle with her husband, Francis Williams and their three children.

Nina Williams-Teramachi

Nina Williams-Teramachi (they/them) is a Japanese- American multidisciplinary artist and educator originally from Sapporo, Japan and Portland, Oregon working in Seattle. Nina recently worked on multiple shows as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Dublin Fringe Festival in the UK and had their Off-Broadway debut with the Obie-Award winning production, Suicide Forest. Nina also works with students on a variety of different styles of theatre and visual art all across various residencies across Washington state. Nina believes that students of all backgrounds should be represented in the materials and be presented an opportunity to create their own stories and let their lives inform their work. More at NinaWilliamsTeramachi.com

Yaw Amponsah

Yaw Amponsah is a master percussionist from Ghana. Coming from a musical family from West Africa he is at home in the world of rhythm. A versatile player, Yaw can play many styles of music from Ghana including Highlife, Agbadja, Kpanlogo and more. His specialty is the music of the multi-part percussion ensembles of the Ashanti people. These sets of drums and corresponding rhythms can be made up of eight or more independent percussion parts. He is the leader of Anokye Agofomma and a member of Manghis Khan quartet and has been a lead drummer with Gansango Music and Dance for more than a decade.

Jessica Evotia Andrews-Hall

Jessica Evotia Andrews-Hall is an award-winning pianist who is in demand as a collaborative performer, teaching artist and arts advocate. Her past teachers include Michi North, Dr. Peter Mack, Dr. Rebecca Steele, Francis Walker-Slocum and Dr. Karen Walwyn. Under their guidance, she has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall, the White House and Benaroya Hall. In 2011, Jessica became a Seattle Symphony teaching artist where she was an early education childhood specialist and created music curriculum for babies and preschool. She also led Carnegie Hall Link Up residencies that taught hundreds of students to perform along-side the orchestra. She also helped homeless families write and record songs with Seattle Symphony musicians for their children during The Lullaby Project. In 2013, she was featured in a traveling museum exhibit called Treemonisha: Celebrating African Americans in Classical Music. In 2019, Jessica became a pianist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and recently completed her third tour with the Seattle Opera. As an avid arts advocate, Jessica uses music to inspire, motivate and empower people. She is the owner of JAM Studios which is a large vibrant piano studio where she teaches private and group lessons for ages two to senior citizens. Jessica is on faculty at Music Works Northwest where she created a popular Parent & Me group piano class, and her Creative Keyboard summer camps sell out every year. As a Steinway teacher and educational partner, Jessica has been teaching piano for over a decade and her students have gone on to music conservatories, competed on nationwide televised competitions, performed on Broadway in NYC, and pursued professional music careers. Jessica has an equal passion for providing quality arts education and lighting up the concert stage and she feels extremely fortunate to be doing both every single day! www.jessicaandrewsmusicstudio.com

Travis Corwin

Bio coming soon!

Justin S Davis

Justin S Davis is one of Seattle’s most in demand guitarists. Initially known for his work as the lead guitarist for Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs, Justin has gone on to perform with some of the world’s finest musicians, including Mike McCready and Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, Shawn Smith of BRAD, Santana’s drummer Michael Shrieve, Alan White of YES and The Plastic Ono Band, Brendan Hill of Blues Traveler, Howard Leese of Heart, Chad Channing of Nirvana, the Seattle Symphony, and many others. Justin has been a featured performer on the stages of Benaroya Hall, McCaw Hall, The Paramount, The 5th Avenue Theatre, The Moore, The Neptune Theatre, The Showbox, and he has toured the U.S.A. many times, both with his own bands and as a hired sideman.

In addition to his busy performance schedule, Justin loves teaching music and is passionate about the craft of songwriting. Teaching is fulfilling, joyful work that he has done with success since 1999 and has been, for him, a constant reminder that music is a gift. “When a student reaches past a previous goal, writes a first song, or their eyes light up with a sudden new understanding, it makes everything feel fresh again for me too,” Justin says. “I feel incredibly grateful to be able to teach and share with my students.”

Justin is the author of The Guitar Player’s Notebook, a theory primer for creative guitarists, and his formal musical training includes having earned a BA in Music from Central Washington University for classical guitar performance, Jazz guitar performance studies at Cornish College of the Arts, and Flamenco guitar lessons with Miguel Serrano in Salamanca, Spain. Justin’s most valuable training, however, comes from being out there, writing music and performing. It’s his real-world experience that is often the biggest benefit to students who want to become professional musicians, or who just want to sound better when jamming with friends.

Learn more about Justin online at JustinSDavis.com.

Jeff Fielder

Jeff Fielder has been working as a professional musician for 25 years. Working for the last 10 as a touring guitarist for a number of national and global acts. These include being the guitarist and musical director for Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens Of The Stone Age) for 10 years, and the guitarist and co-producer for Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) for 8 years. Jeff most recently landed a touring guitar slot with Indigo Girls for the now postponed summer tour.

Jeff has been the Musical Director for countless events big and small over the years including at the Royal Room, the EMP, The Triple Door and more, and have more recently gotten into record producing and film score, including contributing intro music for the Seattle Seahawks.

He was also often an integral part of Paul Allan’s band collective the Under thinkers. Trading guitar leads with Paul and very special guests, including Joe Walsh, Dave Grohl, Derek Trucks and countless others.

Jeff has appeared on Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown, performed in Duff McKegan's (Guns and Roses) bio/concert film "It's So Easy" (Netflix). And last year recorded with legendary producer Eddie Kramer.

In Seattle, He has worked with local treasures like Sera Cahoone, Ian Moore, and Wayne Horvitz, as well as recently with Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, collaborating on some recordings of the music of the late great Shawn Smith.

With the changing business and culture landscapes ahead, Jeff Fielder is sure to be at the forefront of whatever the new music world holds in store.

Faustine Hudson

Faustine Hudson is a Drummer, Traveler, Meditator, Mentor, Non-Profit Organizer and Ugandan Exchange Musician. Faustine is currently touring with Josiah Johnson (formerly of the Head and the Heart) and putting more direct focus on ‘How Rhythm Heals’ through facilitating Drum Meditations across the country.

Music has been a point of connection and expression for much of Faustine’s life and continues to grow and expand her consciousness in the most remarkable ways. She has toured/recorded with Damien Jurado, the Maldives, Chain and the Gang, Shelby Earl, Tilson XOXO, The Grizzled Mighty, The Young Evils, Mikey & Matty and many others. www.faustinehudson.com

Art Koshi

Art Koshi is a pianist from Honolulu, HI, who has been accompanying ballet and modern dance classes since 1997. Art works as a dance accompanist for Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Theatre Group, The University of Washington, Dance Fremont, and All That Dance. In addition to the piano, he plays percussion, guitar, and bass. Art has had the honor of being the musician for AileyCamp since 2016. He has also accompanied improv theater groups such as Jet City Improv and On the Spot, with whom he’s performed in improv festivals throughout the US in Honolulu, Chicago, Austin, & Arizona.

Michael Hepburn

Michael is a well-documented recording artist. In the mid-and-late 1970's Michael’s music achieved worldwide professional recognition through the commercial success of his band, "Pleasure." Michael's compositions have been featured in the soundtrack for the movie, “House Party” (“Kid vs. Play, the Battle”), Janet Jackson's 1997 release, "The Velvet Rope" (“Free Xone”), and Will Smith’s 2002 release, “Born to Reign” (“1000 Kisses”).

Michael continues his songwriting, recording production and arranging, and his keyboard and vocal performance work in the Seattle area, and in 2016 launched his group’s release, "Now Is the Time," on Pleasure Records, available worldwide.

Michael is also a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division’s Land Use Section of the King County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. He was admitted to practice in 1984.

Kenny McDougald

Kenny McDougald (Seattle, WA) is a drum instructor at Seattle Drum School of Music.

Kenny is a second-generation career drummer. He began at Garfield High School playing in the award-winning Jazz Ensemble under legendary Director/Bandleader Clarence Acox. He then attended Berklee College of Music, majoring in Jazz Drumming and Music Theory, until he launched into a 4-year international touring and recording career with Kenny G at the peak of his popularity. Kenny McDougald is credited as songwriter for "Champagne" on Kenny G's 7X Platinum album Duotones. Kenny has also recorded with artists Phillip Bailey, Kirk Whalum and Angela Bofil. In the Seattle area, Kenny worked with Mark Seales, Chuck Deardorf, Korla Wygal, Josephine Howell, Darren Motamedy, and the late singer Sam Smith. Kenny transitioned into music instruction at Donn Bennett Drum School in the late 90's, and has been teaching at Seattle Drum School of Music since 2018. Kenny's teaching emphasis is on meeting the student where they are, at any age or skill level. He covers a variety of subjects ranging from rudimental and ear training studies, to all modern drumming styles. This is his first year with AileyCamp.

Mashud Neindow

Mashud Neindow - Born in Tamale, Ghana, Mashud arrived in the United States through the Homowo African Arts and Culture from Accra. A drummer since the age of six, Neindow was a member of the National Dance Company of Ghana for 13 years. He started building drums at the age of ten, learning from his father and continues this tradition today when he is not performing. He has toured all over the world. Highlights include Africa Contemporary Festival in Nigeria, Expo 2000 in Germany, the 1996 US Olympic Games, and the Harare International Festival in Zimbabwe as well as performances for President Bill Clinton, Dr. Maya Angelou and The Queen of England. Neindow now resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife and children, where he continues his family tradition of Lunga (Talking Drum) drumming music. This is Mashud's 4th year teaching at AileyCamp.

Jovino Santos Neto

Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a master pianist, composer and arranger, is among the top Brazilian musicians in the world. Currently based in Seattle, Washington, he has throughout his career been closely affiliated with the Brazilian master Hermeto Pascoal. He was an integral part of Pascoal's group from 1977 to 1992, where he fine-tuned his artistry, performing around the world and co-producing several legendary records. Jovino’s personal style is a creative blend of energetic grooves, deep harmonies, telepathic improvisation, lyrical melodies and great ensemble playing, always inspired and informed by the colorful richness of Brazilian music.

Camila Recchio

Camila Recchio is a Seattle based artist whose collaborations include Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Asher Roth, Watsky, Sol, Sam Lachow and many others. She is a singer, songwriter, producer and currently building a studio on Whidbey Island where she will also be the lead engineer for recording sessions. For the last decade (pre covid) she traveled the world performing for audiences from India to Ireland to Australia and many places in between. You can find her original music on any streaming platform under Camila Recchio, or her band (with producer Kush Mody) called Feed The Biirds.

Angela Rinaldi

Angela has been a dance musician in the Seattle area since 1979 at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington, Spectrum Dance Theater, Dance Fremont and the Summer Dance Lab at Whitman College, to name a few. As a trained dancer, herself, Angela's extensive dance background has given her great insight as an accompanist. She has been a musical theater Teaching Artist since 2003 at Seattle Children’s Theater and has been accompanying Dance for Parkinson’s classes for the past 10 years. Along with performing professionally as an actor, she has composed over 250 songs for Variety Plus Theater, which she cofounded with her husband in 1995 - www.varietyplus.org. As a recording artist, she has four Ballet CDs available in iTunes, Apple music, Spotify, etc., along with original Meditation Music on You Tube. She is a proud Union Member of Musician’s Association Local-76.

Shaina Shepherd

Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as front-woman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy to being a soloist with the classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres.

Sol

Sol always felt like a low-key Haitian-American kid, who stayed true to his name and avoided the thirst trappings of fame even in the moments of critical acclaim. In the beginning there were some EPs that made the rounds, and when he had put in his 10,000 hours, it happened. He became No. 1 on the US iTunes hip-hop chart, No. 4 globally with the 2012 masterwork Yours Truly. His SoundCloud streams shot to eight figures, then poof… he dipped and left the industry executives going straight to voicemail. He had been awarded the Bonderman Fellowship and in toured the far reaches of civilization with nothing but a carry-on bag. Africa, India, South America, back home to Haiti; his field notes became the project Eyes Open. Sol followed that with another four-course musical meal: The Headspace Traveler, in 2016 which included a headlining 22-city U.S. tour. Before you could refresh your browser he was back in the Caribbean watching global football on satellite TVs. In 2019, came the full length album Soon Enough, and in 2021 Sol once again went against the grain by releasing his project SUPPLY PACK exclusively in the physical form. Sol is also a photographer and artist mentor to Seattle-based youth.

Aria Storm

Aria Storm was born in Pasadena, CA and currently resides in Seattle, WA. She holds a BA in the Composition and Theory of Music from UCLA, where she also studied modern art. She has enjoyed being a multi-instrumentalist dance musician since 2000, working with Seattle Theater Group, various dance studios and Universities across the west coast. She is a singer/songwriter/producer, currently working on her third album with husband Kai Ariel, performing and recording as the duo Ariel Storm. Aria is an abstract painter, having sold her works through cafes and galleries. You may view her paintings and listen to her original music at www.arielstorm.com.

Lashon Watson, Guidance Counselor

Lashon Watson, MA, LMHC (Seattle, WA) provides support to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, AileyCamp site directors and staff, presenting lectures on adolescent psychological and social growth & development, and comprehensive support to teaching artists. Lashon is owner of a private practice, Watson Therapeutic & Wellness Center. Prior to his master’s degree and becoming a licensed counselor, he earned a BFA in theater with a minor in psychology from Seattle University, all the while taking on projects as a stage and independent film actor, performing arts educator, and teaching artist with various touring programs. Lashon taught as an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University Seattle, where he’s earning a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Lashon enjoys traveling, listening to favorite music, watching movies, eating vegetarian/vegan foods, and investing time with friends and family. This is Lashon’s fifth year working with AileyCamp, Seattle.

Angela Austin-Chappelle, Guidance Counselor

Angela Austin-Chappelle (Seattle, WA) is a 7th grade school counselor at Mercer Middle School in Seattle in which she has had the privilege of serving as the counselor since 2013. She received her bachelor’s degree from a Historically Black College and University, Grambling State University, in elementary education. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she stepped into her first educational experience as an elementary school teacher in Texas. From this fantastic experience, Angela decided to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling which would allow her to inspire children to do their personal best in school, the community, and in life while being able to navigate barriers as they encounter them. Besides counseling, Angela loves spending time with her family, staying physically active, and trying new restaurants! Angela is excited to work with all the scholars and families at AileyCamp and looks forward to meeting all of you. This is her first year with AileyCamp.

Anuhea Brown

Anuhea Brown is an emerging actor, playwright, and activist earning her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Theatre with a notable minor in Playwriting and Directing at Cornish College of the Arts. Notable collaborations include Seattle Shakespeare Company, Live Girls Theatre, and One Coast Collaboration. Her new work has been workshopped at Live Girls Theatre as well as Cornish College of the Arts' Annual New Works Festival in 2019. Anuhea's original work focuses on creating stories for marginalized communities such as the brown queer experience. Anuhea Brown is a proud Hawaiian Portuguese Filipino womxn that hopes to decolonize theatre and create a theatrical space that is fearless, daring, and inclusive.

Samantha Canela

Samantha Canela (she/her) is a proud mixed latinx artist-creative-type and San Diego native currently exploring South Korea as an English teacher, learning about the world, and deepening her work as an educator. She’s a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts where she majored in Theatre with an emphasis in Original Works. Her most recent projects include assistant directing both Juan Palmieri with Thriving Artists and El Niño de Cabeza/The Upside Down Boy for Book-It’s educational tour. As a performer, she was last seen playing Medjo in The Great Inconvenience with Annex theatre and understudying for The Prince in The Little Prince at the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Additionally, Samantha has worked as a Teaching Artist for Seattle Theatre Group's Disney Musicals In Schools.

Faith Howes

Faith Howes (she/her) is a theatre educator and performer who has taught and performed with theatre companies across the United States and internationally in Canada, Japan, India, and the UK. She’s worked with companies such as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Disney Theatricals, Warner Bros. Pictures, The Brit School, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Seattle Children's Theatre. Faith is passionate about arts education, arts outreach, and improvised musical theatre. faithmargarethowes.com

Cassidy Huff

Cassidy Huff (she/her) is an eighteen-year-old actress, singer-songwriter, best-selling author, and voice-over artist from Seattle, WA. Cassidy has performed on stages all over the world, including the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and Lincoln Center in New York City, and she is looking forward to pursuing her BFA in Musical Theater at AMDA in Los Angeles starting in the Fall of 2020! Cassidy has participated in several of Seattle Theatre Group’s (STG) programs and events including performing with Maya Rudolph at the DOORS Fundraiser in 2019, performing in More Music @ The Moore in 2019, participating in the Young Ambassador cohort for two years, and volunteering with the Sensory Friendly Performances at The Paramount Theatre and STG + MCP In Hospitals (a partnership with Melodic Caring Project). Cassidy is thrilled to be continuing her journey with STG through the Broadway Inclusion Program as a Teaching Artist! Cass has recently become a best-selling author with a book that she co-authored called Becoming An Exceptional Leader, and you can catch Cass in the new season of Dreamworks “Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy” available on Netflix.

Amberlee Joers

Amberlee Joers (she/her) endeavors to build and support greater equity, accessibility, and inclusion in the arts through her work as an arts administrator, teaching artist, and theatre artist.

Most recently, she was Seattle Theatre Group's (STG) Education Manager, overseeing programs such as Disney Musicals In Schools, a free musical theatre program for Title I elementary schools in partnership with Disney Theatrical Group, and the Broadway Inclusion Program, a free musical theatre program for disabled and/or neurodivergent community members of all ages and their families and caregivers. Her other work at STG includes collaborating with Teaching Artists to create a free library of digital arts content for STG's Art Sessions program, supporting Sensory Friendly & Inclusive Performances in partnership with Sensory Access, creating theatre arts programming for refugee students in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and STG+MCP (Melodic Caring Project) in Hospitals program that brings local and national artists to hospital patients.

Amberlee recently served on the Education Materials Team in collaboration with Seattle Children’s Theatre to create a free Active Audience Guide for A Kids Play About Racism, which includes curated activities as a resource for families to learn and engage on the topic of racism. She has also facilitated professional development workshops and events for educators and teaching artists and has taught with Seattle Children's Theatre, Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE program, and Youth Theatre Northwest, among others.

She received her B.A. from Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of Washington's Teaching Artist Training Lab and Creative Dance Center's Summer Institute for Teachers, which focuses on brain compatible methodology through movement. Amberlee strives to foster arts environments and experiences where people can connect, create, and celebrate.

Adrienne Mendoza

Adrienne Mendoza (she/her) is a theater and opera stage manager based in Seattle. She is passionate about equity and inclusion, and bringing those values to the spaces she’s in. STG Credits include: More Music at the Moore 2020, DANCE This 20th Anniversary (2018), DANCE This 2019, Disney Musicals in Schools 2019 (Seattle Theater Group). Other credits include: Public Works: As You Like It, Nina Simone: Four Women, Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep); The Elixir of Love, Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, Eugene Onegin, The Falling and the Rising, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Seattle Opera); And in This Corner: Cassius Clay, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mwindo (Seattle Children’s Theatre); The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Kiss Me, Kate, Mamma Mia!, Holiday Inn, Ragtime, Paint Your Wagon, A Night With Janis Joplin, How to Succeed in Business... (5th Avenue Theatre)

Mara Palma

Mara Elissa Palma (she/her) is a teaching artist, writer, and multi-passionate person. Originally from the Philippines, she calls Seattle and Los Angeles home. Mara’s teaching experience includes the Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, Center Theatre Group, Seattle Theatre Group, and Seattle Public Theater. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Studies and Political Science at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. She is also a Creative Consultant, which means she helps aspiring artists how to figure out if a creative career is their calling in order to set up a firm foundation for a long fulfilling career, write their own hero’s story, and learn how to have a productive conversation with family and friends. Connect with her: www.marapalma.com @marapalma.creative

Teague Parker

Teague M. Parker (he/him) is an actor, playwright, improviser, producer, and teaching artist. A graduate from Western Washington University, he received a BA in Theatre with concentrations in Acting and Playwriting. He founded Come Up Productions which highlights up-and-coming artists, while bringing Free Theatre & Live Events to the Washington community. As a teaching artist, he brings Improv for wellness workshops/classes/training to various groups, organizations, and people looking to develop a better love and awareness of themselves. Teague has performed around the country and internationally in plays such as Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks, won the KCACTF Region VII Award for best full-length play, and provides Improv workshops & masterclasses ranging from local theaters including Seattle Theatre Group, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and VillageTheatre: Kidstage, to graduate programs such as University of Florida. His goal is to unite artist and audiences to form mindful communities.

Brodrick Santeze Ryans

Brodrick Santeze Ryans (He, Him) is currently serving as the Education Coordinator at Seattle Children’s Theatre, supporting the Drama School, Community Engagement and Arts Based Learning Programs. Brodrick is a current 2020 TYA/USA Emerging Leader in TYA Fellowship. He is an arts leader, actor, teaching artists and podcast founder and host. His podcasts TIMEOUT w/ Brodrick is dedicated to bridging the gap between BIPOC culture, creative art forms and educational theatre. Brodrick strongly believes in the work of arts education. “It is through arts education that we can inspire, direct and implement creative change in young people and how they move through society. It is our job as artists and educators to help young people tell their stories.” Brodrick’s background as a performer helped him to morph into the position of teaching artists and coordinator. He has worked as the Operations Coordinator for the School of Social Work at The University of Alabama, a tour director and actor for Missoula Children’s Theatre, and as a professional freelance actor and artist. Brodrick holds a degree in Behavioral Sciences and Humanities from The University of Mobile, where he took classes focusing on Music, Theatre, Education, and Communications. Some of his past credits include; The Wiz, Dreamgirls, Disney’s Newsies, Footloose, Ragtime, Carmen Ghia in The Producers, Major Metcalf in Mousetrap and Sweaty Eddie in Sister Act. “Our future success is dependent on the work that we are doing with young people now.”

Instagram: @i3rodier – Personal; @timeoutbrodrick – Podcast; @blacksouthernvegan – Foodie Brodrick’s Podcast Links: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud

Brad Walker

Brad Walker (he/him) is an actor, director, and teaching artist. Seattle born and raised, he is an alumnus of the University of Washington, where he studied Theatre and Communications. Brad has directed shows with Taproot Theatre Company, Second Story Repertory, Pork Filled Productions, Twelfth Night Productions, and school plays at Bryant Elementary, McDonald International, and Sacajawea Elementary. While Brad loves to direct, he works predominantly in theatre as an actor. He has performed with Seattle Children's Theatre, Book-It Rep, Taproot Theatre Company, Village Theatre, Harlequin Productions, and StoryBook Theater. He currently teaches with Seattle Theatre Group’s Disney Musicals In Schools program and collaborates with educators to create sustainable theatre arts programs. www.walkerbrad.com.

Jazz Brown

Jazz Brown is an autodidact who uses acrylic paint to create vivid, expressive compositions. His artistic approach presents intense vibration through contrasting hues, shapes, and textures. He is inspired by both the Minimalism art movement and the Bebop jazz offspring from the 1960s. Brown describes his technique as "consciousnesses on canvas."

Inquires can be made via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Romson Regarde Bustillo

Romson Regarde Bustillo is a Pacific Northwest Artist with a rich layered background. Born in the Philippines on the large multi-ethnic/multi-faith island of Mindanao; his family immigrated to the United Sates in 1978. He is a 2018 Artist Trust Fellowship recipient.

Instagram @romsonbustillo

Ari Glass

Ari Glass is a painter and designer born and raised in Seattle. He currently lives and works in Seattle’s South End, one of the most culturally diverse places in the United States. In his works, Ari tells a story about his ideas of “The King” and “The Kingdom.” He deals with concepts and stories of historical and fictional kings, queens and deities that he feels a personal connection with. The idea is that everyone is a sovereign ruler in their own kingdom, empowering the artist and the viewer. Ari uses gold as his primary medium, the element that has represented royalty and divinity since time immemorial. As a self-taught artist, Ari regularly demonstrates how art has a positive effect on people in Seattle and the world right now. Ari has shown work at Gallery 2312, Bellevue Arts Museum, King Street Station, The Paramount Theatre and The Pacific Tower, painted prominent murals in South Seattle and taught classes at The Center School, Franklin High School, Seward Park Clay Studio and more. He has been creating artwork his whole life and will never quit.

Inquires can be made via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Aramis O. Hamer

Aramis O. Hamer is a visual artist and muralist living in Seattle, WA. Her subject matter is inspired by the cosmos, music, nature, divine femininity, and the complexities throughout the Black culture. From a very young age she always loved to create, but at the age of fifteen she discovered her love for acrylic paints. With the supportive art community in the Pacific Northwest, Aramis has been able to exhibit her colorful creations at many different exhibitions in the greater Seattle area- including the EMP Museum, Paramount Theatre, Martyr Sauce Gallery, Columbia City Gallery, and more. In 2019, she was awarded the Cornish College of Arts Neddy Award in the painting category. As a self-taught artist, Aramis lets the pull of her imagination be her guide. Her adventure is just beginning, and she invites others to join her on this journey.

Learn more about Aramis’ work at aohamer.com.

Margie Morris

Margie Morris is a Raven/Frog clan Tlingit from Alaska who is currently a resident in the Pacific Northwest. She has been hand making elk hide drums with her intricate and detailed form line designs for over 30 years. In addition, Ms. Morris has been studying with master artists and cultural leaders in the areas of song, dance, carving and regalia making. Her work is found in Native Artist Markets in Washington State including at Folklife Festival, Daybreak Star, Evergreen State Community College Longhouse, Duwamish Longhouse, Kirshner Museum, Celebration in Juneau, Alaska Federation of Native in Anchorage, and in New York and DC at the National Museum of the American Indian. She loves creating new designs and to remind people that, “ Natives are not the past; We are still here and carrying on our traditional art.”

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Jessica Rycheal

Jessica Rycheal is a multi-disciplinary Storyteller, Photographer, and Creative Director from Macon, Georgia. Her work embraces vulnerability as an act of resistance, as she weaves themes of healing, resilience, and self-preservation across a loom of visual arts and spoken word. She has been featured in the Northwest African American Museum, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, NPR, Seattle Times, and City Arts Magazine.

Learn more about Jessica’s work at jessicarycheal.com.

Maria Luisa Guillen Valdovinos

Maria Luisa Guillen Valdovinos (Poesia Mariarte) (she/her/they) is a visual creative thinker/artist, illustrator & graphic designer, writer, educator, art therapist and Indigenous Rights observer in environmental, food, and social justice movements. Based in occupied Coast Salish Territories with Art ingrained in cultural experience; she graduated in 2010 from the University of Washington in Bio-Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Maria was born in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero Mexico and after studying graffiti in Lima, Peru in 2009 with Jorge Miyagui & drawing flowers in Biology projects, began building creatively in cultural political movements. A Published Writer featured in “Chapter 9: Travels of a Diaspora Community: From La Sierra Madre Y Tierra Caliente to the Pacific Northwest” MEXICAN-ORIGIN FOODS, FOODWAYS, AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: A DECOLONIAL PERSPECTIVES, The University of Arkansas Press 2017; and an academic publication “Xin Fronteras” with Seattle Journal for Social Justice Seattle University School of Law. Maria loves flowers and all things creatively expressive.

Angelina Villalobos

Angelina Villalobos, pseudonym 179, grew up in Seattle, Washington within a mosaic of cultures and ideas. Having been raised Americanized Mexican Catholic, Angelina’s work mixes the elements of her upbringing along with her interests to create a very unique style exclusive to her personality. Angelina received her Associate of Applied Science from Seattle Central Community College Graphic Design Program in 2008, but discovered she liked the tangibility of creating art by hand rather than the distant world of computers. The inspiration for her body of work are stories humans have created to explain the unknown; tales about animals and their wit especially peak her interest. In combining these elements, Angelina creates a fairy-tale land filtered through the eyes of an anime and comic book lover.

Learn more about Angelina's work at onesevennine.myportfolio.com.

Tariqa Waters

Curator for RE:DEFINITION: Born in Virginia, Waters developed an early interest in oil painting. Self-taught, she started working as a muralist while in Sicily where she lived from 2003–2007. Returning to the States, she began exhibiting work in Washington DC and Atlanta. Tariqa relocated to Seattle in 2012, where she opened a gallery in the historic arts district of Pioneer Square showcasing underrepresented artists called Martyr Sauce. Waters’ own artwork has been garnering support and critical acclaim in the region and abroad. In 2016, her popular solo exhibition, 100% Kanekalon: The Untold Story of the Marginalized Matriarch, exhibited at the Northwest African American Museum. In spring 2017, she was featured in issues of Rolling Stone France and Madame Figaro magazines, while that summer Martyr Sauce became a Cultural Partner to the Seattle Art Fair where Waters was a featured speaker. That same year Waters was nominated for the prestigious James W. Ray Distinguished Artist Award and she was awarded the Conductive Garboil Grant. In 2018, she received the Artist Trust Fellowship Award. She is one of the founding co-curators of STG’s RE:DEFINITION Gallery.

Junko Yamamoto

Junko Yamamoto is a visual artist born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle with Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Cum Laude in 1999. Her main medium has been oil painting; she also produces printmaking and mixed media installations.

Recent past and present exhibitions include, an installation at ART at King Street Station in 2019-2020, Out of Sight 2017, an installation at OFF THE WALLS at Seattle Asian Art Museum, an installation at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in 2018. Junko is a recipient of the Emerging Artist Award from Allied Arts Foundation in 2017, Artist Trust GAP Grant 2015 and Pratt Fine Arts Center Professional Artist Residency in 2015. She is going to be participating Cornish Incubation Residency as a member of Art Beasties in January of 2020.

Learn more about Junko’s work at junkoyamamoto.com