SeAttle WoRld PeRcUssion SocietY
BUilding CoMmuNity THroUgh RhytHm
SWPS ARTIST LISTINGS
A - D
Listed by First Name
AARON KIERBEL
Aaron Kierbel is a professional drummer from Oakland, CA and the founder of RhythmALLogy, using drumming and rhythm to build human connection and community within an increasingly disconnected modern world. He has presented in schools, jails, shelters, festivals and corporate boardrooms, and consults as a teaching artist with top Bay Area organizations such as Destiny Arts, Performing Arts Workshop, LEAP and Attitudinal Healing Connection. He tours nationally and internationally as a drummer with genre-defying group Rupa and the April Fishes.
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WORKSHOP:
Sweet Rhythms: Chocolate + Drumming
This workshop will explore the delicious connection between chocolate and drumming. Be prepared for an interactive, multi-sensory experience: Drums will be played, chocolate will be tasted and a smile will be on your face as you experience the joy of creating Sweet Rhythms together.
AFUA KOUYATE
AFUA KOUYATE. Preserving West African cultures by presenting inter-active music, song and dance to the general public.
Afua's inspiration and concentration is in Cultural Arts Leadership, Emphasizing Therapeutic Engagement. Her diversity in training with Cultural historians, masters and teachers allows her to create and choreograph African dance and creative movements that spring from her magical ability to stimulate, excite and flow with the rhythms of the drums. While currently working with Spectrum Dance Theater and Associated Recreation Council, Afua has recently co-founded a new Cultural Arts Development that's based out of Seattle, Washington, named Kouyate Arts. Afua oversees management and leadership. For over the past 40 years, Afua has been an integral part of keeping cultural arts and entertainment vibrant in the Pacific Northwest and abroad. Co-founder of Adefua African Music & Dance Company.
Awaken your spirit and experience PlanetAfua!
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WORKSHOP: West African Dance with Afua Kouyate.
An inter-active dance experience with live drumming! This dance workshop will cater to all levels of dance. Please come prepared to dance barefoot and wear comfortable clothing. There will be all levels of dance on the global dance floor. Come dance, enjoy your experience and share your dance with others!
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ARTHUR HULL
ARTHUR HULL is a rhythm ambassador and master at facilitating groups with joyful rhythm experiences. He travels the world inspiring community-building through the metaphor of music. A protégé of Babatunde Olatunji, Arthur originated and defined modern-day Drum Circle Facilitation. His pioneering work has touched the lives of thousands of people, in communities large and small, corporate executives, teachers and kids at risk. Through his Village Music Circle trainings, books and DVDs, he has taught over 12,000 people in 33 countries how to facilitate rhythm-based events. Arthur has been nationally awarded for his success in inspiring music-making, team and community-building, and motivating people with rhythmical expertise and leadership dynamics that promote joy and awareness. He was given a lifetime SWPS membership for his contributions to the Rhythm Festival.
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Arthur Hull has 3 offerings:
INTRO TO DRUM CIRCLE FACILITATION – Arthur Hull and Jamtown John Hayden will be co-presenting a hands-on active seminar on the basics of Drum Circle Facilitation. Bring your drum and percussion instruments to join in with this fun drum circle training experience.
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GREAT NW DRUM CIRCLE -- Saturday at 5:30
ARTURO RODRIGUEZ
An accomplished musician, author, teacher, and DJ, Arturo has performed worldwide, sharing the stage with such music legends as Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, Pete Escovedo, Brandi Carlile, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and many more. Never one to stand still for very long, Arturo is both a familiar face and a powerful force on the local Seattle music scene. While moving through the musical boundaries of Afro Cuban jazz, funk, pop, rock, and even folk music, Arturo has an amazing talent for bring people together in a social setting.
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Arturo is offering a workshop:
A beginners guide to Afro Cuban Music. Understanding the foundation of it's music through Clave.
BILL WOODS
Bill Woods is a teacher, performer, author, composer, and studio musician. He has taught workshops at Folklife, SWRF, and Dusty Strings as well as being available for private lessons. He plays bodhran in Keltoi. His four books Bodhran: the Basics, Bodhran: Beyond the Basics, Playing the Frame Drum, and The Rhythm Encyclopedia are published by Mel Bay Publications and sold all over the world. His compositions have been performed, recorded, and used on the sound track of a documentary film. He has recorded on projects as varied in style as classical, new age, and heavy metal as well as traditional Celtic music.
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Bill is offering a workshop:
Playing the Bodhran: This workshop will cover the basics of playing the bodhran: how to hold the bodhran, how to hold the stick, how to strike the bodhran. Basic Irish dance rhythms will be taught, and we will explore ways to make these rhythms more interesting using accents, rests, rolls, and syncopation. Participants should ideally have a bodhran and stick, but any type of frame drum can be used for learning.
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COOPER DRUMMERS
The Cooper drummers and dancers are from Spokane Washington. They have been performing African drum and dance throughout the Northwest for over 19 years. This is their 18th year at the WRF.
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DAVID CASTEAL
David Casteal is a teacher in Spokane, Washington. He has been drumming for over 20 years and studied in Mali, Ghana, Guinea and Uganda. He holds a PhD in ethnic music and leads the Cooper Drummers school group.
David is excited to teach one of his favorite Mali djembe rhythms: Dansa!
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DANSA Rhythm from Mali. All djembe and dunun levels welcome.
DENNIS MABERRY
Recording Artist and author Dennis Maberry is a versatile percussionist who has studied a variety of percussion methods including African, Afro Cuban, Afro Haitian, Middle Eastern and the rhythm concepts of India. By blending these influences Dennis has created a rhythmical style that is distinctly his own. Dennis is the author of several popular percussion instructional books including the now classic "Drum Circle Grooves" along with the follow up "Beyond Drum Circle Grooves". He has recently released his latest book "The Magic of Twelve: Polymetric Polyrhythms In Cycles of Twelve From African, Afro Cuban, and Afro Haitian Traditions". All three books feature a foreword by Arthur Hull "Father of the Modern Drum Circle Movement".

Dennis' last cd "Rhythmspirit" featured several special guests including Babatunde Olatunji's Drums of Passion member Gordy Ryan, Conga Joy author Bill Matthews, frame drum master Judy Piazza, Didgeridoo master Joel Hinkle and percussionist Tor Dietrichson (member of the legendary Diga Rhythm Band led by Mickey Hart).  Dennis has years of experience teaching and presenting percussion and rhythm related classes and workshops. He taught classes at the Univeristy of Illinois Springfield, community education classes at Lincoln Land Community College, and has presented workshops annually at the World Rhythm Festival in Seattle, WA.
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WORKSHOP: Magic of 12: Polymetric Polyrhythms in Cycles of 12: Based on Dennis' latest book "The Magic of Twelve: Polymetric Polyrhythms in Cycles of Twelve from African, Afro Cuban, and Afro Haitian Traditions" this workshop introduces you to the concept of polymeter (playing two separate rhythmic pulses at once. Come discover Dennis' easy to learn stress free teaching style that makes learning difficult rhythm concepts easy.
DORA OLIVEIRA & DANCE BRAZIL
Seattle-based Dora Oliveira, a native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, has been performing and teaching Brazilian dance to adults and kids for more than 25 years. She is an esteemed dance instructor and beloved by her diverse community of students and audiences alike. Her repertoire includes popular, traditional, and regional Brazilian dances from all around the country, orixas, samba, funk, modern, and ballet. Her choreography is constantly evolving, and her creative energy is endless. In a word, Dora is captivating - a natural born star performer not to be missed!
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Dora has 2 offerings:
Dora is performing on the Armory Main Stage.
Dora is offering a class on Brazilian Dance: Brazilian dance from Pará!
Students of all ages can Join Dora in this high-energy, all ages Brazilian dance workshop in which she teaches traditional and contemporary choreography to the rhythms of the region of Pará.