Jo-Ann studied social work and graduated from the University of
The Witwatersrand, South Africa in 1991.She specialized in clinical
and Industrial Social Work. She completed her internship at The
Sowetan Newspaper, running teambuilding and Stress Management
programs for staff members. She worked with Hospice for five years
and in that time her primary focus was communication and counseling
skill training.
Jo-Ann has extensive experience in children’s interactive
theatre and has choreographed and directed a traditional African
music/dance production entitled ‘Eluxolweni Children’.
She has studied the ‘Biodanza’ dance technique as
well as Afro-fusion Dance. She has also performed as a member
of the BOPA Dance Company at the First National Bank sponsored
‘Dance Umbrella’ in South Africa. She has completed
choreography and performance courses with the Inhale Dance and
Theatre Company, South Africa. Jo-Ann began drumming socially
in 1991 and in 1997 she took formal classes.
Jo-Ann joined The Drum Café in 1997 and with Maxine Segal
from Drum Café Australia; she co founded Drum Café
Social. As an interactive performer and facilitator, she has conducted
and performed in hundreds of events that involve the audience
in creating a musical phenomenon. Jo-Ann came to Florida and Atlanta in January
2003 and with Alain Eagles is heading up Drum Café Florida and Atlanta.
Jo-Ann’s training and previous experience give her the unique
ability to deliver an incredible interactive experience with powerful
teambuilding and training content.
Originally from South Africa, Alain Eagles completed a four year
course in Graphic Design and 3d Animation. He freelanced as visual
artist and was a founding member of Atomic Visual Effects. His
involvement in this company was as manager and creative director
of animation projects for television broadcasting. His interest
in music and the visual arts lead him to Directing and producing
music videos. In this time his love for music deepened and he
began studying African percussion with a strong focus on the djembe
drum. He began performing with the Drum Café on a part
time basis in 1999; in 2001 he joined the Drum Café to
perform fulltime. His percussion studies expand into various cultural
forms such as Brazilian Samba, Senegalese Sabar, and Afro-Cuban Conga.
Alain arrived in Florida and Atlanta in January 2003 and together with Jo-Ann
is heading up The Drum Café Florida and Atlanta.
Ibrahima has drummed since the age of 5. Born in guinea West Africa
in the city of Conakry, Ibrahima was born into a Griot family.
Griots’ are considered guardians of the West African musical
and cultural heritage. Ibrahima received his instruction from
Yamousa “Yahdi” Camara, Aboubacar Fatou Abou Camara
and Mohamed Kemoko Sano. At the age of 15 He began drumming professionally
with Soleil D’Afrique and has since performed with many
African ballets (performing dance and drum ensembles) including
Les Merveilles de Guinea, Fareta de Guinea, Konkoure, Bamba, and
several others. Ibrahima has performed for audiences across Africa,
all over Europe, and throughout the United States. Ibrahima is
from the Malinke [Mandingo] ethnic group and brings extensive
knowledge of traditional rhythms and songs from Guinea, Mali,
Gambia and other areas of West Africa. He plays djembe, dunun,
kenkeni, sangba, kirin, balon, balafone, bote, gongoma.
Ibrahima joined the Drum Café Florida and Atlanta in January 2003
and brings this incredibly rich history and talent to the team.
Glenn Weinstein performs and teaches on a wide variety of musical
styles on about thirty instruments from all over the world. He
has extensive knowledge and expertise on the following percussion
instruments: Didgeridoo, West African Traditional -Djembe, Djun
Djun, Shekere, Bells. Afro-Cuban/Bata Congas and Claves. Middle
Eastern/NorthAfrican-Doumbek, Darabuka, Bendir, Qarqeb, Zills.
He also plays modern Hybrids of the above styles of drumming.
He has been playing music and inspiring others with it for over
20 years. Glenn performed as the “Green Drum Master”
in the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
Glenn joined the Drum Café in May 2003 and brings his inspirational
style of music to the team.
Jacqueline, originally from South Carolina has always loved rhythm
and art. She joined the US Army Reserves to support her artistic
endeavors in 1983. She earned her BFA, in painting, at the Atlanta
College of Art in Atlanta, GA in 1998. She has worked representationally
in portraits and is currently working nonrepresentationally in
abstract, passionate pen and ink drawings. Sandler and Hudson
Art Gallery holds her work. She is featured in New American Painting,
Volume 52.
To compliment and balance herself as a visual artist her rhythm
led her to drumming in 1999. She found creativity and joy in playing
the drums. She learned to play the congas and djembe, among other
percussion instruments. She played the surdo drum in a Brazilian
percussion group called Earthshaking Samba. She is learning to
play the harmonica.
Jacqueline joined the Drum Cafe in 2003 and brings her rhythmic
talents to the team.
Aly is a dynamic drummer who was born and raised in the city of
Conakry in Guinea, West Africa. He began drumming at age seven
and has received his instruction from Yamoussa "Yahdi"
Camara, Aboubacar Fatou Abou Camara and Mohamed Kemoko Sano. Aly
began drumming professionally at the age of 11 with Soleil D'Afrique
and has since performed with many African ballets (performing
dance and drum ensembles) including Les Merveilles de Guinea,
Fareta de Guinea, Konkoure Bamba, Fatala and more. Aly has enthralled
audiences with his incredible drumming across Africa, all over
Europe, and throughout the United States. Aly plays djembe, dunun,
kenkeni, sangba, talking drum, kirin, balon and gongoma.
Aly joined the Drum Café Florida and Atlanta in January 2003 and brings
his incredible charisma and talent to the Team.
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