2023 EMRF WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Moussa Traoré was born and raised in Mali, West Africa. He has been playing the djembe for over forty years – in 1984, after completing a twelve-year apprenticeship, he was deemed a 'master' by his teacher, Sega Cisse. Moussa has achieved great recognition throughout Mali as an accomplished musician in theater, traditional ceremonies, as well as the Malian pop scene. Among musicians in Bamako, Moussa is considered to be one of the top djembe players in the country. Since moving to the U.S., Moussa has continued to distinguish himself as a highly respected teacher and performer. He has given drum workshops in cities throughout the U.S. and China. Currently, he is teaching at schools, offering weekly community classes, leading drum ensembles for West African dance classes, and performing for special events and workshops, and is skilled in traditional methods of drum repair.

---

Sidy Maïga began drumming with master djembefolas as a teen in his native Mali, refining his voice in this ancestral cultural tradition. Sidy made for a quick study, and began touring professionally with well-known national acts such as Troupe Artistique de Bamako and the Fakoli Percussion Troupe.
Since moving to Rhode Island in 2006, Sidy has become a regular on the music scene. Beloved in the community not only for his traditional Malian music, but for his seamless blending into latin, blues, and brazilian drumming traditions–even accompanying house music DJs! His talent and passion bring him throughout New England and the world.
In addition to performing, Sidy teaches djembe and dundun drumming to students at schools and universities throughout the country. Teaching at institutions such as Bradley Hospital and RI Hospital has also demonstrated the theraputic effects of his practice.

---

GREG HAGGARD
Drumming has been an integral part of Greg's life since he was 6 years old. He studied and played with various rock and jazz groups throughout his high school and college years. In the early 2000’s, Greg became interested in African drumming. Dunun were his drum of choice from the beginning, being the "rhythm section" behind the djembe. He appreciates the tonal and melodic qualities of these drums, and the coordination between players.  He is a regular student of Moussa Traore.

---

Jim Salem has been drumming around the fire for over 35 years. He's studied with drum masters including Moussa Traore, Babatunde Olatunji, Mamady Keita, Abubakari Lunna, Bonnie Devlin, and many others. He regularly plays in a variety of music contexts from dance performances to woodland fire circles to smaller circles with friends and family. He organizes the annual Acton Drum and Dance, now in its 17th year.

---

Josef Kottler is a composer of spiritual prayer-songs and liturgical music. He is co-founder of Hebrew Chant Boston and founder of One Spirit Foundation, a non-profit that produces Interfaith concerts in the Boston area. Josef has completed the Davening Leadership Training Institute and is trained as a Jewish Spiritual Director. He leads drum circles and the “Drum Your Prayers” workshop featuring the “Mother Drum,” accompanies worship services at synagogues and churches, and is Music Director of the annual Jewish Men’s Retreat.  

---

Inara loves to teach and is dedicated to continuous learning so that she can give her dance students the best education possible. In addition to her local and regional studies, Inara had the great fortune to travel to Egypt in 2019 with several of the area's top dancers including Kanina and Aurel via Sahra Saeeda's "Journey through Egypt" course - an amazing immersion opportunity to learn first-hand the culture, history and dancer lifestyle as taught by the top dancers in the country.  
​
Inara’s classes are well known for their fun, high powered, and energetic atmosphere.  Combining technique, core moves, and artistry with the vast and important history of the dance, students leave classes with a solid foundation of movement and a smile on their faces.  Inara is quickly becoming known as an instructor who pushes boundaries when it comes to studio performances and the melding of old world dance and modern techniques and urges her students to embrace the beauty of change and expression.
 
The Inara Belly Dance Studio welcomes students of all ages, genders, dance levels and experience. Join her on your own dance journey!

---

Ami Sarasvati started playing the Native American style flute in 2012. She learned through online lessons with several excellent teachers, recorded courses, various flute schools, and getting certified as a therapeutic musician (CMP) on the Native American style flute, through the Music for Healing and Transition Program as well as Music for People training.

Ami teaches on Lessonface (online) and has been awarded Teacher of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2022 offering private lessons & groups to play the Native American Style Flute.
Her popular book, "Learn to Play the Native American Style Flute" can be found on Amazon. She is a facilitator of community music-making events specializing in assisted living communities and is a faculty instructor for Music for Healing and Transitions Program. 
Her website is learntoplaynaf.com

---

Stephen Brown has been the Executive Director of the Rhythm Bones Society for the last 17 years, A non-profit organization dedicated to the continuation of the art of Playing the traditional rhythm bones. In 2003 he won the All Ireland Bone Playing Championship and repeated as champion in 2004. In 2016 he was invited to judge the contest, the only American to have done so.  He has taught rhythm bone playing at festivals and workshops across the US and in Ireland. In addition he has lectured about rhythm bone playing and the history of it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
In the early 80’s he began making rhythm bones out of the shin bone of the cow. He was advised early on in the process by Merchant marine sailor, Milton Shapanka, and gradually refined the process. He's consulted with Nicholas Driver, a 4th generation rhythm bone maker from Suffolk England.  His rhythm bones are played by Dom Flemons, formally of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and a number of traditional Irish musicians including Mel Mercier, Tommy Hayes, Cathy Jordan and Junior Davey.

---

Sarah Huber is a lifelong drummer and martial artist.  She has blended her over 20 years' experience with traditional weapons of Kung-Fu with the expressive dance styles of the drumming community. She is a flow-arts fire performer specializing in Poi, Sword, Shaolin Whipchain, and Staff.

---

John McKusick (The Blissful Wizard)  My love for the gong started in 2015 with a trip to Bali, Indonesia. Seeing a small restaurant gamelan band, the music had me floating above my body that night in bed and I was hooked. Back in the states I studied for a semester under master Dewa Alit and MIT’s Gamelan Galas Tika and since then have started collecting different pieces.  I play not only sound baths but rhythmically as a percussionist as well. Now with a few years of live performance sound baths and with meeting Mitch I feel like we’ve stumbled on something very powerful and hopefully helpful for people to enjoy.

Mitch Rosenberg turned a challenge into an opportunity when being out of work and isolated by the pandemic gave him the time and space to dive deep into learning to play the didgeridoo.  These days he continues being didgeridoo obsessed and has found many wonderful ways of incorporating it into his other healthy practices exploring infinite space within himself and those who will listen.

---