Artist Biographies 2008 - 2009
Music
Keta Bill Selvin
Ms. Bill Selvin received her B.A. in Theater and Music from Western Illinois University. A powerhouse performer in the Bay Area for over twenty-five years, she is a five-time Bammie nominee for Best Female Vocalist. She has performed with a variety of local pop groups including Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra, Big Bang Beat, MVP with Keta Bill and Keta Bill Trio. Ms. Bill Selvin has sung on the movie soundtracks for Beverly Hills Cop II, Ferngully III and Rent. She has performed background vocals for performers such as Todd Rundgren, Steve Miller, Van Morrison, Bonnie Hayes, The Grateful Dead, Roy Rogers, Kenny G and Eddie Money. Keta is the voice of Rice-a-Roni, the national ad everyone remembers. Other work includes ads for Toyota, Taco Bell, Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Nintendo. Ms. Bill Selvin has performed several runs as "The Chanteuse" in the long-running local favorite Theatro Zinzanni. She has been a music instructor for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department for the past 13 years. This is Ms. Bill Selvin's eighth year with SFArtsEd.
Drew Boles
Born in Springfield, Missouri, Drew Boles began classical piano study at the age of seven. Soon after moving to Tampa, Florida in 1993, Drew took up the acoustic guitar and began composing. He spent the following six years as a singer/songwriter/folksinger in pursuit of a recording and touring career; this pursuit culminated with his first album, Freak O' Nature, which he co-produced and later released on his own record label, Scheisspie Records.
From 1998 - 2002, Drew attended Emory University in Atlanta, GA. There, he helped create the honors program in composition, and was the first student to graduate with Honors (summa cum laude) in Music Composition. At Emory, Drew studied theory, composition, electronic music, orchestration, conducting and counterpoint. He also performed with the Emory University Chorus, Emory Concert Choir and the Emory Javanese Gamelan Ensemble. Other performance credits include a piano master class with Ursula Oppens as well as a number of solo folk appearances at Dooley's Den (where he opened for Atlanta favorite Michelle Malone), EddieÕs Attic, both Atlanta and Tampa Gay Pride Festivals, and the Tampa Gay and Lesbian Film Fest.
From 2003 - 2005, Drew attended the University of California, San Diego, where he completed his master's degree in music composition. There, he studied composition, electronic music, musical theatre, and critical theory (primarily post-colonial and gender studies). He also taught a variety of classes at the undergraduate level, and worked as an ArtsBridge scholar, teaching music in several public schools throughout the San Diego area where the arts have been sufficiently, if not entirely, stripped. As a member of Teknika Radica, Drew helped organize the Powering Up, Powering Down festival at UCSD in January 2004. Later that year, he formed the Meehoos, a pop-folk-electronic fusion band, with fellow students Lauren Wooley, Kariann Goldschmitt, and Andre Elias, and went on tour with them in the summer of 2004. The Meehoos have since disbanded, and Drew has begun working with Lauren as the Mercurial Gay Beings.
Drew currently lives in San Francisco where he teaches music, composes, and performs. He has recently completed the score for a film entitled Dear Beverly, a collaboration with longtime friend and filmmaker Melanie Mascioli. Current projects include the Mercurial Gay Beings' BaMeThi, a large-scale musical/performative/theatrical work slated for a summer 2006 premiere, and a new songwriting/recording project centered around a crunchy upright piano. This is Mr. Boles' third year with SFArtsEd.
Jason Brown (Tata Salah Konko)
Mr. Brown received his Master of Arts in English from the University of Vermont. He studied abroad at the University of Nairobi in Kenya, East Africa. Mr. Brown is a guest accompanist for West African Dance classes at ODC/SF, City Dance and the Malonga Casquerland Performing Arts Center. He was the Musical Director of Ayoluwa African Dance Company and he has accompanied Modern and traditional West African dance classes at Spelman College and well as various African Dance Companies in Buffalo, New York. He has worked with the Jeh Kelu African Dance Company and been a Rhythm Artist with the Living Word Project. Some of the local agencies that Mr. Brown has worked with are: the City and County of San Francisco's Human Services Agency, San Francisco Unified School District, Lighthouse of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Bayview Hunter's Point YMCA, Street Beats, Coalition on Homelessness and San Francisco Network Ministries. Mr. Brown has also taught Elementary School in Buffalo, New York. This is his second year with SFArtsEd.
Rhonda Crane
Ms. Crane is a performer with Street Sounds, a vocal ensemble a'capella quintet committed to performing traditional, contemporary and original songs that embody the influence of Africa on world music. As a member of Street Sounds, she has traveled to Europe and Asia and recorded with the group as well as other artists. Ms. Crane is the Adult Choir Director for the Greater True Light Baptist Church and teaches the Good News Gospel Chorus. She is a singer and national conference instructor for the Edwin and Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Conference. This is Ms. Crane's fourth year with SFArtsEd.
Amadou Diawara
Amadoudiawara, a native of Senegal, began his career with the world renowned West African Drum and Dance Company, BOUGARABOU. In 1992, artistic director, Amadou M'baye Bagourra, inivited Amadou to begin studying and performing with Bougarabo's African Ballet Company.
Bougarabou presents the history and culture of West African Music through exhilarating erformances of song, dance, stilt walking, fire eating and acrobats. Bougarabou performs in Senegal for tourist groups in local hotels and resorts. Bougarabou also travels internationally to share their captivating talent in West African drumming and dancing.
In 1997, Amadou, along with other artists, started an independent drum and dance company known as KAKILAMBE. He continued to teach workshops and perform with Kakilambe until he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in June, 2001. He began his career in the United States as a West African drum and dance teacher in the summer of 2001. He taught drum ad dance to youth campers (ages 5-17) at Farm and Wilderness in Plymouth, Vermont. Amadou has also taught classes for children, teens and adults in Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the YMCA in Vevay, Indiana. He also organized, directed and taught drum and dance workshops in Indiana and Ohio. Amadou was also privileged to experience Carnival in Bahia, Brazil, where he performed with a West African group for two weeks in 2002. Amadou Diawara relocated to San Francisco, California in November of 2002. He has taught drum classes at the African American Cultural Center, drummed for Alassane KaneÕs dance class at the San Francisco Dance Center and continues to share his music and culture with th "BAY AREA". Amadou is currently performing with Niancho EnyaleyÕs West African Drum and Dance Company located in the Los Angeles area. In 2007, Mr. Diawara implemented an educational rhythm and movement/creative expression program to teach children in local school districts. Amadou Diawara is energetic, genuine, and excited to share his culture! He believes drumming and dancing knows no boundries. Amadou feels that the spirit of West African music is intriguing and connects all ages and ethnicities. This Amadou's first year with SFArtsEd.
Marcus Dyson
Mr. Dyson has been teaching choruses since the age of twelve. He is the Minister of Music at Calvary Hill Community Church in San Francisco. Mr. Dyson has also served as Minister of Music at Monument of Love Fellowship in San Diego making musical appearances on BET, TBN with top recording artists including Andrae Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones, DestinyÕs Child and Kelly Price. Mr. Dyson's debut CD was released in August, 2007. As Minister of Music, Mr. Dyson started the first youth choir for True Hope COGIC in San Francisco. Additional experience includes teaching Chorus class at Eugene McAteer High School. This is Mr. Dyson's fourth year with SFArtsEd.
Alfie Macias
Alfie has worked as a traditional percussionist in the Bay Area for over 10 years. Alfie began working as an understudy to Master Ghanaian Drummer, S. Kwaku Daddy. Together they taught and performed for children throughout the Bay Area with Life's Rhythms, a West African percussion group. Alfie served as teacher's aide to Afro-Caribbean Master, Zeke Nealy, playing for Blanche Brown and Halifu Osumare's dance workshops.
Alfie performs with the acclaimed folkloric company Aguas da Bahia under the direction of Master Condomble Percussionist Gamo da Paz and Tania Santiago of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Alfie has participated in several Bay Area performance groups, including the Mara-Reggae, Fogo Na Ropa and As Pernas Com Alma Brazilian dance companies. Alfie is also an ensemble member and instructor for the San Francisco Carnaval champions Loco Bloco. Alfie works as a Percussion, Music Exploration and Dance teacher for the San Francisco Arts Education Project in such schools as L.R. Flynn, Glen Park and McKinley. Alfie is also the Musical Director and Lead Instructor of the Windsor Bloco Afro-Brazilian drumming bateria for youth of all ages. Alfie has spent 6 years working with at-risk youth in San FranciscoÕs Mission district through L.E.A.P., Saint John's Educational Threshold and Loco Bloco. In 2003 he began directing the Pocos Locos group, including participants from K-5th grade. In 2004 Alfie created Fuel, a salsa rueda performance group, dedicated to promoting youth awareness of Latin dance influences in the Mission district. Alfie teaches rhythm, music and dance concepts through contemporary and traditional musics of the world. Alfie develops his studentsÕ creativity and social awareness. His work provides an opportunity for youth to perform for the local community and study abroad. This is Alfie's seventh year with SFArtsEd.
Mozel Zeke Nealy
Mr. Nealy received his Bachelor of Arts in Black Studies and American History from San Francisco State University. His performances include the Ethnic Dance Festival, Oakland Youth Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Yerba Buena Gardens for Robert Henry Johnson, Pecong for ACT, Tales of the City for PBS, Kimball's East with Dizzy Gillespie, Radio Drama Workshop directed by Francis Ford Coppola and Life on the Water Theater. He has been a Staff Accompanist and Drummer for dance classes at Mills College, Marin Ballet, Skyline College, Pacifica, San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco and the San Francisco Ballet. He has taught Drum Workshops for Mills College, City College of San Francisco, California Arts Council Children's and Adult Music Workshops, San Francisco State University and the Herald Project. He has been the Music Director for Group Petit LeCroix and Grupo Africania. Currently, Mr. Nealy is the director of the Haitian Dance and Drum Retreat and Congo Solo and Percussion Festival, two major annual events dedicated to the study, exploration and performance of African derived music and culture. Mr. Nealy is a long time artist-in-residence in San Francisco public schools and has also taught for San Francisco Parks and Recreation. This is Mr. Nealy's eleventh year with SFArtsEd.
Visual Arts
Aileen Barr
Aileen Barr has been a Teaching Artist for the past 15 years. She began facilitating art workshops in Ireland in the early 1990's working with schools and community groups. Since moving to San Francisco she has continued to combine teaching and her own studio practice. In her own art, Aileen creates large-scale public art works using hand made tile and mosaic.
Teaching has always formed an important part of her art practice and she regularly consults and provides hand-on opportunities with communities when doing public artworks. As a Teaching Artist she believes that the skill of teaching is about facilitating learning. Her Artist Residencies aim to foster independent thinking, enhance problem solving and encourage a belief that great things can be achieved. This is Ms. Barr's sixth year with SFArtsEd.
Ray Beldner
Born in San Francisco, Beldner received a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Mills College in Oakland, California. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions both nationally and internationally and his work can be found in many public and private collections including the Federal Reserve Board, Washington D.C., the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Oakland Museum of California, and the San Jose Museum of Art.
Beldner is a 1996 recipient of a California Arts Council Fellowship in New Genres, a 1997 recipient of a Creative Work Fund Grant from the Haas Foundations, and a 1999 recipient of a Potrero Nuevo environmental art grant. He has taught sculpture and interdisciplinary studies at the San Francisco Art Institute and the California College of the Arts, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Art at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, CA. His work has been reviewed in publications including Arte, Art on Paper, Wired, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The Village Voice, International Herald Tribune, and The New York Times.
Most recently, his work has been seen in Living With Duchamp, Tang Museum, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, Argent et Valeur, Le Dernier Tabou, Exposition Nationale Suisse, Biel-Bienne, Switzerland, and in the traveling exhibition, Illegal Art: Freedom of Expression in the Corporate Age. He recently had a solo exhibition of his money-related artwork at Caren Golden Fine Art in New York. Mr. Beldner has been associated with SFArtsEd since 1998.
Anne Garvey
Ms. Garvey received her BFA in Painting at the San Francisco Art Institute. She also studied Fine Arts at the Academy of Art College. Ms. Garvey has been an Arts Educator through the Degenhardt Foundation in Hoi An, Vietnam and served as a Visitor Services Assistant at the Oakland Museum of California. Ms. Garvey has also been a Classroom Volunteer at the Peralta Elementary School in Oakland. This is Ms. Garvey's second year with SFArtsEd.
Jessalyn Haggenjos Barr
Ms. Haggenjos Barr received her Master of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts. Her work has been exhibited in major US cities that include New York, Boston, Richmond, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland and Seattle. Locally Ms. Haggenjos Barr's art has been seen at Root Division, The Autonomous Museum, Swarm Gallery, Crucible Steel Gallery, Cafe Royale, and the Oakland Art Gallery. She has also been shown in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ms. Haggenjos Barr has been a Teaching Assistant at California College of the Arts and taught Painting and Drawing for SFArtsEd's Summer Camp. This is Ms. Haggenjos Barr's second year with SFArtsEd.
Deborah Hoch
Ms. Hoch received her BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She has exhibited her work throughout California in venues that include the Bucheon Gallery, Dorothy Weiss Gallery, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Rental Gallery, de Saisset Museum and the International Airports in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Ms. Hoch has been teaching clay classes in San Francisco for adults and children since 1995. She has served on the faculty of the EBA/Soma Studio School, taught ceramics at The Crucible in Oakland and worked for Terra Mia Studios Art Exploration Summer Day Camp. This is her third year with SFArtsEd.
Dallas Kavanagh
Ms. Kavanagh received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at the Alfred University School of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally in New York, California, Oregon and Wisconsin. In 2008 she also exhibited work in Beijing, China. Ms. Kavanagh has taught classes in sculpture, mixed media and metal fabrication through the NYSCC AU SAD program. Other teaching experience includes work in Brookline and Boston, Massachusetts as well as Rosendale, New York. This is her first year with SFArtsEd.
Erik Parra
Mr. Parra received his Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His work has been exhibited throughout America in states that include New York, Nebraska, Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas. His work has also been shown at the Museu se Arte de Brasilia. Locally, Mr. Parra's work was most recently seen at Southern Exposure Gallery. He has lectured at The University of Wisconsin, the Western University in Bellingham, Washington and Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. He has been a studio art teacher at the El Paso Museum of Art and has been a Teaching Artist for children at: Dream Yard in the Bronx, New York; Architots in Middle Village, New York; the Monroe Street Fine Arts Center in Madison, Wisconsin; Children's Art Center and Kid's Art in San Francisco. This is Mr. Parra's second year with SFArtsEd.
Wendy Robushi
Wendy Robushi's oil and wax paintings are alive with color, texture and symbolism. They combine paint, pastels and wax with words and rich underscorings and have been exhibited throughout California, Connecticut, and Montana. Her work is in public collections in Prague, Czech Republic and Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven as well as many private collections, including that of novelist Danielle Steel. Also a prolific muralist and dedicated art educator, Robushi was active in securing funding for the execution of numerous murals designed and painted by artists and students in San Francisco's Bayview Hunter's Point. Her mural work is catalogued in "San Francisco Murals: Community Creates its Muse", published in 1994.
Wendy Robushi received her MFA from the University of California at Berkeley. She works out of her studio at Hunter's Point Shipyard, an artists' colony where she has been based since 1989, and she is represented by the Steel Gallery of San Francisco. This is her eighth year with SFArtsEd.
Gabrielle Teschner
Ms. Teschner received her MFA from California College of the Arts. Locally she has exhibited work at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Queens Nails Annex, 18 Reasons, John Berggruen Gallery, Playspace Gallery, Oliver Art Center, Haines Gallery and the Pro Arts Gallery. Her work has also been presented in Boston and New York. Her work is in the collections of the Virginia Commonwealth University and the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the De Young Museum. Her work is also in the private collections of David Breskin and Ed Ruscha. Ms. Teschner has been a Gallery Assistant at the Wattis Institute and a Researcher and Teaching Assistant at CCA. This is her first year with SFArtsEd.
Dance
Sarah Burstein
Ms. Burstein is a graduate of UCSB with a BA in Sociology and Women's Studies. While at UCSB Ms. Burstein was the Director of Shrunken Head Productions, the Campus' musical theater group. Productions under Ms. Burstein's direction included Jekyll and Hyde, Guys and Dolls and 42nd Street. Ms. Burstein's performing credits include Jesus Christ Superstar, The Cradle Will Rock and Into the Woods. Ms. Burstein has tutored at the Kurmon Math and Reading Centers and assisted with the Isla Vista Youth Projects. This is Ms. Burstein's first year with SFArtsEd.
Clint Calimlim
Mr. Calimlim is trained in Hip Hop, Jazz and Ballet. He has performed with various Bay Area Hip Hop Dance Companies that include Culture Shock, Funkanometry SF, Khaotic, Mind Over Matter and Xplicit. He has choreographed and performed with recording artists Deborah Cox, Jocelyn Enriquez, Ryan Duarte and Angelina. Mr. Calimlim served on the judging panel for the Bay Area Dance Quake and was a member of the audition panel for the 2007 San Francisco Hip Hop Dancefest. He is the Hip Hop Program Director at Spark of Creation Studio and he teaches at Dance Mission in San Francisco. Mr. Calimlim has also taught at the Metronome Dance Center and been a Hip Hop instructor for the San Francisco BalletÕs Outreach Program. He has also served as the Head and Artistic Director of the Hip Hop Department at Westlake School for the Performing Arts. This is Mr. Calimlim's second year with SFArtsEd.
Kristin Campbell-Taylor
Ms. Campbell-Taylor is an accomplished dancer who works in the styles of Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Tap, Pointe Work and Modern/Contemporary Dance. While a member of the Tremaine Teen Company she performed in the film Austin Powers: Man of Mystery. She has performed with the LA Lakers and appeared at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Ms. Campbell-Taylor has choreographed movement and dance for Microsoft's Zune commercial. While with the DDO Artist Agency, she was the Director of Dance and Choreography Department and Creator and Director of the Events Department. She has taught Ballet for the Civic Dance Center, Edge Performing Arts Center and Westside Ballet Academy. This is Ms. Campbell-Taylor's first year with SFArtsEd.
Julia Graham
Ms. Graham received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College. She has performed locally in solo and ensemble works with emerging Asian American artists at Intersection for the Arts and at CounterPulse. She has choreographed work in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia and work that has been performed at the Bessie Schoenberg Dance Theater in New York. She has been an Assistant Teacher at the School for Performing Arts at P.S. 315 and the Frank Sinatra High School in New York. She has also taught at the Kipp Academy in New York. Currently, Ms. Graham teaches Hatha Yoga in San Mateo. This is Ms. Graham's second year with SFArtsEd.
Natalie Greene
Natalie Greene works in modern and jazz dance, musical and physical theatre. She enjoys sharing her love of the arts with students and audiences alike. Natalie has performed with Mary Armentrout, Kim Epifano, Kelly Kemp and Leyya Tawil. Her choreography has appeared in ItalyÕs Montescudaio Amphitheatre, Club Principe in Granada, Spain, and for three funny years in Phoenix's weekly "Farce Side Comedy Hour." Her work has appeared locally at ODC Theater, John Sims Center, the Eureka Theatre and Counterpulse. Natalie currently teaches with SFArtsEd, ODC Children's School, School of the Arts High School and the University of San Francisco. She studied at Jacob's Pillow and holds a BFA from Arizona State University. Natalie also loves traveling and making music with her family. This is her sixth year with SFArtsEd.
Douglas Johnson
Mr. Johnson received his Associate of Arts in Dance from Grossmont Community College. He acquired extensive performance experience as a member of San Diego's Eveoke Dance Theatre from 2002-2007. While with the company he also taught at the company school and worked in in-school and after-school programs, teaching hip-hop, modern, and creative dance programs at all levels, from pre-school through college. He also helped lead a successful pilot program in teaching literacy through dance at Freese Elementary School. Mr. Johnson's experience also includes choreography and theatre production. This is Mr. Johnson's first year with SFArtsEd.
M. Koob
Mr. Koob trained in Wigman technique under Hellmut Gottschild at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has toured the Eastern United States and Europe with ZeroMoving Dance Company and has choreographed and performed with Six Thumbs Dance Theater in San Francisco. He is currently the Artistic Director of TRANSIT. He teaches extensively throughout the Bay Area and serves on the faculty of ODC/SF. In 2002 the Mayor's Department of Children, Youth and Their Families honored him as a "Teacher of the Year" during the Celebration of the Young Child Week. This is his eighteenth year with SFArtsEd.
Laura Marsh
Laura Marsh hails from Memphis, Tennessee, where she received a B.F.A. in Dance and Theatre from University Of Memphis in 1992. After graduating, she performed and choreographed with Project:Motion, later moving on to become co-artistic director of the company. In 1997 she was awarded first prize in Tennessee Association Of Dance's annual choreography competition. She has taught creative dance, modern, and ballet to students from age 3 through adult. Since her arrival in the Bay Area in 1998 she has performed with Megan Nicely and Company, Right Brain Performance Lab, Nina Galin Music and Dance, and Steamroller. She has taught dance at Synergy School, ODC, Rhythm and Motion, and Beresford Recreation Center in San Mateo. Currently Laura teaches children's dance classes at Brisbane Dance Workshop, ODC, San Mateo Parks and Rec. and Burlingame Parks and Rec. This is her fourth year teaching with SFArtsEd.
Mariella Morales
Ms. Morales received her B.A. in Dance from San Francisco State University and she is studying for her Masters Degree in Kinesiology. She is the Assistant Artistic Director of Alafia Dance Ensemble and she also performs with Aquas Da Bahia and Mixtiso. Other past performances includes work for Rhythm Tropical and Project Reconnect. Most recently, Ms. Morales has choreographed for the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. She has taught children at the Mission Cultural Center and Sanchez Elementary School. She has taught adults at JacobÕs Pillow, City College of San Francisco and the Marie Brooks Pan-Carribean Dance Company. This is Ms. Morales' first year with SFArtsEd.
Melinda Neal-Cofresi
Ms. Neal-Cofresi is a BFA candidate in dance at Saint Mary's College. She trained at the Oakland Ballet Academy under Ronn Guidi and has also studied locally at Shawl Anderson and the San Francisco Dance Center. She is certified to teach Ballet by the Dance Masters of America. She has performed with Simply Pasquale, Napoles Ballet Theatre, California Ballet, Udance Electra, New Trails Dance Theatre, Oakland Ballet Academy and Solano Civic Ballet. She is the Artistic Director and Choreographer for Halal Ballet Theatre, a non-profit youth ballet company. She also teaches for Dance Network. This is Ms. Neal-Cofresi's first year with SFArtsEd.
Luis Quiroz
Mr. Quiroz is a Dance Major with a double Major in Cinema at San Francisco State University. He is trained in the dance forms of ballet, jazz, modern and hip-hop. He was a performing member of Eveoke Dance Theatre in San Diego for three years. While in San Diego he also performed under the direction San Diego Dance Theater's Jean Isaacs. He has taught dance residencies for children in grades that range from first to seventh grade. He has also taught youth Hip-Hop classes. This is Mr. Quiroz's first year with SFArtsEd.
Rebecca Weisser
Rebecca Weisser brings her love of dance in all its forms to children of all ages throughout San Francisco. She has been teaching dance to children and adults for the past 10 years. She currently dances with Mixtiso, a Latin Hip Hop group that mixes Salsa, Cumbia, Samba and other Latin dance forms with Hip Hop. She was trained at Luna Kids' Summer Dance Institute to teach the elements of Dance (Time, Space, Force, etc.) through creative movement. She fuses individual exploration with community building dances. Her classes include everything from Hip Hop to Hula to Bhangra to Square Dance. Children are encouraged to create their own movement and work together to perform fun and challenging choreography. This is Ms. Weisser's fourth year with SFArtsEd.
Dramatic Arts
Michael Cappelli
Mr. Cappelli received his MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College. He is an actor with over 15 years experience working in regional and local theatres. He has also written and directed several plays including Possessions and Slowdance. He has performed at venues that include the NewGate Theatre, Perishable Theatre, Coyote Theatre, Theatrezone, Boston Instant Fringe Festival, Boston Theatrics!, Wilde Stage and Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre. He has taught at the Aquarium of the Pacific, New York Film Academy and P.S. Arts in Southern California. This is Mr. Cappelli's first year with SFArtsEd.
Laura Lowry
Laura Lowry is thrilled to be teaching for SF Arts Education this year. She has been a teaching artist in the Bay Area for over two years. During this time she has taught for Marin Shakespeare Company, Word for Word Theatre Company, CalShakes, New Conservatory Theatre, StageWrite, Malcolm X Elementary, Contra Costa College for Kids and SF Arts Education. She is currently the Drama teacher at Bradeis Hillel Day School where she teaches K-8th grades. She received her MFA from FSU/Asolo Conservatory and studied Shakespeare in London with Patsy Rodenburg, teacher at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After graduate school, she moved to New York City, where she continued to study Shakespeare at The American Globe Theater. When she is not teaching she is performing at venues all around the Bay Area. Some of her favorite Bay Area roles include Angel Face in Angel Face (Word for Word), Kathleen in Hard Laughter (Alter Theatre), Lady Caroline Bramble, Enchanted April (Porchlight Theatre Company) and Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story (Cinnabar Theatre).
David Rosenthal
Actor, teacher, voiceover artist, director and private coach, David received his BA in Theatre, Anthropology, and English Lit. from Sarah Lawrence College. He also studied acting in NYC at Herbert Bergoff Studios and in San Francisco with Richard Seyd. Cast in over 60 national commercials, television and film roles, David has also voiced hundreds of characters for video games by Sony, EA, Xbox, Sega, and Nintendo. Directorial and coaching credits include Kids on Camera, Kittredge School, Mercy High, Freeman School, SFUSD, Young Performers Theatre, and Lilliput Players Children's Theatre. He has 20 years of teaching experience, and works with all ages, from pre-school to seniors. Mr. Rosenthal has taught for SFArtsEd's Summer Camp for many years. This is his third year as an Artist-in-Residence with SFArtsEd.
SF Arts Ed Players Staff Biographies
Emily Keeler - Producer/Artistic Director/Choreographer
Ms. Keeler has worked as a professional dancer and choreographer in the San Francisco Bay Area for over thirty years. She served as dancer and resident choreographer for the San Francisco Moving Company and was a principal dancer for Cliff Keuter New Dance Company and the Joe Goode Performance Group. Ms. Keeler has choreographed dances for many companies including Joffrey Dancers, DanceArt and Oakland Ballet. She also has choreographed for George Coates Performance Works, Magic Theater, The Pickle Family Circus, Make*A*Circus, American Conservatory Theater and several Z Space productions. She is a recipient of four National Endowment for the Arts Choreographers' Fellowships. Ms. Keeler has been Artistic Director of the San Francisco Arts Education Project since 1985 and serves as Artistic Director and choreographer for the SF Arts Ed Players. She has worked as a guest artist at School of the Arts for five years and served on the San Francisco Arts Commission from 1994 to 1997.
Camille Olivier-Salmon - Program Liaison/Choreographer
Ms. Olivier-Salmon is the founder and acting Artistic Director of Brisbane Dance Workshop. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Choreographic Design and was an American Dance Festival and National Dance Guild scholarship recipient. She has studied and performed professionally in New York City, Louisiana, and in the San Francisco Bay Area. A mother of three, she has been teaching children's dance for over fifteen years. She has been working with Artsed since 1985. Ms. Olivier-Salmon is one of the choreographers for the SF Arts Ed Players.
Danny Duncan - Theatrical Director/Dramaturge
Danny Duncan is a native San Franciscan who has worked in the Bay Area most of his life. As founder and Artistic Director of Duncan & Company, he toured the West Coast for seven years. Duncan's writing career began in 1969 with Uhuruh, which appeared Off Broadway in New York at the City Center Theatre. Since then, he has authored and produced eight original musicals including Billie’s Song -- winner of six Bay Area Critic Awards, including Best Musical of 1982. He is also the recipient of the Bay Area Critics Circle Award for his choreography for Theatreworks production of RAISIN the musical in 1998 as well as the Dean Goodman Choice Award for outstanding achievement in theatre. For five years Duncan served as Artistic Director for the Mayor's Summer Youth Program (Bayview Hunter's Point) and for ten years with United Projects, an arts organization that trained young people in the performing arts. Duncan has written the librettos and song lyrics for eight of the San Francisco Arts Education Project's Events. Mr. Duncan has a long association with the School of the Arts and has taught at the American Conservatory Theater. He has been associated with Artsed since 1991.
Natalie Greene - Choreographer
Natalie Greene is a performer, choreographer and arts educator who received her BFA from Arizona State University. Her choreography has appeared in Italy’s Montescudaio Amphitheatre, Club Principe in Granada, Spain, and for three funny years in Phoenix’s weekly “Farce Side Comedy Hour. ” Natalie’s work has been seen locally at ODC Theatre, John Sims Center and the College of San Mateo. She has performed with Kelly Kemp/raw footage, Leyya Tawil/Dance Elixir, Kim Epifano/Epiphany Productions and is currently working with Mary Armentrout. This is her third season with the Event Players and she has truly enjoyed bringing this story to life.
D. Rosenthal - Assistant Director
Actor, teacher, voice over artist, director and private coach, David received his BA in Theatre, Anthropology, and English Lit. from Sarah Lawrence College. He also studied acting in NYC at Herbert Bergoff Studios and in San Francisco with Richard Seyd. Cast in over 60 national commercials, television and film roles, David has also voiced hundreds of characters for video games by Sony, EA, Xbox, Sega, and Nintendo. Directorial and coaching credits include Kids on Camera, Kittredge School, Mercy High, Freeman School, SFUSD, Young Performers Theatre, and Lilliput Players Children's Theatre. He has 20 years of teaching experience, and works with all ages, from pre-school to seniors. Mr. Rosenthal has taught for
SFArtsEd's Summer Camp for many years.
Dan Kryston - Set Designer
Is the head of the Technical Theatre Dept. at SOTA. Mr. Kryston received his degrees in Theatre Directing and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University and Regis University. He has worked as artistic director for the Berlitz Gallery Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona and has been an active force in San Francisco’s cabaret scene. He has directed and designed over 120 productions nation wide for such companies as the Ravens Conservatory Theatre in Chicago; The Black Friars, in Washington D.C. and the New Conservatory Theatre and Lamplighters, here in San Francisco. He is currently directing Follies for School of the Arts.
Kathleen Moore - Wardrobe Mistress
Ms. Moore has been designing and coordinating costumes for the San Francisco Arts Education Project since 1994. She was Wardrobe Mistress for three years for Lenwood Sloan’s Jubilee Minstrels. She has also done costuming for Oblong Rhonda Dance Theater, TRANSIT Dance Company, Brisbane Dance Workshop and Emily Keeler for Summerfest. During the daytime hours, Ms. Moore is the Administrative Coordinator for the San Francisco Arts Education Project. She also performs with TRANSIT Dance Company and teaches creative movement and dance to senior citizens in the Tenderloin community.
Linda Ricciardi – Costume Designer & Builder
Linda Ricciardi is a designer, milliner and builder specializing in sculptural costumes and soft sculpture props for theater. Ms. Ricciardi’s experience, while including numerous projects for stage, also includes projects for television, dance, and opera. Some of Ms. Ricciardi’s notable projects include Broadway musicals (Spamelot, The Producers, Seussical, the Musical, The Lion King), Radio City Music Hall (Pokemon, Scooby Doo Live, Blues Clues), The Lincoln Center Festival (My Life as a Fairy Tale), and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Pericles). Ms. Ricciardi recently moved to the Bay Area after working and living in New York City for ten years. Her recent projects in addition to Artist in Residence at School of the Arts include; Prop Maker for the tour of Spamelot; Milliner for the show Passing Strange at the Berkeley Repertory Theater; Hat designer and Milliner for the play Far Away by Caryl Churchill. Linda lives with her boyfriend Oliver and her cat Leo in San Francisco.
Diana Lee - Musical Director
Diana Lee is currently finishing her Bachelor's degrees at UC Berkeley in Music and Physics. She is primarily trained as a classical pianist and cellist, and she participates in the University Symphony and various other chamber groups. She believes in sharing the joy of music with kids, teaching both piano and cello privately, and also takes interest in applying her musical background to other musical areas, making her involvement with the Players the perfect opportunity for both. She began with SFArtsEd in the summer of 2008 as an accompanist and vocal coach and is excited to continue being a part of it this year.
Henry Shin – Musical Director Consultant
Henry Shin currently serves as assistant conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra and the San Francisco Civic Orchestra. He has also served as music director of the UC Berkeley Summer Symphony for three summers, assistant conductor of the USC Concert Orchestra, and has made several guest conducting appearances with the USC Thornton Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.
Mr. Shin’s principal conducting teachers include David Milnes, Carl St.Clair, John Barnett, and Larry Livingston. He has also attended master classes taught by Kurt Masur, Marin Alsop, Gustav Meier, Daniel Lewis, and Stanislaw Skrowavczewski. Recently, he has been the recipient of the of UC Berkeley’s Alfred Hertz Memorial Traveling Fellowship, where he studied with Carl St.Clair at the Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle Weimar in Germany. He began his musical training on the piano at the age of four, and later on the cello. He received his B.A. in music from UC Berkeley and his Master’s at the USC Flora L. Thornton School of Music in orchestral conducting. Mr. Shin has worked with SFArtsEd for several summers in their SFArtsEd Summer program and marks his first year with the SFArtsEd Players this year.
Robert Cowan - Vocal Director and Accompanist
Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Robert J. Cowan holds a degree in music and philosophy from Gonzaga University with extensive studies in K-12 music education. He has taught and directed choirs and bands in middle schools, high schools, and a college throughout Washington and California, has instructed a number of private students in vocal performance and piano, and currently teaches at Spindrift School of the Performing arts in Pacfica. An avid performer, Rob has enjoyed recent appearances as Papageno (The Magic Flute), Bill (Kiss Me, Kate), Jud (Oklahoma!), Officer Lockstock (Urinetown), and The Cat in the Hat (Seussical). Rob is also a scholar of liturgical music and serves as music director at St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church in Oakland. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Music in vocal performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
