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At the start of each academic year, LEAF Schools & Streets works to match available Artist in Residence, Resident & Easel Rider Teaching Artists with community centers and after-school programs for year-round programming. Teaching Artists work with youth, teaching them their performing art through rich, hands-on learning experiences that culminate with an opportunity for youth to perform on-stage at LEAF, or complete a final visual arts project, as well as other performance and workshop opportunities throughout their individual communities.
At the start of each academic year, LEAF Schools & Streets works to match available Artist in Residence, Resident & Easel Rider Teaching Artists with community centers and after-school programs for year-round programming. Teaching Artists work with youth, teaching them their performing art through rich, hands-on learning experiences that culminate with an opportunity for youth to perform on-stage at LEAF, or complete a final visual arts project, as well as other performance and workshop opportunities throughout their individual communities.
Former LEAF Schools & Streets Resident Teaching Artists
Amy Hamilton, Artimus Pyle, Asheville Urban Arts Institute, Ben Gradison, Bobby Fish, Christine Garvin, Dave Hamilton, DJ Kutzu, Dominique Scales, Edward Link, Edwin Salas, Erinn Hartley, Ersel “Garfield” BoganGary Bradley, Graham Hackett with Catalyst Poetix, Hunab-Kru, Imhotep, Ingrid Johnson, James Nave’, Jeanette Zwieg, Jeff Knorr, Jess Wharton, Jonathan Santos, Jon Cooley, Katie Oaks, Kelly Hanson, Kenya Webster, Kuumba Zuwena, Larissa Lopez, Lisa Abeling, Lola York, Lyric, Melanie MacNeil, Melina Palumbo, Michael Hayes, Nadirah Rahman, Nina Ruffini, Teren Gaskin, Ryulee Park, Skyler Goff, Kylie Irvin
LEAF Schools & Streets has a long legacy of talented teaching artists who have helped shaped who we are, where we’ve been, and have helped pave the way for where we may go. We are forever grateful for their contributions and we honor them as an integral part of our organization.
Angela Miracle Gladue aka Lunacee, is a nêhiyâw (Plains Cree) /Greek Powwow Dancer and Bgirl and Beadwork Artist from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who started cultural dancing (Metis & powwow) at age six and continued her dance career as a Hip-hop dance artist since 2003.
She has been invited to perform, teach and speak to countless countries throughout the world and since 2016, has toured the world as one of the lead dancers for The Halluci-Nation (Formally A Tribe Called Red). More recently, she was selected for the 2023-2024 cohort for The Kennedy Center Culture Caucus and has been invited to teach and perform at the Kennedy Center on multiple occasions.
Selected accomplishments include: Choreographing and performing at the 2017 Juno Awards, first place at the Canadian Hip-hop Championships and World Hip-Hop Championship Bronze Medalist with her crew the FlyGirlz, and recipient of the 2015 Chief David Crowchild Memorial Youth Award for demonstrating outstanding community leadership through Hip-hop and Powwow dance in the city of Calgary.
She has also opened up for major recording artists such as TLC, Sean Paul, Lil’Kim, Maestro, Grandmaster Flash and Busta Rhymes to name a few.
It’s a “neo-tribal hootenanny” — original “voice and percussion” based songs with a generous dose of audience participation. The music mixes conventional instruments (guitar, bass, marimba) with homemade creations (using buckets and barrels, keys and cans, bells and body percussion). Billy tailors both his song selection and its presentation to uniquely suit each audience. It’s spirited, straightforward music that is accessible to anyone and everyone, regardless of age or cultural background. The big-tent festival quality of Billy’s music facilitates connection and community while fostering inspiration and — most importantly — FUN.
Billy Jonas has shared stages with many renowned artists, including Alison Krauss, Peter Yarrow, Keb’ Mo’, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea, Paul Winter, Michele Shocked, Justin Bieber, Ani DiFranco, David Wilcox, Richard Thompson, and Pete Seeger. His upbeat, engaging presence encourages active audience participation. His concerts are a magical mix of stagecraft and wholesome, open-ended, anything-can- happen spontaneity. Billy Jonas offers family and adult oriented concerts, primarily with his three or four piece band. Billy’s educational concerts include study guide materials and are usually booked in conjunction with a public performance in a community.
Voice of Haiti! Boukman Eksperyans’s Grammy-nominated debut “Voudou Adjae” introduced their worldly high energy sound fusing traditional Haitian rhythms with rock and reggae. As Haiti’s most well known musical group Boukman Eksperyans has also become the defacto voice of the Haitian people. In addition to their performances their workshops and lectures on Haitian art, music and culture make the group popular with universities. These workshops have recently been expanded to include discussions about Haiti’s Earthquake, relief and reconstruction.Boukman continues to mesmerize audiences in the Caribbean, the Americas, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Africa. *Caribbean Traditions*
The incomparable and uber-talented Chinobay is a Ugandan musician and Educator who has led workshops, camps, and residencies worldwide. He is the founder and producer of Dance of Hope, Africa’s leading youth-based arts education program that allows youth from vulnerable communities to lead music and dance workshops, extended residencies, while connecting with global communities through cross-cultural experiences.
While his music may at first seem foreign, Chinobay illustrates the shared roots of global musical styles with those of his native Uganda and its surrounding regions of Africa, highlighting the history and connection Africa has with the rest of the world. He has visited hundreds of schools, colleges, and learning institutions to introduce Africa’s history, music, and culture to students in classroom settings.
In 2007, LEAF International partnered with NC musician David LaMotte who led PEG Partners – a non-profit organization focusing on issues of literacy, critical thought, and artistic expression, in partnership with Guatemalan schools and libraries. Through this connection, LEAF supports teaching artists in El Tejar to provide after school music and cultural arts programs. Classes are designed by teachers to not only give children a firm base in the instrument they are learning but a firm base in the history of Guatemalan culture.
Lead culture keeper Sara Morales has been teaching for LEAF for 16 years, and currently teaches classes with her students two nights a week. An avid music lover and an individual proud of her Guatemalan heritage, she finds teaching for LEAF International not only a rewarding opportunity but important work. Why? She tells us that this work is meaningful to her, “because art is to share and it is very important to teach our traditions to our youth so that they value and appreciate our culture. When our students perform music it gives importance to our traditions. The people in our community value the work that we do, and our students are a positive example for other young people in our community who think only foreign music has value. We are preserving our culture by passing it down to new generations. This work is important because there are fewer spaces [for our traditional culture] because of globalization.”
James Navé is a poet, teacher, and storyteller with over 10,000 presentations to his credit. He holds an MFA in Poetry from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA in International Relations from UNCA. His latest book of poems, 100 Days: A poetic memoir after cancer, will be published by 3: A Taos Press in late spring 2023. He co-founded the Imaginative Storm Writing Project and co-author of two Imaginative Storm books: Write What You Don’t Know: Ten Steps to Writing with Confidence, Energy, and Flow and How to Read for an Audience.
He launched The Artist’s Way Creativity Camp with Julia Cameron, the author of the popular book on creativity, The Artist’s Way. In addition, as a founding member of the performance company Poetry Alive! and beyond, he has memorized over 600 poems, performed poetry shows, and taught writing, creativity, spoken word, and public speaking worldwide, including in Nouakchott, Mauritania, Galway, Ireland, Bangkok, Lima, and throughout the US.
Marcos Augusto Napa Ormeño, born in Lima, Peru, has dedicated his career to Afro-Peruvian music and dance. As a child, he started as a dancer in the Ballet Peru Negrito, and in 1983, he made his debut as a professional percussionist in Ballet Perú Negro. Marcos performed with Perú Negro in many countries such as, Mexico, France, Panama, USA, Chile and more.
After his time with Ballet Perú Negro, Marcos accompanied the Peruvian singer, Eva Ayllon. They performed in numerous concerts in the U.S., Canada and Japan. Between 1993 and 1997, he took part in recording and videotaping productions entitled, “Gracias a la Vida”, “Para Tenerte” and “25 Años 25 Exitos”.
Marcos has also performed and recorded with many celebrated Peruvian artists including Juan Castro Nally, Cecilia Bracamonte, Lucila Campos, Mariela Valencia and Maria del Carmen Dongo.
In 1995, he founded Ebano Academy in Peru. Three years later, he traveled to the United States with a dream “to spread the rich Afro-Peruvian heritage”. In Miami he was invited to join the “Asi es mi Peru” Ballet as an instructor of Afro-Peruvian dance.
In 2003, he open Ebano Academy in New York, also work for CTMD Center for the Traditional Music and Dance NY (2,005-2,016) offering workshops and presentations of Afro-Peruvian music and dances at Lincoln Center, Queens Theater, and Central Park among others. He was a teacher in United Nations UN and artistic director of Pachamama Peruvian Arts (2,004-2,013) and also worked from (2,007-2,015) in public schools in Bronx NY with WHEDCO After school programs. Marcos Napa was a Music and Dance teacher at Casa Esperanza Montessori, Spanish for fun! And The Arts Center Carrboro and currently works at CAPS of Durham Arts Council.
The legendary Masankho K. Banda learned the fine arts of storytelling and dance from his elders. In their company, he spent many long days and nights listening to stories and dancing to music that captivated his mind, nourished his soul, and strengthened his spirit.
Masankho earned a degree in Theater and Dance from the College of Wooster in Ohio. After graduating, Masankho chose to devote his life to using dance, theater, music, drumming, and storytelling to inspire people of all ages to work together to bring about peace, social justice, and cultural understanding.
In addition to his BA Masankho also has a Masters Degree in Culture & Spirituality from the Sophia Center at Holy Names University in Oakland. Currently Masankho is a Consultant with Creative Events Consulting & Investments, a member of Pathways To Peace an International Peace Building organization based in Larkspur, CA and an Interplay leader with Bodywisdom, Inc.
Founded in 2010 and based out of Charleston, South Carolina, the Dancing On Air Crew also known as D.O.A has been representing hip-hop culture, inspiring youth, and showcasing their skills all throughout America for the last 13 years. Even with some members competing and performing overseas, the goal has always been the same. Show the world what southern breakin’ is all about, more specifically Carolina breakin’.
Made up of 8 members with ages varying from 22 to 28, the code of the crew has always been this, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be whatever you want to be, just start dancing and see what happens.”
Harmonies. Soul-touching lyrics. Eye-catching stage presence. Underhill Rose has become synonymous with beautiful music, charming personalities, and rippling success. Since 2009, the band from Asheville, North Carolina has independently released two albums in the top of the Americana Music Association Airplay Chart and Roots Music Report Chart, all the while garnering critical acclaim from around the globe. Get to know the joyful soaring voice of Molly Rose and her acoustic guitar and the distinctive styling of Eleanor Underhill’s open- back banjo and salty-blues vocals. Their close harmonies and charisma make most think they are sisters, and with their song-centered original compositions, Underhill Rose creates music that is real and inspired. See them on PBS Television, hear them on nationally-syndicated radio and at live performances, and you will know why Underhill Rose has carved out a distinctive place in the Americana-folk scene.
Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina-based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere. Their 2020-21 singles have all charted in the Bluegrass Today top 20 including “California” #1 “Irons in the Fire” #2 and “Carolina and Tennessee” #4. Their 2019 release from Mountain Home Music Company, Myths We Tell Our Young, debuted at #5 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and has seen 5 top- charting radio singles, including a #1 spot on the Bluegrass Today chart for “Dark Side of the Mountain.”
Their material is mostly original and reflects the ever-changing culture of Western and Central North Carolina where they call home. The band has earned a fervent following in the Southeast, selling out shows in Asheville, NC as well as the legendary Station Inn in Nashville, TN. They have also performed twice on the coveted Watson (main stage) at MerleFest. With heavy airplay on Sirius XM’s Bluegrass Junction and ever-growing streaming numbers, Unspoken Tradition is a fast-rising voice of a new generation of roots music artists. Their debut recording, Simple Little Town (2013) saw quick success in radio and with tastemakers. Their follow-up release, Miles Between was featured on the nationally syndicated NPR show The World Cafe. Represented by Advance Artist Support , Unspoken Tradition plays nationwide.
After connecting in New York City’s underground music scene, Natalia Clavier and Andrei Matorin joined forces to birth VOXMANA. Together, they produce what they like to call “Intentional Dance Music” or IDM, electronic dance music that creates a context for healing.
Fusing their multi-cultural backgrounds Clavier and Matorin mix everything from electronic, world music, jazz and blues to Argentine folklore and Brazilian MPB in a unique cocktail, brewing sonic medicine for all types of audiences. Their music is a call to celebrate life on the dance floor and awaken through deep embodied journeys with infectious grooves.
Andrei and Natalia have entertained large audiences all over the world with their immersive, genre- bending sonic experiences rooted in classical and jazz traditions with a modern twist. Clavier is an Argentinian singer, songwriter, DJ, keeper of medicine songs. She has three solo albums under her belt and has performed live and written songs as lead singer for internationally acclaimed electronic world music duo Thievery Corporation.
Brazilian born Matorin is a virtuoso violinist, composer and producer featured as a soloist at such prestigious institutions as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, MoMA, and TEDx. He also received the great honor of graduating Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music.
Adama Dembele is a master djembefola (djembe player) from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Born into a family of musicians, he has toured several continents with various major acts such as Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Affou Keita, Sogona Djata and many others. Adama has played in several drum and dance companies such as Yelembad’abidjan, Ensemble Koteba, Congoba and many more. In 2002, in collaboration with Siriki Sanogo, Adama founded Djembeso CI Drum and Dance Ensemble. “Djembeso” in the West African dialect Bambara means “the house of djembe.” Adama chose that name because his family has been playing the djembe for 33 generations and his native home was known as the house where the djembe is played. In 2005, Adama moved to the U.S. to perform and teach the sacred art of West African drumming. Since then he has played in major cities all over the United States. Currently, Adama resides in Asheville, NC, where he frequently performs and teaches authentic rhythms from Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea, West Africa.
Otto is an internationally acclaimed Broadway dancer, instructor,
choreographer & street dancer. Aquaboogy (who honed his craft in Miami & New York) has stellar credits: Pitt Bull, Ne-Yo, Kanye West, i-Luminate from America’s Got Talent, Diesel NYC, Dr. Pepper’s 2013 “One in a Billion” Nat’l Commercial, toured the world with the Broadway Series show, “Break, The Urban Funk Spectacular”, Cirque Du Soliel, Donald Trump, Run DMC, VH1, MTV, The Heat, The Knicks etc. Aside from an impressive dancing career, Otto enjoys teaching the trade to others, and leads workshops on dance with his wife, Jessica, around the nation – teaching about the history and culture behind hip-hop dance.
Influenced by the vibrant and diverse musical traditions of his home-country of Costa Rica, Agustin pursued an education in music, social behavioral sciences, and jazz studies in Florida, catapulting him into the world of musicianship. He is a performer, touring and recording drummer and percussionist, sound engineer, music producer, and composer, with esteemed credits across the United States. As a percussion teacher, Agustin’s mission is to awaken life, positivity, and joy. Agustin accesses his extensive repertoire of knowledge and skill in drum set, orchestral percussion, hand drums (Latin, African, Middle Eastern), marching and rudimental percussion, percussion ensemble, and Brazilian percussion to custom tailor programs that cater to the needs and goals of the individual or group. No matter the aim, percussion’s global roots can offer a direction.
Lisa Smith began filmmaking as a teen, where she quickly came to love the medium for its cross between creative potential and technical challenge. Her first project at Carleton College, was a multiple award-winning documentary about four goth teens in Northfield, MN. She immersed herself in the collaborative potential of movie production and taught both as a college student. Her work has been screened twice on PBS, San Francisco & Ft. Lauderdale film festivals, and in the Walker Art Center’s Independent film series; she built a production studio in Key West and used it to make documentaries and commercials. She currently teaches both live-action and stop-motion film to kids of all ages.
The incomparable and uber-talented Chinobay is a Ugandan musician and Educator who has led workshops, camps, and residencies worldwide. He is the founder and producer of Dance of Hope, Africa’s leading youth-based arts education program that allows youth from vulnerable communities to lead music and dance workshops, extended residencies, while connecting with global communities through cross-cultural experiences. While his music may at first seem foreign, Chinobay illustrates the shared roots of global musical styles with those of his native Uganda and its surrounding regions of Africa, highlighting the history and connection Africa has with the rest of the world. He has visited hundreds of schools, colleges, and learning institutions to introduce Africa’s history, music, and culture to students in classroom settings.
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