Early Childhood Educator in Toronto, Ontario

As a lifelong learner, I love to share my skills and knowledge - and my passion for learning - in a way that caters to the specific needs of individuals and groups. Using play, movement, art and dialogue, I am able to help even the most hesitant of learners to gain confidence in their abilities. A visual and musical artist, I have been involved in our local community for many years, coordinating and launching my gallery exhibitions, performing in small improvisational theatre groups and African music performance troupes. I have also volunteered to teach hoop dancing and flow arts to children at rehabilitation centres, and have had radio and television appearances here as well as abroad (e.g., Cape Verde and Gambia). For more than 20 years, I have consistently utilized my excellent organizational, time-management, technical and networking skills to manage and coordinate everything from national events to complex databases and course schedules within an educational environment. My work has required a high standard of tact, diplomacy, ethics, cultural sensitivity, and patience. I've listed below some of my training and education in hopes that you will get an overall glimpse of the scope and range of my skillsets. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Dance and Music • Voice training: Gali Jen (2 years and ongoing) • World music vocal training: Tamar Ilana, Cheka Katenan Diabate, Muhamadou Saho (1 year and ongoing) • Piano: RCM - Grade 8 plus all theory certificates • Banjo: bluegrass (3 years) • West African kora (21-stringed harp/lute) - Noumoucounda Conde (Senegal); Jali Hammay (Gambia); Faty Diebate (Cape Verde) - frequent trips to study • Song, Dance and Percussion of Ghana - Prof. Kwazi Dunyo, University of Toronto (1 year) • Zimbabwean mbira/kalimba: training with Stella Chiweshe and Mutamba Rainos - (7 years and continuing) • Dance and performance program: Habeeba Egyptian Dance – (6 semesters) • Bellydance, percussion, Arabic singing: Om Laila Studio – (2 semesters) • Drum and Dance of the West African Traditions: Ijovudu Dance Company – (6 semesters) • Ballet: City Dance Corps – (2 semesters) • Egyptian dance, props and Arabic music theory: Hannan Studio – (3 semesters) • Modern dance workshops: Coalition of Black Artists – Casimiro Nussi, Bakari Lindsay, Kevin Ormsley, and others • African dance workshops - various visiting masters such as Mohamed Diaby, Fara Tolna, Billy Manden Konate, and others Clown, Flow and Movement • Mask and Movement: Faustwork Studios – Rob Faust • Jeu, Bouffon and Performance: Pia Bouman School for Ballet and Creative Movement: – Adam Lazarus • Theatrical Clowning: Big City Improv Festival– Kristen Schier • Structure and Writing: Centre of Gravity Circus Training Centre – Allan Turner • Hoop and flow arts - Sugar Hoops and Jonathan Baxter (3 years) Visual Art • Old Masters Drawing and Painting: Avenue Road Arts School – John Viljoen (6 semesters) • The Still Life and Figure: Fredericksburg Artists School, Texas – Master David Leffel • Byzantine Mosaic Techniques: Studio Arte de Mosaico, Ravenna, Italy– Lucciana Notturni • Fine Art, Sculpture and Painting: University of Toronto (3 semesters) The Second City Training Centre • Improvisation performance program – (5 semesters) • Longform improvisation program – (3 semesters) • Genre-based improvisation program – (3 semesters) • Musical comedy improvisation – (2 semesters) Bad Dog Theatre Company • The Epic Narrative improvisation program (3 semesters) FORMAL EDUCATION: University of Toronto B...... in Psychology, Criminology, Anthropology - Ongoing, part-time studies Focus: Statistics and statistical analysis, writing and composition, cognitive psychology, criminal law and procedure, legal regulation of morality, language and society, social justice issues and communities, sociolinguistic anthropology, visual arts (sculpting), performance art of west Africa Diploma in New Media and Technology Management - 1997-199... Focus: Public speaking and presentation, media relations, communications, creative marketing and events coordination, website design and management, internet delivery technologies, multimedia interface design and development, computer programming, digital imaging and design Diploma in French - 1995-199... Focus: Spoken and written French language skills, grammar and vocabulary