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AADE Dancers and Musicians
KWABENA OSEI APPIAGYEI (Musical Director) was born and raised in a family of traditional musicians in Ghana, West Africa. Osei follows in his family’s footsteps, surrounded by the traditional rhythms and instruments of his youth. He is also a master drum maker. Osei served as a master musician and educator for the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the University of Ghana-Legon and The Institute of African Studies for 13 years. He was an instructor in African percussion instruments at the School of Performing Arts in Legon. He has traveled extensively in Africa, Europe and Asia, and continues to tour with the African American Dance Ensemble. Osei most recently performed for the opening reception of the Lion King at the BTI Performing Arts Theater in Raleigh, NC, and has produced an original CD of traditional and contemporary African music. It’s available now, so don’t leave without one!
STAFFORD C. BERRY, JR. (Associate Artistic Director) has taught, choreographed, and performed African rooted dance and theatre throughout the United States. As a teacher, he is known for his terrific energy, warm spirit and clarity. As a performer, he has been called “a real standout among many talented individuals” and a performer “with great presence.” Berry has danced in works by Melvin Purnell, Dennis Wayne, David Dorfman, Assane Konte, Dr. Kariamu Welsh Asante, Dr. Bill Banfield, Penny Bridgers, and Dr. Chuck Davis. Originally from Chester, PA, Berry received his education in theatre, dance, and music from Temple University. He is eternally grateful for the knowledge imparted to him from several masters: Larry Wilson, Ernie Davis, Zadia Ife, Dr. Kariamu Welsh Asante, Dr. Yhema Mills, Jin Wen Yu, Gail Poch, Melvin Purnell, Craig “Spider” Moore, Jeannine Osayande, Hodari Banks, Ed Shockley, Youssouf Koumbassa, Amadou Bangoura, Trazana Beverly & David Hammond (Classical Theatre Workshop) and Dr. Chuck Davis. Serving as Assistant to the Choreographer for Kariamu & Company’s Traditions, in 1997, Berry was a principle dancer there for 5 years. He co-founded the Seventh Principle Performance Company in 1992, and in 1997 he co-founded the Berry and Nance Dance Project. Berry was awarded the 1994 Neumann Cultural Enrichment Grant to create a new work; and was certified as a teacher of the Umfundalai Technique in 1996. In 2000, Berry received a choreographer’s fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council which permitted him to conduct research in Guinea, West Africa with Les Ballet Africains. In 2002, he received a Cooper Foundation grant to collaborate with C. Kemal Nance on a choreographic project. Then in 2003 Berry and Nance received a new creation grant from the Five County Arts Fund in PA. Berry’s work - a combination of dance, theatre and music - can be seen in the archives of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
ELIZABETH DROESSLER(Technical Director) holds a BS degree in Dance and a M. Ed. in Theatre from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is the arts administrator for Wake County Public Schools and has enjoyed her association with Chuck Davis since 1983.
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