Navaro
is a cultural translator inspired by ancient traditions
of earth based music, rhythm, and dance. She is deeply interested
in the current movement of traditional knowledge into present
day context, and how it can be brought forth to support
consciousness, community, and healing in our modern world.
Navaro
draws from over 20 years of experience as a student, teacher
and performer in many forms of dance and music. She has
spent many years playing within community and professional
music groups, and taught thousands of people in private,
corporate, school and retreat center settings.
She
has studied widely, spending 3 years in the Zimbabwean Music
community here and in Southern Africa, primarily with Marimba
Muzuva, and the Chigamba Family and their band Mhembero,
studying dance, drum and Mbira (the 22-key African Thumb
Piano). She spent 3 years intensively studying and performing
as a key member with Gordy Ryan and his 25 piece drum ensemble,
Island Rhythm. Gordy Ryan was a 26 year member of Drums
of Passion, the group of renowned Father of the Drum in
the West, Babatunde Olatunji.
Navaro
has co-created with Vancouver percussionist, world music
specialist and celebrity Pepe Danza for the past 4 years,
in duet performance and teaching work as well as co-directing
Pepe's band Drum Prayers. She currently co-creates DivaDrum,
an all female rhythm & movement quartet. Her drumming
experience includes training in Brazilian Batucada and Japanese
Taiko drumming. Navaro is also a dancer who has worked with
tribal, trance, ecstatic and healing movement forms for
over 20 years. She studied Western Dance forms (Improvisation,
Contact and Modern), African dance, as well as cutting edge
Ecstatic Dance explorations such as the work of Gabrielle
Roth's 5 Rhythms, and Leyollah Antara's Kundalini Dance.
Navaro is currently a founding
member of DivaDrum, holds ongoing
weekly Rivers of Rhythm Drum Classes,
and regular Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journeys.
Call
or email Navaro to facilitate events in Corporate, Community,
Festival, and Retreat Center settings: Workshops, Performances,
School Shows, Dance Events & Private Instruction in:
~ African Hand Drumming & Chants ~
Mbira (the 22-key African Thumb Piano) ~
Healing Movement / Ecstatic Dance, and Tribal Dance.