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 The DivaDrum Collective, and holds ongoing weekly
classes with Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journeys, and
Rhythm Maps & Rivers of Rhythm Drum Classes.
Dancing
at Chai Gallery
A
recent DivaDrum Event: Nanaimo Rhythm Festival July 2008
A
short clip of me shakin' it up with the shekere here...Click
on YouTube clip above to see more!
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, Mbira & Healing Movement / Ecstatic
Dance, and Tribal Dance.
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.
