History & Highlights
Navaro Franco has devoted her life to studying tribal music, dance and earth based traditions. She learned from renowned teachers in Africa and North America, beginning in 1981, and has been teaching and performing since1990. Presenting in community, corporate, and educational settings for over 20 years, Navaro shares the spirit and medicine in rhythm and movement. Her synthesis of traditional forms is shared from a current perspective. Navaro performed extensively with Pepe Danza, Gordy Ryan, Munkie Ncapayi, Jacky Essombe, Marimba Muzuva, and other African and World Music Ensembles, as well as working as an accompanist for musicians playing various Western styles of music.
http://www.navarofranco.com
http://www.navarofranco.com
PERFORMING GROUPS:
Current:
~ Kurai Mubaiwa, Zimbabwean Music http://www.myspace.com/zimbamoto
~ DivaDrum, World Rhythms & Dance http://www.navarofranco.com
~ Drum Cafe, Corporate Performance & Group Facilitation http://www.drumcafe.ca/
~ Bocephus King, Folk, Rock, Funk http://www.myspace.com/bocephusking
~ Rio Samaya, Latin Music http://riosamayaband.com/
~ Drum Prayers with Pepe Danza
History:
~ Paul Bray's Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, Sambata, 2010 - 2011
~ Jacky Essombe Village, West African Drumming & Dance
~ Hand Drum Rhythms, Jordan Hanson, Victoria BC
~ Pepe Danza, Afro-Latin and World Music
~ Kathara, Traditional Philipeno Music & Dance Ensemble
~ Marimba Muzuva, Zimbabwean Music & Gumboot Dance Ensemble
Current:
~ Kurai Mubaiwa, Zimbabwean Music http://www.myspace.com/zimbamoto
~ DivaDrum, World Rhythms & Dance http://www.navarofranco.com
~ Drum Cafe, Corporate Performance & Group Facilitation http://www.drumcafe.ca/
~ Bocephus King, Folk, Rock, Funk http://www.myspace.com/bocephusking
~ Rio Samaya, Latin Music http://riosamayaband.com/
~ Drum Prayers with Pepe Danza
History:
~ Paul Bray's Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, Sambata, 2010 - 2011
~ Jacky Essombe Village, West African Drumming & Dance
~ Hand Drum Rhythms, Jordan Hanson, Victoria BC
~ Pepe Danza, Afro-Latin and World Music
~ Kathara, Traditional Philipeno Music & Dance Ensemble
~ Marimba Muzuva, Zimbabwean Music & Gumboot Dance Ensemble
Teaching & Peformance History & Highlights:
~ Sambata, Braziian Percussion & Orixa Dance for Yemanja, Mela Festival 2011, Vancouver BC
~ Hapapalooza Mixed Roots Festival, Vancouver Roundhouse & Robson Square, Vancouver BC
Zhambai Trio,
& Student Group 'Orere' Performance
~ BC Labour Federation Drum Workshops for Women's Conference, Victoria, BC, 2011
~ Vancouver International Jazz Festival with Zhambai Trio
Drumming Instruction, and Performance with: N'Nato Camara (of the Guinea Ballet, and Cirque du Soleil)
~ Langara College Drum Workshop Presenter, Vancouver BC, 2011
~ Halifax's Renowned 'Drum!' Show, all Vancouver Winter Olympics Venues, Vancouver 2010
~ Vancouver Sacred Dance Festival:
Committee Member & Choreography / Dance Performance with Little Woo," Water Prayer", 2010
Committee Member & Choreography / Dance Performance: "Green Gaia, an Earth Prayer", 2009
~ Simon Fraser University Drum Workshop Presenter, 2010
~ Seattle World Rhythm Festival, Music & Dance Performance & Workshops, yearly 2005 to 2010
~ Maiwa Foundation, Annual Fashion Show: Choreographer, Dancer, 2006, 2008, 2011
~ BC Art Starts School Shows in Vancouver, with Mandido Morris's "Have Drums Will Travel", 2005 to 2007
~ Japanese Taiko Drum Training & Performance with Alisa Kage, Victoria BC, 2004
~ Waldorf Schools Vancouver & Vancouver Island: Rhythm & South African Gumboot Dance Instructor, 2000-2006
~ Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journey Facilitator, 2000 to present
~ BC Art Starts School Shows, touring in BC, with Marimba Muzuva, 1995 to 2000
~ Gordy Ryan's Island Rhythm. 25 Member West African & New Orleans Rhythm Ensemble:
Drums, Percussion, Dance, 1997 to 2000
~ Marimba Muzuva, Zimbabwean Music & Dance Ensemble, 1994 to 2000
~ Kumbia Latin Music Group, Percussionist, 1995 to 1998
~ Zimbabwean Music Festival, in the U.S. and Canada: Instructor, Performer, 1996, 1997, 1998,1999
~ Hollyhock Retreat Center, Cortes Island, BC:
Work Study Program Music Workshops in 1999, Dance Facilitator in 2000, Drum Workshop Presenter in 2001
~ Privately Taught Drum & Dance Classes 1987 to present, Montreal, Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Alberta, & Vancouver.
~ Sambata, Braziian Percussion & Orixa Dance for Yemanja, Mela Festival 2011, Vancouver BC
~ Hapapalooza Mixed Roots Festival, Vancouver Roundhouse & Robson Square, Vancouver BC
Zhambai Trio,
& Student Group 'Orere' Performance
~ BC Labour Federation Drum Workshops for Women's Conference, Victoria, BC, 2011
~ Vancouver International Jazz Festival with Zhambai Trio
Drumming Instruction, and Performance with: N'Nato Camara (of the Guinea Ballet, and Cirque du Soleil)
~ Langara College Drum Workshop Presenter, Vancouver BC, 2011
~ Halifax's Renowned 'Drum!' Show, all Vancouver Winter Olympics Venues, Vancouver 2010
~ Vancouver Sacred Dance Festival:
Committee Member & Choreography / Dance Performance with Little Woo," Water Prayer", 2010
Committee Member & Choreography / Dance Performance: "Green Gaia, an Earth Prayer", 2009
~ Simon Fraser University Drum Workshop Presenter, 2010
~ Seattle World Rhythm Festival, Music & Dance Performance & Workshops, yearly 2005 to 2010
~ Maiwa Foundation, Annual Fashion Show: Choreographer, Dancer, 2006, 2008, 2011
~ BC Art Starts School Shows in Vancouver, with Mandido Morris's "Have Drums Will Travel", 2005 to 2007
~ Japanese Taiko Drum Training & Performance with Alisa Kage, Victoria BC, 2004
~ Waldorf Schools Vancouver & Vancouver Island: Rhythm & South African Gumboot Dance Instructor, 2000-2006
~ Earth Prayers Ecstatic Dance Journey Facilitator, 2000 to present
~ BC Art Starts School Shows, touring in BC, with Marimba Muzuva, 1995 to 2000
~ Gordy Ryan's Island Rhythm. 25 Member West African & New Orleans Rhythm Ensemble:
Drums, Percussion, Dance, 1997 to 2000
~ Marimba Muzuva, Zimbabwean Music & Dance Ensemble, 1994 to 2000
~ Kumbia Latin Music Group, Percussionist, 1995 to 1998
~ Zimbabwean Music Festival, in the U.S. and Canada: Instructor, Performer, 1996, 1997, 1998,1999
~ Hollyhock Retreat Center, Cortes Island, BC:
Work Study Program Music Workshops in 1999, Dance Facilitator in 2000, Drum Workshop Presenter in 2001
~ Privately Taught Drum & Dance Classes 1987 to present, Montreal, Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Alberta, & Vancouver.
Studies
~ Joseph Pepe Danza, World Music & Rhythm, Vancouver, 5 year Mentorship 2001-2005
~ Taiko Drumming Training & Performance with Alisa Kage, Victoria BC, 2004
~ Mhembero Dance & Music Ensemble, Zimbabwe, 2000
~ Olatunji Music & New Orleans Funk with Gordy Ryan, 1997-2000
~ Various Teachers, West African, Zimbabwean and Latin Music, 1987-1997
~ First Nations Teachings, Pat Hendrickson, Lakota Ways, 1990-1993
~ Polarity Therapy & Energy Healing, Montreal, 1985-1987
~ Contact Dance & Improvisational Dance, Andrew Harwood, Montreal, 1985-1987
~ Peter Bingham & EDAM Experimental Dance & Music, Apprenticeship and Performance, 1982-1985
~ African Drumming with Mandido Morris, 1982-1985
~ Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Interdisciplinary Studies, 1982-1985
Personal History and Inclinations
My grandmother was a well known medium in Den Hague, Holland. My grandfather was a Consul, posted in London, England at the time my parents met. My mother eloped with my father, and I was born in Bonn, Germany. We moved when I was 5 to Vancouver, where I grew up. I am a West Coast person. The Pacific Ocean and the Gulf Islands are in my biology and my heart and soul. I lived in Vancouver till I was 23, then moved to Montreal to study dance and healing. After the conscious conception of my daughter Willow, one of my greatest teachers, her father and I moved to Hornby Island, BC, to have and raise her for a while. Here the community insisted that I teach them drumming, and through a supportive and wonderful group of women, my music 'career' was birthed. I had thought that I was moving in the direction of healing work thru hands on the body, however, life directed my interest in health and wholeness into rhythm - through dance, music, and the study of indigenous cultures. Desire for a wider musical community and knowledge then led me to the wonderful town of Duncan, in the lush Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. This coincided with the need to find a good place for my daughter to eventually school. She was a 'home-learner' (I would call it 'life-learner') for a number of years. During this time I lived in wonderful communities, and was surrounded by musical 'tribe / family....then Willow entered the Waldorf School in Duncan and graduated within that soulful and intelligent community.
My desire to further study music led me back to the smaller Gulf Islands, and on Cortes Island, the home of Hollyhock Retreat Center, and the meeting place of many exalted minds and creative souls, I studied with a great drummer from New York city, Gordy Ryan (of Olatunji's Drums of Passion). I spent 3 years there, learning much about music, living in community, and being close to the wilds of nature. I worked in the Hollyhock garden, while studying drumming and shekere with Gordy and his wife Zoe took up my major focus. Gordy's 20+ member performing ensemble met many times a week for study and practice. We performed on and off Island, traveling in a large school bus. The group was comprised of many amazing people. Amongst our members where Gregor and Amy Robertson, the creators of the Happy Planet Juice Company. Gregor is currently, and for some time now, Mayor here in Vancouver, BC, ( Feb. 2012 as I write). Amy Robertson is a creative dynamo who works with Vancouver's Farm Markets, grows food, raises the family, is an artist in her own right on many levels, and does umpteen beautiful community services. A veritable superwoman and an inspiration. These two and their family are an inspiration to me. Rather than the term 'the woman behind the man", I prefer the term, "the woman beside the man".
My journey with music led me to connect with many incredible people. Because my interest has been not only the learning of music, but also learning from the natural world - wild nature - and more natural forms of human society - small communities living close to the land - my musical work has been shaped accordingly. Learning rhythms, songs, and instruments was accompanied by many lessons about human creativity and co-existence. I learned that
~ Joseph Pepe Danza, World Music & Rhythm, Vancouver, 5 year Mentorship 2001-2005
~ Taiko Drumming Training & Performance with Alisa Kage, Victoria BC, 2004
~ Mhembero Dance & Music Ensemble, Zimbabwe, 2000
~ Olatunji Music & New Orleans Funk with Gordy Ryan, 1997-2000
~ Various Teachers, West African, Zimbabwean and Latin Music, 1987-1997
~ First Nations Teachings, Pat Hendrickson, Lakota Ways, 1990-1993
~ Polarity Therapy & Energy Healing, Montreal, 1985-1987
~ Contact Dance & Improvisational Dance, Andrew Harwood, Montreal, 1985-1987
~ Peter Bingham & EDAM Experimental Dance & Music, Apprenticeship and Performance, 1982-1985
~ African Drumming with Mandido Morris, 1982-1985
~ Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Interdisciplinary Studies, 1982-1985
Personal History and Inclinations
My grandmother was a well known medium in Den Hague, Holland. My grandfather was a Consul, posted in London, England at the time my parents met. My mother eloped with my father, and I was born in Bonn, Germany. We moved when I was 5 to Vancouver, where I grew up. I am a West Coast person. The Pacific Ocean and the Gulf Islands are in my biology and my heart and soul. I lived in Vancouver till I was 23, then moved to Montreal to study dance and healing. After the conscious conception of my daughter Willow, one of my greatest teachers, her father and I moved to Hornby Island, BC, to have and raise her for a while. Here the community insisted that I teach them drumming, and through a supportive and wonderful group of women, my music 'career' was birthed. I had thought that I was moving in the direction of healing work thru hands on the body, however, life directed my interest in health and wholeness into rhythm - through dance, music, and the study of indigenous cultures. Desire for a wider musical community and knowledge then led me to the wonderful town of Duncan, in the lush Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. This coincided with the need to find a good place for my daughter to eventually school. She was a 'home-learner' (I would call it 'life-learner') for a number of years. During this time I lived in wonderful communities, and was surrounded by musical 'tribe / family....then Willow entered the Waldorf School in Duncan and graduated within that soulful and intelligent community.
My desire to further study music led me back to the smaller Gulf Islands, and on Cortes Island, the home of Hollyhock Retreat Center, and the meeting place of many exalted minds and creative souls, I studied with a great drummer from New York city, Gordy Ryan (of Olatunji's Drums of Passion). I spent 3 years there, learning much about music, living in community, and being close to the wilds of nature. I worked in the Hollyhock garden, while studying drumming and shekere with Gordy and his wife Zoe took up my major focus. Gordy's 20+ member performing ensemble met many times a week for study and practice. We performed on and off Island, traveling in a large school bus. The group was comprised of many amazing people. Amongst our members where Gregor and Amy Robertson, the creators of the Happy Planet Juice Company. Gregor is currently, and for some time now, Mayor here in Vancouver, BC, ( Feb. 2012 as I write). Amy Robertson is a creative dynamo who works with Vancouver's Farm Markets, grows food, raises the family, is an artist in her own right on many levels, and does umpteen beautiful community services. A veritable superwoman and an inspiration. These two and their family are an inspiration to me. Rather than the term 'the woman behind the man", I prefer the term, "the woman beside the man".
My journey with music led me to connect with many incredible people. Because my interest has been not only the learning of music, but also learning from the natural world - wild nature - and more natural forms of human society - small communities living close to the land - my musical work has been shaped accordingly. Learning rhythms, songs, and instruments was accompanied by many lessons about human creativity and co-existence. I learned that
