ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS

M’BEMBA BANGOURA: M’Bemba Bangoura has traveled the world as a performer and teacher of the Djembe drum and dances of Guinea, and he is revered for his high level of mastery. As a native of Guinea, West Africa, M’Bemba began playing the Djembe at the young age of seven. By the age of twenty-one, he was acclaimed as a master drummer and was invited to play for Ballet Djoliba, the national company of Guinea, working with other drummers to create the company’s musical arrangements for the movement performances. M’Bemba was also a member of Les Ballet Africains and the Ballet of Conarky. Since moving to the US in 1992, M’Bemba has been an integral part of the entire drum and dance scene nationwide. He has taught hundreds of students, many of whom are now teachers themselves. In addition, he has personally created choreography and developed repertoire for dozens of dance companies worldwide. Working throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, his style is infectious. He has recorded solo albums, and volumes of DVDS called “Wamato: Everybody Look!”. M’bemba has been a guest artist on dozens of other recording projects, videos, and films. Dedicated to teaching drumming, dancing, and his culture our of his base in New York City, M’Bemba is one of the most prominent ambassadors for Guinean drum and dance.

GERMAUL BARNES: Germaul Barnes is a dancer and choreographer and founder of Viewsic Dance. He received a 2003 dance Bessie Award. Barnes was born in Phoenix, Arizona, where he studied at The Center of Performing Arts at South Mountain High School, Phoenix School of Ballet and Ballet Arizona. He continued his dance training at the University of the Arts-Philadelphia. In the early part of his career, he performed with Bill T. Jones/Arine Zane Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Jose Tmim, Movement Source Dance Company, Group Motions Dance Company, Pacific Conservatory Theatre, and as guest performer with numerous ballet and contemporary dance company worldwide.

As Director of VD his work has been seen at Central Park Summer Stage, Institute of Contemporary Arts/Boston, and The Kumble Theater for the Performance Arts and the International Dance Theater in Lublin, Poland, and Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden and The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre in Vitebsk, Russia. In 2015 he choreographed an original musical based on the life of Bob Marley.

He has taught at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Belarus International Modern Dance Festival, Boroditski Denis Dance Camp, dance Immersion in Toronto, National Theater of Ghana, Lublin International Dance Festival, Joffery Ballet Jazz & Contemporary Intensive, Restorations Plaza Youth Arts Academy, and Dance Olympus.

Germaul has received critical acclaim for his work across the globe, including his choreography and performance in the 60×60 project’s 60×60 Dance at the World Financial Center Winter Garden Atrium.

VIVINE SCARLETT: The Founder of dance Immersion, Vivine Scarlett is an administrator, choreographer, and instructor, whose artistic goals and aspirations are rooted in the love of dance. 

Vivine’s contributions to the field of dance are generated from an energy that has led her on a journey for over 35 years of giving and serving through the arts. As former Artistic Director and performing member of the Usafiri Dance & Drum Ensemble, Vivine created and presented works in both traditional influenced African and contemporary dance styles. Drawn to all forms of dance expressions and movement, Vivine’s passion has manifested many experiences that have served Canadian artists of African descent. She has taught for numerous institutions and organizations throughout Canada and continues her creative explorations as a freelance choreographer.

Vivine is a recipient of a Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award. Her choreographic endeavours in the theatre production of “The Adventures of a Black Girl in search of God” won her a Dora Mavor Moore award in 2002, and her work in “The Freedom of dreams: The Story of Nelson Mandela” received a Dora nomination in 2003. Vivine is the recipient of the 2011 Planet Africa Heritage Award for her contributions to dance.  In 2008 she received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship to work with youth in Ghana, West Africa. She is the 2005 K.M. Hunter Dance Artist award winner, and the 2021 Toronto Arts Foundation Muriel Sherrin award winner for her outstanding contribution to the arts.