Staff Members
Rolia Manyongai-Jones, Director
503-709-7540
[email protected]
Imagine a young girl in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, seeing herself as a teacher in America. This Lady had that dream! She saw herself becoming a teacher in America, armed with a repertoire of African dance, music and history, and eager to share this rich African culture with White America, Black America and Multicultural America at large!
Through much struggle and hardship, she never lost sight of her dream. It was nurtured and protected, and today she is living that dream. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Health Education, and six credits shy of achieving her Master's degree in Multicultural Education.
Her dream has been realized in her professional occupation of second and fourth grades teacher at Woodlawn Elementary School and as Director of the Kúkátónón Children's African Dance Troupe based at Woodlawn.
In concert with local professional dance instructors, musicians and Woodlawn students, she has had the privilege of developing and sharing with the community a renowned, award winning dance program, that even after 25 years, continues to thrive and in addition to showcasing the talents of our children, continues to broaden the multicultural experiences of many Oregon communities. If you watch the Blazer telecasts, you have probably seen her dancing away at my seat for the very best team in the West. Her passion in life is to open doors for all children to become the best that they can be. It takes a whole village to raise a child, and she is just one of the villagers touching the lives of young children.
Dana Ingram
503-381-1045
[email protected]
Born and raised in NE Portland, Dana is committed to her community and enriching the lives of others through the artful form of dance and cultural music and self expressive dance style. Dana entered the world of professional dancing as a core performer/dancer of the Northwest Afrikan American Ballet Company in 1990 where she toured and performed for 12 years. During this time, she performed locally and internationally at world renowned festivals in South Africa and Europe.
Dana specializes in teaching and performing African dance and various forms of hip-hop and street jazz. Dana’s current and ongoing dance company affiliations and involvement are with Urban Arts Dance Company-Artistic Director, Sebe Kan Dance Company-dancer/performer and has performed with Deowati.
Toward Dana’s mission to give back to the community, Dana founded High Steppers Drill & Dance Team through the Blazers Boys & Girls club, and serves as the choreographer/dance instructor for
Kúkátónón African Dance Troupe and co-founded Urban Arts Dance Company. She regularly conducts dance community workshops and donates her choreography and time to schools and other organizations.
Dana herself and/or her dance companies have performed for small and large organizations such as the Nike Global Fashion show, Portland Trail Blazers, Community little league banquets, The Portland Observer, churches, Charity basketball games, and school assemblies. Dana has been hired for her performance and/or choreography at da Vinci Arts, Repertory Dance, DanceScape, Urban Arts workshops, Rose Festival Parades, Friends of the Children, and Portland State University to name a few. She has also been contracted by the African American Health Coalition and SUN Schools Program.
Hakim Rashad-Muhammad
503-307-2463
[email protected]
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Hakim has been playing drums and percussion since the age of nine. He received his training in West African style drumming from Senegalese Master Drummer Medoune Yacine Gueye. In February of 2006, he traveled to Dakar, Senegal, to participate in a month long drumming intensive program. He has taught workshops at several universities in the Northwest and has performed with the Northwest African American Ballet. Hakim has been a drummer for the Kúkátónón African Dance Troupe based at Woodlawn Elementary School for nineteen years and has been playing for Jefferson High School African dance classes for over twenty years. He currently teaches a class in African Drumming at da Vinci Arts Middle School.
Derrell Sekou Soumah Walker
503-679-7858
[email protected]
Derrell Sekou Soumah Walker is a talented dancer and rummer from Portland, Oregon. Sekou has performed with some of the greatest artists to ever come out of Guinea, the internationally acclaimed Les Mervelles D/Afrique, Balandougou Kan, and Les Ballets Africans. In his effort to bring Guinea’s rich culture of music and dance to the Northwest, Sekou continues to teach and organize tours for himself, as well as his teachers annually, traveling throughout the Northwest, California, Idaho, and Montana.
