VENUS RISING
All-Woman African Drumming & Dance Ensemble
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VENUS RISING
View a Video OF VENUS RISING performing Live! (click on Link below):
The incredible feminine energy of this special ensemble is a wonder to experience. The women of Venus Rising have beauty, talent and an attraction which invites the audience to stay for their entire performance.
Venus Rising is led by the Founder and Organizer;
Zeva, is a very talented lead Djembe Drummer who plays the djembe with incredible enthusiasm. Zeva has an great energy and has the ability to direct the ensemble with her energy and spirit.
The other half of the show are the Dancers of Venus Rising. They are a joy to watch. Your heart will leap as the dancers present their dance programs along with the rhythm of the drummers.
This exceptional all-female drumming and
dance ensemble has a wonderful effect. Everyone enjoys the experience
of listening to and watching the awesome drum calls and music arrangements,
accompanied by the beautiful dance programs, African and Middle Eastern
costumes worn by the dancers.
Ms. ZEVA
(Director of Venus Rising)
Zeva started playing drums in Jamaica where she fell in love with Niyambinghi (and other Afro-Caribbean) rhythms. After returning to Miami, she performed with local reggae bands (including the infamous, Johnny Dread) until she discovered the magic of the djembe. As part of the cultural organization, Journey to Africa (under the direction of Cedric Im Brooks), Zeva helped bring the music of Africa into various South Florida communities. Her study and performance of traditional West African rhythms continued with djembefola, Andre Crosby (of Trinidad & Tobago) in Nankama 2000. Some of her other teachers include Tra-Bi Lizie, Bli-Bi Gore, Abou Sylla, Jan Sebon!, Saidouba Camara, & Professor Slap . In addition, she is a founding member of Mundo Vibe and is featured on the CD, Caribbean Percussion Traditions in Miami.
One of Zeva's greatest joys has been to teach African music to children which she has done as a drum instructor for the non-profit organization, Harambee, Inc., and as an accompanist for Urgent, Inc.'s annual Rites of Passage program. In 2000, Zeva was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Guinea, West Africa to study the djembe in its native context with L'Ensemble Symphonique Traditionelle de Guinee (directed by Sekouba Camara). As an accompanist and soloist, Zeva has performed with various dance and theatre companies including Black Door Dance, Oriki Theatre, and Re-Create & Move. Currently, she works with Children of Kuumba (directed by Anita MacBeth), Delou Africa (directed by Njeri Plato) and Takada Women's Ensemble (directed by Corrina Fitch).
Ms. Sheila Alexander:
Instruments: Djun Djun, Shakerea, Krin
Originally from the Philadelphia area, Sheila studied dance with Arthur
Hall's Afro-American Dance Ensemble at Ile Ife in Philadlephia. Sheila
is a former member of Spirit African Dance Ensemble (Philadelphia), Diaspora
African Dance Ensemble (Philadelphia), and Mundo Vibe (Miami). She studied
Djembe and Djun Djun with Eric Bli-Bi Gore, Djian-te, Jan Sebon! and Andre
Crosby. Currently, Sheila plays Djun Djun with Venus Rising, Delou Africa
Dance and Drum Ensemble and Children of Kuumba.
Sheila believes in the spiritual energy evoked by the drums and feels
she is honoring the spirit of the ancestors that played the drums before
her. Her primary goal is to continue to learn, create and share this powerful,
healing and uplifting music.
As a young girl, Kwayera dreamed of being a dancer. At the age of 10,
she won her first dance contest at her school's talent show. At the age
of 12, she joined the school band as a majorette and cheerleader and traveled
for two years with the school's basketball and football teams. At the
age of 17, she won several dance contests on a local TV show, Dance Aroma,
located in Washington, DC.
She became interested in African dance in the early 90's and began studying
with various groups in the Washington DC area. Kwayera later joined Washington's
own Kankouran West African Dance Community Company under the leadership
of Asane Conte, Founder, Director, and Choreographer of the company. She
studied with Kankouran for seven years and was awarded an apprenticeship
certificate.
In the fall of 1997, Kwayera relocated to Miami for a job career in aviation
with the FAA while she continued to dance with Anita McBeth's Re-Create
& Move Dance Company. Later she joined The Children of the Caribbean
Dance Ensemble which then merged with Delou Africa Dance and Drum Ensemble.
Kwayera believes that the cultural diversity in Florida has broadened
her performing arts experience in Afro-Cuban
For a very special experience, ask for Venus Rising.