Our Teachers
Teacher Bios
Jay Beck
.•West African Drumming
Jay Beck is an accomplished and seasoned percussionist, drum-maker, and educator who has been performing, teaching, touring and recording for over twelve years. He began studying djembe in highschool under Senegalese friends in Buffalo, NY, moved to Detroit and studied Afro-Cuban drumming while in college for cross-cultural studies. After spending a summer in Africa, he attended many sessions and master classes led by the legendary Malinke djembefola Mamady Keita. He has led workshops, cultural assemblies, and ethnic music classes in every venue from elementary schools to universities and large music festivals. He has performed with numerous groups including Madison Greene, Woodspeak, Miranda Stone, The Factorye, Phillybloco, and Psalters. He believes the drum is a mighty *weapon with two edges–one that heals and ones that cuts away. The drum was given to us by God so we can fight the spiritual forces of darkness on earth and in the heavenly realms.
Dawn Mehan 
•West African Dance
Dawn began studying West African Dance after being inspired by a performance by N’Bonye Drum and Dance Ensemble. She started learning traditional dances from Djian Tie, Master Dancer from The Ivory Coast and lived with Male’ Fainke, a member of The Griot society and master djembe player from Mali. She started performing and later joined N’Bonye Dance and Drum Ensemble. This year, she began teaching West African dance to ‘at risk’ youth as part of E.M.T.A.H, Educational mentoring through the arts and Humanities.
Mike Stevens 
•Brazilian Samba
Mike Stevens, Founder of Unidos da Filadelfia, a Philly-based Samba school, is a percussionist in the Brazilian super-group Alo-Brasil, and musical director of Phillybloco, Mike is a talented drummer and teacher who has been performing in various groups around Philadephia for several years as well as studying under the masters in Brazil. He started the school and the ensemble to further education about Brazil and it’s rich culture.
Gillian Beier
•Belly Dancing
Gillian is an experienced dancer who has been learning, teaching, and performing the art of belly dance for over 5 years. She began her study in Missouri under the direction of Petite Nadirah, with whom she also began to teach. She continued growing her art under instruction of Megan Hartmann and Kandice Grossman in Missouri, Angelique Hanesworth and Sera Solstice in New York, and most recently Valerie Rushmore and Najia of Pennsylvania. Gillian’s classes connect her students to the roots of the Turkish and Egyptian folk dance while embracing its history and evolution as it has spread across the world. Her classes are designed to provide her students with belly dance fundamentals that prepare them for performance while building their confidence and strengthening their bodies.