LSS Resident Teaching Artists

LEAF has the opportunity to impact youth beyond the festival experience. Support from LEAF artists and festival-goers allows LEAF to provide resources where art and culture are void in schools and communities.

                                     Lisa Zahiya - Hip Hop Dance

Burton St. Center ~ supported by the
Grassroots Arts Program Grant from the
North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Deaverview Learning Center ~ supported by LEAF MemberSHIP and by Children First/Communities in Schools

Lisa Zahiya is one of LEAF’s most dedicated and beloved teaching artists – but she says she’s not “teaching” her young students: “I want them to feel like they have the ability to create something amazing,” she says. “I always say that we are co-creating our dance, not me teaching them something.

Lisa moved to Asheville from Baltimore in 2006, at first teaching belly dance in the River Arts District’s Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance studio. Within a couple of years, she opened her own Studio Zahiya downtown, which offers classes in styles ranging from belly dancing to bhangra to hip-hop. Lisa has been working with kids in LEAF Schools & Streets programs since 2008 – the same year she won a competition to earn the title of “Tribal Fusion Bellydancer of the Universe.”

Lisa has also led LEAF’s annual Benefit of Culture fundraiser, which showcases worldwide music and dance and celebrates global diversity.  The event raises money for both LEAF Schools & Streets and LEAF International. Last Decemeber, Lisa hosted a “Winter World Dance Spectacular” through Studio Zahiya, with proceeds benefitting LEAF Schools & Streets. A highlight of the evening was a dance performance by Lisa's Deaverview dance class, who joyfully hit the floor to show off their “Gangnam Style” moves.

“I want them to feel the awesomeness of standing on stage and being recognized for their work,” she says. “I want them to have moments of pure joy in their day when they are dancing." To learn more about Lisa, please see her website www.lisazahiya.com.

Imhotep - New Orleans Drum Line  

Delta House Life Development of Asheville, Inc. ~  Co-sponsored by Delta House and a Grassroots Arts Program Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center ~ Supported by proceeds from the Asheville Earth Day Festival.

Imhotep is a Native American from New Orleans, LA, who relocated to Asheville. He is passionate about carrying on the musical traditions of his New Orleans culture. Imhotep teaches song and drumming to local youth. He is also a drummer in a number of bands, including the "Absurdist Gypsy Folk Funk Punk" band, Sirius B., and Rising Appalachia. When Imhotep is not teaching, rehearsing or performing he works for Alternative Roots, a group that provides support to artists by helping them find venues. He also works for Red Zebra, a company that creates drumming exercises for corporate team building. His up-and-coming projects include creating a new band in Asheville and appearing in a local movie called Wanderlust. Imhotep has been a resident teaching artist for LEAF Schools & Streets since 2005.

Christine Garvin - Salsa Dance

Woodridge Learning Center ~ supported by proceeds from LEAF Benefit of Culture and by Children First/Communities in Schools.

Christine Garvin loves to combine three dance forms for a unique experience. She has taken dance classes with Aruna, former trainer of Cher, while living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is also a Hip-Hop and Bhangra/Bollywood dancer.  She is an exceptionally professional, self-employed business woman, and her passion for dance is inspiring. Christine is also a health writer who holds an MA in Holistic Health Education and is a certified Nutrition Educator. She believes everyone can dance and love their bodies fully, they just have to let go of that ridiculous notion of perfection and fully embrace having a good time. She is currently teaching Bhangra, Jazz, and hip hop dance classes while living in the Asheville area. Find out more at http://christinegarvin.com.

Kuumba Zuwena - African Drumming

Asheville Middle School - In Real Life after-school (IRL) ~ Supported by LEAF MemberSHIP.

Shiloh Community Center ~ Funded by a grant from the Ramble Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

Kuumba Zuwena is a New Folk Artist/Performing Artist/Singer who has appeared in operas, plays, and musicals. Kuumba went on to play many lead roles and was part of the Black Theater Touring Company.  She was the recipient of an Illustrator Award for Atlanta’s Women Shelter Publication and a Free Press Poetry Award. Kuumba is an intuitive counselor with more than 20 years of experience; a visual artist whose work can be found on posters and greeting cards; and a professional jazz and folk singer who performs at festivals, clubs and fundraising events. She performed in Jubilee’s World Beat Band from 2001 to 2006 and has played in venues all over Asheville as a member of a trio. 

Jonathan Santos - Poetry/Spoken Word

Asheville Middle School - In Real Life after-school program (IRL) ~ Supported by LEAF MemberSHIP.

Singer/songwriter, lyricist and guitarist, Jonathan Santos is rooted in the force of positive change! Known on stage as ‘Santos’, his soulful and poetic lyrics in conjunction with his acoustic melodies make for an introspective, soothing and soul-penetrating musical style.  Jonathan has a Bachelor’s of Arts from NC A&T State University and has been teaching guitar and singing for over 12 years.  He is passionate about teaching poetic/spoken word and songwriting to his students in afterschool programs. He works as a vocalist with the Grammy Award winning children’s hip hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, and has released three albums of his own. Santos currently resides in Asheville, NC. You can check out his music, videos, and other information at www.reverbnation.com/jonathansantos. 

Gary Bradley - Jazz

Delta House at Asheville Middle School ~ supported by The Dan Lucas Memorial Fund

Gary hails from the New England area where he began his music education and saxophone studies. He studied at Housatonic College and played R&B, top 40 and jazz in the New England area. Gary continued his education at LACC and in private study in Los Angeles. He has played with Ray Charles, Dolly Parton and James Ingram. He has also done some film and TV recording, including associations with Pepsi, Levi Corp., Nike Corp., and George Foreman. Gary has also taught at the Asheville Music School since 1999. He has been a resident teaching artist with LEAF Schools & Streets since January 2011.

Adama Dembele - African Drumming

Asheville Middle School - In Real Life (IRL) after-school program ~ supported by LEAF MemberSHIP

Shiloh Community Center ~ Funded by a grant from the Ramble Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

Erinn Huntley is the founder of Anam Cara Theatre Company (ACTC), with the mission of creating socially progressive theatre in her community.  In addition to serving as ACTC's artistic director, Erinn teaches theatre arts at a number of programs in WNC including LEAF Schools & Streets, Super Saturday at UNCA, and Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools (TAPAS). Before moving to Asheville, she attended graduate school for theatre at the University of Minnesota and worked in the Twin Cities for several years as a freelance designer, scenic artist and instructor.  Erinn has been a resident teaching artist for LEAF Schools & Streets since 2008. 

                                                                                      In memory of

                                                                Ben Gradison

Ben Gradison, founder and director of D-Street Studios, was a skilled producer, musician, and teacher who connected cultures and built communities through music both locally and globally. Before passing away in 2012, Ben established Recording Arts studios for young adults in Kenya, Tanzania, Columbia, and the Caribbean as well as the One Mic Studio at the William Randolph School in Asheville, NC. Ben also worked as a substitute teacher in all grades and subjects and later became a teaching assistant in a K-12 classroom. He studied political science and wanted to “create things that are positive, powerful and authentic" in his work with young people. Ben taught Audio Production as a LEAF in Schools & Streets Resident Teaching Artist from 2011 until he died in 2012.

In memory of

Kenya Webster
                                                                                          
Kenya, also known as Goundo Diabate was an educator, musician, teacher, performer, and lecturer. Before passing away in 2012, Kenya served as the director for the Shiloh Community Center and was the previous Future Vision Director for the YWCA of Asheville’s Teen Programs. Kenya coordinated a team providing opportunities for all voices to be heard, especially the voices of the arts. Kenya’s approach was often seen as holistic, therapeutic, and inclusive. Kenya’s degree is in Music from Brevard College and she incorporated her love for music and the arts into every aspect of her life. Kenya was very passionate about African drumming and the collaboration of international arts. Kenya was a resident teaching artist for LEAF in Schools & Streets from 2008 until she died in 2012.