STAFF BIOS

DANCE DEPARTMENT

FRANCIE JOHNSON – DIRECTOR OF DANCE/MODERN DANCE & DANCE FUNDAMENTALS INSTUCTOR

     FRANCIE JOHNSON has been teaching dance and performing for 8 years, including at Alvin Ailey’s Arts-In-Education Program and Ballet Hispanico.  She has performed professionally on stage, television and in videos in addition to training in Dakar, Senegal and has received a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She recently received her EDD from New York University. Ms. Johnson has experience teaching students of varying ages and levels.

MATINA BANKS – BALLET

     MATINA BANKS has been studying dance for nearly 20 years.  She has studied and taught all techniques ranging from Ballet and Jazz to African, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Modern.  She has taught all over New York City, presenting children of all ages and ethnicities the opportunity to create and perform their own work.  As an Artistic Director, she has created musical theatre pieces for performance using storytelling and dance from around the world.  As a dancer she has performed with different companies and organizations including, Shades of Expression Dance Co., Onyx Productions and STEPS on Broadway.  Together with her students and peers she is creating a dance company, the Silent Fire Project, which will be active in the New York City community beginning next year.

JOCELYN RIVERA – HIP-HOP

   JOCELYN RIVERA, born and raised in the Bronx, has been dancing since the age of 6.  Initially a self taught artist, she began her career performing in various talent shows and community events.  At 16 she caught the eye of a music director who offered her a position teaching a Hip-Hop dance class at the Rights to Passage program around the neighborhood she was raised in.  Soon, she was introduced to the KR3T Dance company were she began advancing in various styles such as Latin and Break Dancing, eventually becoming an assistant choreographer.  She is proud to have worked with well known artist such as Snoop Dogg and Mario as well as opening for such artist as Ashanti, Bow-Wow and Destiny’s Child. Still touring with various artists Jocelyn teaches dance in her native Bronx, giving back to the community that helped mold and shape her artistic aspirations.

 MICHELLE SUMMERS – AFRICAN DANCE

    MICHELLE SUMMERS has been teaching dance for over more than fifteen years in a variety of disciplines including Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Latin, Tap, Afro Brazilian and West African dance.  She has been a featured performer at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, Aaron Davis Hall Theatre, The Apollo and the Viva Brazil Dance Company among others.  Ms. Summers is also an accomplished choreographer with extensive film and TV experience and also has a strong background as an arts administrator.  She has received her dance training at the Alvin Ailley American Dance Center, Hunter College, Lehman College, the Clark Center for the Performing Arts and the International African Ballet Center while also receiving her Bachelors in Dance and Education from Hunter College. 

PHILLIP “SPANKY” WILLIAMSON – DJEMBE (AFRICAN DRUM), ACCOMPANIST

     PHILLIP “SPANKY” WILLIAMSON is an accomplished and respected musician beloved by students and professionals alike for his passion and skill on the djembe and songba.  He has performed both live and in the studio with the venerable Dinizulu, La Rocque Bey, Ralph Dorsey, and many more.  He is also drums for the African dance classes at Harlem School of the Arts as well as other schools throughout the New York City area.   His association with Mind-Builders goes back close to 20 years. 

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

BILL APOLLO BROWN - DIRECTOR OF MUSIC PROGRAM

    Bill studied composition, theory, classical piano and trombone at the University of Bridgeport, Western Connecticut State University and continued his studies under a special scholarship at Temple University. Bill further studied composition with Giampolo Bracaldi of the Manhattan School of Music and jazz piano with Bill O'Connell.   He also performed and collaborated with accomplished dancers and choreographers, including Freddie Moore, Karen Arceneaux and Susan Matheke, who commissioned numerous compositions of Bill’s work. As a pianist and composer, fueled by his love for jazz, classical music, gospel and rhythm & blues, he has put together various ensembles to explore combining these different musical styles. His music has been commissioned and performed by the Orchestra New England, the Bridgeport Symphony, the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, and other chamber music ensembles. Bill presently serves on the musician/faculty staff at The Ailey School. His twenty-six years in music education has nurtured Bill's abilities as a teacher, music educator, and jazz ensemble director.

CHARLES CARRINGTON – PIANO

    CHARLES CARRINGTON, a native of New York City, grew up in the church of which he continues his membership today. Charles attended Ithaca College in upstate New York, and received a B.A. in Sociology.   Charles has performed throughout the United States as well as in Japan, Italy, Sicily, Aruba and Canada. A partial list of musicians, groups and dancers which have called upon his talents include: Christian comedienne/author- Pat G'Orge-Walker, Arlene Smith and the Chantels, The Toys, The Marvelettes, The Drifters, The Intruders, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Persuasions, Maxine Brown, Lenny Welch, Ollie Woodson, The Toru Oki Blues Band, Bob Cunningham, Rashid Ali, Montego Joe, Mark Whitfield, Najee, Pepsi Bethel and Honi Coles.   Charles has appeared on cable television shows as a solo artist as well as with his group and other aggregations in both New York City and Tokyo, Japan. He presently is on several shows that are being aired on Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bronx cable television stations.

Charles has recorded and produced four of his own jazz CD’s: I’ve Got Something To Say, After The Love, After The Love II and All to God's Glory.  Charles knows that he is blessed, and thanks God daily from whom all blessings flow.

KAREN DAVIS—KEYBOARDS & GUITAR

    KAREN DAVIS, singer/songwriter/guitarist and actress holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University. Her teaching experience includes extensive work as a teaching artist with Hospital Audiences, Inc., C.R.E.A.T.E. and the New Jersey Montessori School as a group music class teacher. Karen is now producing her fourth CD while she performs original music at festivals, coffeehouses and churches.

GEOFFREY DUCE – PIANO

     GEOFFREY DUCE holds a masters degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Great Britain and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. A lecturer in music theory at the Manhattan School, he has also won numerous awards and performed widely throughout Europe. Mr. Duce has private teaching experience to varying levels and ages.

YUKO FUJIYAMA – PIANO

     YUKO FUJIYAMA was born in Sapporo, Japan where she majored in classical music at the Hokkaido Educational College.  After moving to the United States in l987, she began performing her original improvisational music in and around New York City (Knitting Factory, Merkin Concert Hall, & the Texaco NY Jazz Festival), as well as overseas  (France, Germany, & Switzerland).  She has performed as a lead collaborator with Billy Bang, Mark Feldman (violin), Roy Campbell (trumpet), and a host of other fine musicians. 

DAVE GIBSON—DRUMS

     DAVE GIBSON is the leader of his own quintet which performs at venues throughout the world. Recently, Dave and his fine group performed for Harlem week with Jazzmobile. Mr.Gibson has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Temple University in Philadelphia and is currently working on his Masters in Jazz Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Gibson has taught at the Harlem School for the Arts, and is in his second year with Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center.

BERNELL HENRY (TWEEDY) – STEEL DRUM

     BERNELL HENRY has been playing the steel drums since the age of ten and has played for over 40 years with a variety of different bands in his native St. Kitts (Maple Leaf, Caribbean Couret & the Upsetters) and here in the States with his band, The Caribbean Eagles, who will release a new album later this year.  Tweedy’s expertise also includes the guitar, the double tenor, single tenor, guitar pan and double second pan. 

THAIS HOCKADAY – PIANO/VOICE

     THAIS HOCKADAY is a vocalist, pianist and educator who began her studies at the High School of Music and Art. She obtained her Bachelors degree at SUNY Old Westbury and her Masters in Music Education at New York University. Thais is State Certified to teach in the NYC Public Schools and is a multiple recipient in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers. One of the many highlights of her educational career was receiving a special grant to run a summer music program for the Gershwin Foundation.  

LON IVEY – DRUMS

     LON IVEY is a professional musician with over 25 years of teaching experience in both private tutoring and collegiate-level music training.  He has studied at the Berklee School of Music (Composition Major/Percussion Minor) and at the New England Conservatory.  Mr. Ivey has taught at City University New York, York College, under Dennis Moreman and also has a Degree in Engineering from Boston University.  He has played alongside such greats as Angela Bofield, Sam Rivers, Freddie Scott, Grover Washington, Sam Rivers and Grace Jones.  He has been part of four world tours playing in Japan, Africa, Europe and South America.  Mr. Ivey is a renowned Percussionist, Composer & Arranger with his own personal recording studio.

ADAM POWER – PIANO

     ADAM POWER has played guitar for over 19 years in a variety of styles including rock, jazz, R&B, blues and funk. Mr. Power studied Jazz Harmony, Theory & Improvisation at The New School of Jazz (Parsons). He has played with the Cafe Wha Band and the Harlem Gospel Choir as well as many original rock-soul projects gigging locally at Kenny’s Catsaways and CBGBs. Mr. Power has been a secular musician for 18 years playing Christian rock and leads his own Christian Rock Trio - Universe – where he plays lead guitar and lead vocals and guitar.  Mr. Power has been teaching since 1997 at many music centers including the Charosa Foundation in Queens, the Palumbo Music Center and at the Jamaica

TANYA WILLOUGHBY – VIOLIN

     TANYA WILOUGHBY is an accomplished violinist-protégé of the late violinist, Noel Pointer. She is also a pianist, organist, writer, actor, vocalist and comedienne. As a composer, she has earned several Gold Albums for her work with Luther Vandross and drummer, Lenny White. She has appeared on television’s General Hospital and the David Letterman Show and with artists such as Gloria Estefan, and Enrique Iglesias. You can see Tanya in three Spike Lee movies and “The Veil,” an upcoming movie written and directed by Leon Pinkney. As a violinist, she has performed with Bad Boy recording artist, Black Rob. Tanya is a teaching artist at Evander Childs High School; vocal instructor at Goddard Riverside Community Center; taught music theory at The Manhattan Theater Lab School; at I.S. 92 in East New York (Brooklyn); violin at P.S. 136 in St. Albans, New York. She is currently the minister of music at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Harlem. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.

MARIA WITHERSPOON – PIANO

     MARIA WITHERSPOON is a graduate of Hampton University where she received her B.S. in Music Education.  An accomplished musician in her own right, Ms. Witherspoon has performed throughout the world with engagements in London and the Caribbean Islands as well as local institutions, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.  Ms. Witherspoon has been teaching music since 1988 and currently teaches piano and voice in the New York City public school system.

POSITIVE YOUTH TROUP

ANKH RA AMENHETEP - POSITIVE YOUTH TROUP–TEEN MUSICAL THEATER

     ANKH RA AMENHETEP is a musical director, composer, producer, performer and vocal instructor. For ten years as the musical/vocal director for the Mind-Builders Positive Youth Troup, he has directed, scored and toured six Positive Youth Troup musical theater productions. Mr. Amenhetep has also directed productions for other New York City organizations, such as the New York State Education Department, City Kids Foundation, the Nite Star Theater, All Saints Catholic Church and many others. In addition, he has substantial recording credits, including; “Time Warner Children’s Story Series”, “The Drummer’s Path”, a solo CD, “Wisdom”, and much more.  Mr. Amenhetep’s dedication and commitment has earned him several awards including; the Father Figure Award, the Shield Community Contribution Award, the Champion of Youth Award, and the Special Community Service Award.

DR BEVERLY ROBINSON COMMUNITY FOLK CULTURE PROGRAM

JADE BANKS – DIRECTOR OF FOLK CULTURE    

    A literary and creative force, Jade! (Jade D. Banks) is a publisher, writer, poet, arts educator, community worker and author of ON BEING FAT, BLACK AND FEMALE. Founder of Iman Books, she is publisher and executive editor of the literary journal, SIGNIFYIN' HARLEM, as well as the youth literary journals, KEEP IT REAL!, SLAMMIN', SOUL POWER & CYPHER!, each a culmination of youth poetry and publishing workshops for teens served within the New York City School System and Harlem at-large. Jade! is Director of the Community Folk Culture Program at Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center and was the 2005-2006 poetry/spoken word artist-in-residence for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Junior Scholars Program) where she co-edited its newsletter, as well. Jade! also serves as lead teaching artist and exhibit educator for the HARLEM IS... public art exhibit, for which she created accompanying curricula, workshops and walking tours of historic sites. Furthermore, Jade! facilitates poetry workshops for the New York Public Library, served as tour manager for the U.S. Hottest Poets International Slam Team in London, is featured in the HBO/Cinemax documentary, CUTTING EDGE, and was also filmed for the documentary, BLACK NEW YORKERS. Jade! is a member of The Harlem Arts Alliance, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Studio Museum in Harlem, Hottest Poets and Teachers & Writers Collaborative.

ADMINISTRATIVE

MADAHA KINSEY-LAMB – FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

     MADAHA KINSEY-LAMB is Executive Director and Founder of Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, a 27 year-old cultural institution for children and adults in the Northeast Bronx, New York.  As an educator, Madaha had a vision of one day starting a full day academic school.  The impetus for Mind-Builders came outside of her job as Education Director at Pius XII’s North Bronx Family Service Center when she found herself searching for quality music and dance classes in their neighborhood for her then-four-year-old daughter.  She started Mind-Builders in 1978 renting space from Crawford Church where her daughter had been attending city day care.  The waiting lists and level of community participation indicated that many other parents and families shared the need.

In addition to having been a public school teacher, Madaha has also worked as a community folklorist, staff developer, education consultant and/or curriculum developer for Community Works’ acclaimed civil rights project and traveling exhibit, The Long Walk to Freedom; with Educators for Social Responsibility, Citylore; Weeksville Preservation Society and the New York Folklore Society, in addition to work with other organizations, churches and schools.  In 1988, under the mentorship of UCLA professor and master folklorist Dr. Beverly Robinson, Mind-Builders instituted its first community folklore program - a project that continues to train local teens to identify, document and present the folk artists and traditions “discovered” in their families, neighborhood, borough and city. 

Madaha holds a Masters in Educational Administration, a Bachelors in Elementary Education and a NYC public school teaching license in addition to training in her artistic side as a writer/poet.  Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center has been recognized by private and governmental agencies as a nationwide model for community-based preservation of the culture of African, African American, Caribbean and Latino peoples and for quality community-based arts instructional programming.

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