beat tree dance collaborators

Knight, Amber P., MC

Amber P. Knight is an award-winning actress with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, and concentrations in Theatre, Dance and Human Services from Fitchburg State College were she was awarded the Leadership in the Arts Award. She has acted in the Americulture Arts Festival, for three years with supporting roles in "Captains and Courage," and "To Kill a Mockingbird", and had a leading role in a main stage production of "A Piece of My Heart".  Amber P. was also the Winner of the Region 1 American College Theatre Festival's Irene Ryan acting scholarship. This gave her the opportunity to perform in competition at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Her producing credits include a shared choreographers concert at the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA.  Producer/Creator of the Phoenix Festival, a theatre arts festival for families in Summer 2004, performed in various locations in the Greater Boston area. She has also written, produced and performed three one-woman shows that she has toured with through Massachusetts. She is currently doing creativity coaching and teaching dance for woman who live in bigger bodies. Click here for Amber P's blog.

Lumsden, Kimani

Special thanks to to the musical group, Justice (Just-us):, especially Kimani Lumsden, who appeared in the first Beat Tree concert. Justice: Kimani Lumsden, Sipho Bellinger, Eric Freeman, and Steve Huey.

N'Diaye, Pape

Pape N’Diaye is a master dancer, instructor and choreographer from Senegal, West Africa and has toured throughout Africa and around the world. Since 1989, he has danced with numerous world-renowned companies, including the Ballet National L’Aliguère du Senegal, Cinquihme Dimension, Compagnie Jant-Bi, Ballet Sinomew, Forêt Sacrée, and the Manhattan Dance School. He has extensive training in all styles of traditional West African dance as well as in contemporary dance forms. In 2004 he made his home in Boston where he is known for teaching dynamic, high-energy djembe and sabar dance classes. For more information visit www.papendiaye.com

Smith, Nasya, Spoken Word Artist

Nasya Smith has been writing poetry since she was 12 years old. She remarks, “I've been doing spoken word in Greater Boston for 6 years. A significant amount of my poetry is a result of journal writing; this medium has been an effective way for me to express myself. If anyone is ever having a hard time with expressing his or her feelings I highly recommend keeping a journal. It has definitely worked for me.” Learn more about Nasya's work at myspace.com/blackgirlpoet