beat tree dancers

Arndt, Bekah

Battle, Venise

Venise Battle began dancing at the University of Pennsylvania, where she participated in African Rhythms Drum and Dance Troupe. She continues her study of West African forms by taking classes at the Dance Complex. Africa permeates her professional life as well. Venise teaches the Africa Central Subject at Shady Hill School.

Bryce, Heather

Heather Bryce, originally from Weston, CT, has been dancing since the age of two. She graduated from Marlboro College (Marlboro, VT) with a BA in Dance/Psychology in May of 2004 and moved to Boston soon after. Heather has training in Ballet, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Cuban, West African, Dunham Technique, Improvisation, Choreography, and Modern dance. In the summer of 2003, Heather traveled to Habana, Cuba for an Afro-Cuban dance intensive and studied with various teachers there including members of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba and artists such as Julian Villa. Additionally, Heather has performed and choreographed in many school and community performances, and taught creative movement to children with and without disabilities. In addition to dancing with Beat Tree, Heather dances with Kelley Donovan and Dancers, and has her own company, Bryce Dance.

Coomber, Baindu

A Native of Liberia, West Africa, Baindu Coomber has been dancing and performing for over ten years; in addition, she also shares her love for dance through choreographing and teaching. Over the years she has choreographed and performed with various dance companies and programs such as NESA, Infinity and the African Union at the University of MA. Besides African-based dance, her training includes Jazz, Modern, Ballet, Calypso, and Hip Hop; she’s also self-taught in Salsa, Bacchata and East Coast Swing. She has also performed in the University of Massachusetts’ “Return to the Motherland” and "The Vagina Monologues". She's always fascinated by the ways her life and dance influences each other.

Harkless, Marianne, Artistic Director

Marianne Harkless danced with the Art of Black Dance & Music, Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre, Danny Sloan Dance Company, Brasiliero, Inc. and Grupo Bandanca Afro-Brazilian Dancers & Drummers among others. She has taught and performed in New England, New York, France, Switzerland and Jamaica. She currently teaches at the Cambridge School of Weston and the Dance Complex in Cambridge.

Kabwe, Alice Tenjiwe (Lusaka, Zambia)

(currently on leave) Alice is also a member of Rainbow Tribe, a Boston based dance company. Alice has a passion for community service and youth outreach and has been dancing since elementary school. In college, she was a member of Tru Sole, Boston University's Step Squad where she served as the squad's coach for three semesters. Alice seeks to use step and movement as a means of self-expression and youth empowerment internationally.

Remy, Widmine, Founder and Director

Widmine Remy is a new choreographer but has danced with various companies in the area for years. Her love of dance began at a young age in her Haitian home, where dance and music were as big a part of everyday life as eating and sleeping. Widmine recalls laughing hysterically as her uncles burst into dance in her living room, with or without music; or competing for quarters with her brother and cousins in impromptu dance contests judged by their uncles. This lighthearted attitude and love for dance is evident in her choreography, which deal with various subject matters but revolve around using dance as a source of comfort and an expression of joy.

Rhine, Selena

(currently on leave) Selena Rhine, originally from Oakland California, has been involved in the dance community here in Boston since 2002. She is primarily engaged in traditional dance from Haiti and West Africa, as well as African influenced Modern dance. Selena performed with Beat Tree last year, as well as with Jean Appolon in collaboration with Carmina Lucinda, in the Green Street Studios Annual Fundraiser, with the Fantezi Kreyol Dance Company, and Sway Mambo.

Walters, Dayenne C. Byron

Dayenne Walters has danced with Frederick Hayes, Fatou N'Diaye, and Lamine Toure. She was a featured actor in “...for colored girls who have considerd suicide when the rainbow is enuf”, at the Strand Theater and has appeared for several years in the National Center for Afro-American Artists’ production of “Black Nativity”. She is also a painter and graphic artist.

Wilson, Alissa

Alissa Wilson has studied modern and West African dance as well as choreography and improvisation in New York City, at Amherst College and in Cambridge. Last year, she received an MA in international relations with a conflict resolution concentration at the Fletcher School, after which she jumped in a car to go dance in the Ron K. Brown/Evidence summer dance residency. Last summer she participated in the Urban Bush Women Summer Institute.