ABOUT THE ARTISTS

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Adia Tamar Whitaker 

A graduate from San Francisco State University with a BA in Dance, Ms. Whitaker is a former member of Group Petit La Croix. She has performed Afro-Haitian and contemporary dance in the U.S. and abroad for 13 years. Adia completed the Professional Division U.S. Independent Studies Program at The Ailey School (2001), was a Ford Foundation Grant Recipient (2004), an Urban Bush Women Apprentice (2005) and a Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at FSU Creative Entry Point Choreographic Fellow (2006). 

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Florencia “Fofo" Pierre

Famed actress, dancer and traditional healer. In her formative years, Ms. Pierre attended the Viviane Gauthier School of Traditional Arts, serving as lead dancer and eventually as dance instructor. In addition, Ms. Pierre also served as one of the principal dancers of the National Dance Theater Company of Haiti from 1983 to 1989 and then served as professor of dance from 1989 to 1991. Well-traveled around the world from the Caribbean to Europe and the U.S. as a professional performer, singer, dancer and actress, Ms. Pierre is also the founding director of the Jaka Institute of Dance in Pétionville, Haití. 

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Afoutayi - Djenane Saint-Juste 

Born and raised in the traditional Haitian culture as her mother Florencia Pierre, a priestess of the Vodou religion was, and her mother before. Ms. Saint-Juste has an extensive background in Haitian dance and music, and is an accomplished choreographer, dancer, and vocalist specializing in the traditional folkloric dances of Haiti. A former student at Cuba's International Schools for Sports and Physical Education, she served for 15 years, as co artistic director, first dancer, and instructor at the Jaka Dance Institute in Pétionville, Haiti alongside her mother, Florencia Pierre. She has worked with many renowned Haitian artists, such as Azor, Boukman Eksperyans, Alan and Syto Cave, Paula Clermont Pean, and Fabienne Denis, to name a few. Most recently, Ms. 

Jeff Lastanoteguy Pierre

Son of Florencia and brother of Djenane, has been playing traditional Haitian percussion since the age of 3, and is a well-recognized drummer in the Haitian community. California, San Diego, Palomar College, Grossmont College, San Diego City College, Cal State San Marcos, and Humboldt State University and has traveled through out the United States teaching master workshops. 

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Kumbuka African Drum & Dance Collective

Named for a Swahili word that means "remember," and Kumbuka remembers African and African-American folklore by keeping it alive in dance and song. The 15 member collective ranges in age from 9 to 55 and is directed by founding member Ausettua AmorAmenkum. These dancers, musicians, jewelers, drum makers, and costume designers have studied their arts throughout the U.S. as well as in Senegal, Ghana, and Guinea. 

Ausettua AmorAmenkum

A professor adjunct at Tulane University of New Orleans since 1993, studied with Kimati Dinizulu & The Kotoko Society in Ghana, with Frank Desire and the Asakivle Haitian Cultural Ensemble in Haiti, and with John Leon Destine in Senegal. Kumbuka has been regularly featured through Young Audiences of New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the New Orleans Dance Festival, as well as having been featured in several documentaries and movies including Angel Hart, Interview with the Vampire, Congo Square, and All on a Mardi Gras Day.