TEACHING ARTISTS
OUR TEACHING ARTISTS WILL BRING THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE,
SKILLS, AND CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO YOU.
BABA THE STORYTELLER
MUSIC / STORYTELLING
Djeliba Baba the Storyteller is a world-traveled, award-winning professional presenter and speaker with more than 25 years of experience. The city in which he resides, Long Beach California, recognized him as the municipality’s Artist of the Year. Additionally, he has been honored with commendations from both the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress.
KIRK BRUNDAGE
PERCUSSION / SAMBA
Kirk got his professional start in his native up-state New York, playing for many years with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a member of the Maelström Percussion Ensemble. He earned a Fulbright to Denmark and an MFA from CalArts, before winning the International Solo Music Competition of the German Radio (Munich). As a REMO Artist, Kirk has taught at UCLA and in Taiwan.
MAIRE CLERKIN
IRISH DANCE
Máire Clerkin is a certified Irish Dance teacher and adjudicator with the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin, Ireland. She has taught Irish Dance and theatre for over 30 years, for University of Limerick, Loyola Marymount, Santa Monica College, LAUSD, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Los Angeles Music Center and LA Arts Group..
ROSINA DIDYK
INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE
Rosina Didyk has been teaching folk dance in Southern California schools for over 13 years. As a founding member of the Aman Dance Educators, she is exploring new ways to share these dances, incorporating creative components that allow students to more deeply understand these traditions by re-creating them for themselves.
SHARON DISKIN
MIME / PHYSICAL THEATRE
Sharon Diskin is a professional mime and physical theatre artist who is part of a two-person theatre company called The Chameleons. Along with her husband, Keith Berger, The Chameleons have performed their shows for over 1 million children and adults worldwide and have been recognized for their “artistic excellence in the schools” by The California Department of Education, The California Alliance for the Arts, and California Arts Council.
DAWN DYSON
INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE
Dawn Dyson's first experience with folk dance was at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She earned a B.S. degree in Dance Performance before becoming a performer, educator and administrator with the AMAN Folk Ensemble in 1994. During her 10 years with AMAN, she taught numerous student workshops in California and throughout the nation.
MEGAN HOOK
VOCAL MUSIC
Megan Hook is a singer, writer and actress who performs and teaches students of all ages. Megan graduated cum laude with a degree in Classical Music from Ithaca College. She has sung three world-premiere operas, as well as performed other standard operatic roles. Megan writes and performs in the Indie rock world.
VINCE HORIUCHI
BREAK DANCE
Vince Horiuchi (also known as Bboy Vincanity) has been breakdancing and teaching dance professionally for over 13 years. Since 2005, Vince has been teaching for the Very Special Arts Program, Passage After School Program, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Model Arts Program and the Any Given Child Program. He has also been performing for the Sacramento Kings since 2005, as well as with his dance group, 2ndNature.
MERCEDES IBARRA
FLAMENCO DANCE
Mercedes Ibarra discovered Flamenco in 1995 at UCLA when choosing a dance class on a whim. She fell in love with Flamenco during the very first class and her teacher, Liliana de Leon-Torsiello, described her as a natural and asked her to join her company, DeLiRitmo, within a year.
DENISE IKETANI
THEATRE
Denise Iketani is an actor, teaching artist and writer. She is a core member of the comedy troupe Cold Tofu Improv. Denise is a longtime member of the children’s theater company We Tell Stories (WTS) and toured with them as Chinese dancer Alice Lo for over 11 years for The Music Center On Tour.
KATHRYN JOHNSON SCHWARTZ
THEATRE
Kathryn Johnson Schwartz is an actress, playwright, director and arts educator. She has taught theatre and playwriting classes throughout southern California; she served as Program Director for Playwrights Project from 1988 until 2006. She earned a B.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara, and pursued graduate studies in directing and children’s theatre at California State University at Fullerton.
JOSEPH PECK
PERCUSSION / STEEL DRUM
Joseph Peck is a professional musician and California board certified music educator K-12. He has performed with Potential Symphony in Trinidad, West Indies, for the Panorama National Steel Band Competition. His music workshops introduce students to the innovation, development, and cultural significance of the steel drum instrument.
BETH PETERSON
VISUAL ARTS
Beth Peterson has been creating puppets, masks, pageants, parades and puppet shows for over 16 years. In Los Angeles she teaches puppetry arts workshops, creates temporary public art works with community through LA Commons.
BETH SUSSMAN
CLASSIC MUSIC
Beth Sussman received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from The Juilliard School at the age of 21, where she was granted a full scholarship. Beth has been performing her interactive assembly programs and workshops in schools for the past several seasons for institutions, like The Music Center and the Orange County Performing Arts Center, introducing students to classical music.
KORYN WICKS
CREATIVE MOVEMENT
Koryn Wicks is a dance artist based in Los Angeles. She has taught elementary and high school students since 2015, working with students of all ages and ability. Koryn is passionate about teaching and expanding access to the arts.
Interested in Joining Our Teaching Artist Team?
LET’S LEARN TOGETHER
Let these arts programs bring enthusiasm and joy to your students.
