Michele (Buffy) Drysdale has studied West African, Brazilian, Jamaican and other Caribbean dance forms for over 15 years. Since 1994 she has focused her studies on Cuban folkloric and popular dances. She has traveled to Brazil, Cuba, Canada, and California to study with master Cuban dancers from the Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, AfroCuba de Matanzas, and Raices Profundos.

In New York her principal teacher was Xiomara Rodriguez. She has performed at Symphony Space and and has been a lead dancer with Los Afortunados, Puntilla Rios y Su Nueva Generación and given lecture demonstrations at Brown University and Swarthmore College.

Buffy has studied the Batá drums, songs, and dances of the Afro-Cuban tradition and performed with two all-women’s groups, Cambio Libre and Obini Ash

Her performances include concerts with Cambio Libre, at Camden’s Caribbean Cultural Celebration, Wesleyan University for the Ethnomusicology department, Lincoln Center in New York Cit,y The Painted Bride in Philadelphia, The Happen’n Drum Collective, and The Sivananda Yoga Ashram. Buffy taught dance at Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre and the Park Slope Fitness Collective. She designed a multidisciplinary, creative movement class for two and three year olds. Buffy currently drums for an Afro-Cuban dance class at Alvin Ailey, teaches water aerobics at the YMCA and offers private yoga and dance classes.

Akiba Onada-Sikwoia has been participating in ceremony, conducting workshops and maintaining a healing practice for the past twenty-five years. Akiba’s Spiritual practices, coupled with knowledge that we are so much more than our physical bodies, have afforded her the gift to believe in the miraculous.

Leilani Birely, Hawaiian Priestess and ceremonialist, brings ancient Hawaiian healing and Goddess wisdom to the community. She is the active mother of two girls. Graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax VA with a degree in Business, and a graduate of the Masters in Womyn’s Spirituality from New College in San Francisco. On Summer solstice of 1996 she founded Daughters of the Goddess Womyn’s Temple. In August of 1998, she was Ordained as a Dianic High Priestess by Z Budapest at the Goddess 2000 womyn’s Festival in La Honda, CA. For more information please see our website at DaughtersoftheGoddess.

Ojalá is a group of 6 talented women who combine a mixture of traditional Afro-Cuban folkloric music, contemporary and infectious funky rhythms, beautiful vocals and imaginative original songs. OJALÁ uses traditional rhythms and songs to express their own unique creative talents.
Learn more at the Ojalá website.

Carolyn Brandy, a groundbreaking Bay Area female percussionist, is the musical director of the band, and the inspiring and moving vocals are led by Regina Wells and Elouise Burrell. Joining them are Ava Square-LeVias, Annette Acosta, and Sue Matthews.

Debbie Guerrero– (Tlingit/Snohomish/Cowlitz) is a Research Assistant and Outreach Coordinator for the Native Wellness Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.

She is considered a Community Resource and conducts sweat lodge ceremonies for women who need healing and support as they endure life on life’s terms. She is a member of the Native American Church, and attends on a regular basis.

Debbie is also a Sundancer. She is widely acknowledged for her beautiful singing of traditional songs while playing the Native American drum or rattle. She is the mother of three grown children and an active Leader in the Native Community in Seattle. Her passion is working with Indigenous Healers and empowering women.