Bios Paula Blair Paula Blair has been dancing with NAfro Dance Productions since the company's inception. She is pleased to be participating in another exciting NAfro season under the direction of Artistic Director Casimiro Nhussi. Recently Paula performed with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, "In A Different Light", choreographed by Sharon Moore. The production was presented in Winnipeg and at Toronto’s Harbourfront Festival. As an independent dancer and choreographer, Paula has initiated several projects and presented her work across Canada. Her most current work, include JUST A LITTLE and RAW. Paula has also had the privilege of working with Canadian choreographers Rachel Browne, Constance Cooke, Brent Lott & Christina Medina. Currently Paula is General School Advisor for the School of Contemporary Dancers and is a faculty member for the Junior Professional Program and guest teacher and choreographer for the Senior Professional Program. Formerly, Paula was Director and Artistic Advisor for The Osborne Street Dance Club, which she founded and then developed for several years. As Paula continues to be involved in projects helping to enrich the Winnipeg Dance Community, she is focusing on developing the NAfro Dance Centre. This Centre houses the NAfro Company along many other artists creating work, teaching and presenting workshops. Nicole Coppens Nicole Coppens graduated from the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers in May 2007. During the program she was able to work with many choreographers from Canada, the United States and Mexico, including: Stephanie Ballard, Marc Boivin, Delfos Danse Contemporanea, Bill Evans, Christina Medina, Davida Monk, Odette Heyn-Penner, Gaile Petursson-Hiley, and Casimiro Nhussi. Nicole is currently apprenticing with NAfro Dance Productions and with the company she has performed in "Patana II" , in Carman, Manitoba and Let Me Dance Before I'm Gone in The School Of Contemporary Dancers 35th Anniversary Gala. As well in the Gala she was able to perform a solo in Silhouette by Stephanie Ballard. Her other work with Stephanie Ballard includes Landscape Dancing and an excerpt of A Gathering in the Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers show "Legacy and Lineage". She has performed in the Young Lungs Shows "Link", in Ming Hon's Dance Dance Participatory Input Network Survey and "No Idling 3" in Renee Vandale's We All Bleed. Nicole has also had the wonderful opportunity to perform at the Canada Dance Festival in a group work by Delfos Danza Contemporanea titled Undercover Skin. Hélène Le Moullec Mancini Hélène Le Moullec Mancini graduated from the Senior Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers in 2005, where she completed her B.A. Honors in Dance through its affiliation with the University of Winnipeg. Hélène has also studied voice since the age of three. She has performed in Orpheus House's musical production of "A Chorus Line" in Ottawa and also in Winnipeg's "En Eclosion". Hélène has trained at EDAM in Vancouver and at The Manhattan Dance project in Buffalo N.Y. Hélène has been teaching Tap, Ballet, Jazz and Modern in Ottawa and in Winnipeg since 1996 and has just completed her second Arts Smarts project with composer Shirley Grieson. Hélène is in her third season dancing for NAfro Dance productions and has performed in "Patana", "Oasis", "Mapiko", "Around the Fire" and "Patana II". She recently had the opportunity to perform with NAfro at the International Association of Black's in Dance held in Toronto. Hélène has performed in both of Paula Blair's new works "Raw" and "just a little". She has worked professionally with choreographer Stephanie Ballard in her video project "Landscape Dancing in the City ", both in Winnipeg and Ottawa. Hélène performed a new solo work in Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers' "Daring Do" titled "Swept from the Sea" choreographed by Brent Lott. In 2006 she traveled to the Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa and performed "Storm" a piece choreographed by Paul-André Fortier. She has also worked with photographer Jeff Friesen whose dance photography has appeared in the Canadian Geographic magazine. The Musicians Dave Brown is a tenor saxophone, flute and soprano saxophone player and has played in many bands such as "Million Civilians" since the '80's. Dave studied music at Brandon University and specialize in the Reggae and Ska scene. Currently he can be found playing with the band "Rebel Force". Roger Cloutier is a guitar and saxophone player, as well as a vocalist. He studied music and jazz performance at both Grant MacEwan Community College and the University of Alberta. In the 1980's, he played and traveled across Western and Eastern Canada with lounge acts, funk and rock bands, and performed with community theatres affiliated with the University of Winnipeg. A fixture of the Winnipeg music scene since the 80's, he has played in various venues, festivals, bars and clubs. Jay Stoller has been playing percussion for 21 years and focuses his attention on West African music. Living in Ghana for almost 4 years, has provided jay with a unique insight into both the music and culture of that country. He holds a diploma in African Music from the University of Ghana. In Winnipeg, Jay is a sought after performer, educating both school children and teachers in the area of African drumming. Jay has worked with NAfro Dance since its inception and also runs the Drum Café, which provides corporate entertainment and team building through African drumming. Cam MacLean has composed music and created soundscapes for Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers, the WCD Professional Program, and numerous independent dance, theatre and video productions. Cam plays with Million Civilians, has toured Canada with Wudzitooya Buddy and has played bilingual guitar at Cent Nons, and with Les Boss. This is Cam's sixth collaboration with NAfro Dance.