MEET THE FACULTY
The Center employs over 60 outstanding and committed teaching artists throughout its programs.
They provide the students with state of the art training and are mentors in every sense of the word.
Many of East Bay Center’s faculty are also performing artists, who rely on performances and gigs for their livelihood, and have been hit hard by COVID-19. We asked our faculty to share what it means to them to be an artist during this time. Watch some of their responses below.
Akwasi Abrefah is a steelpan player who performs and teaches in the Bay, as well as around the world. He was born in Oakland, CA, and raised in Richland, WA where, at the age of 9, he started playing steelpan. Through middle school and high school, he traveled around the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. playing with bands OK 2 Botay and Bram Bratá before continuing with Cardinal Calypso in college at Stanford University where he also graduated with a B.S. in Earth Systems. Akwasi currently wears many hats lecturing at Stanford University, teaching elementary school music in Richmond, coordinating college application preparation at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, holding private lessons, and apprenticing as a steelpan builder.
Philip enthusiastically shares his wide range of gifts as an educator, dancer, and choreographer. Currently teaching music and dance at Stege and Verde Elementary Schools, Philip brings his dual passion for arts and education into each of his classes. Before coming to the Bay Area, Philip worked in his native Ghana where he studied and taught Dance and Choreography. A recent highlight was his contribution to “Amazing Child,” a popular Ghanaian reality television show. In addition to teaching, Philip continues to practice his craft as a performing dancer and choreographer.
Jenelle Gaerlan (she/they) is a multi-disciplined creative, dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist from Portland, Oregon. Having trained in contemporary, jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop, house, waacking and movement improvisation/freestyle, Jenelle has done work for Nike Inc., DarVejon Jones Dance Ensemble, BodyVox Dance Company (under Emmy Award-winning choreographers Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland), Soulskin Dance, Fray Show by CandyBomber Productions (2022 premiere at Stanford Live), and Robert Moses’ KIN Dance Company.
Jenelle’s dancing comes from a place of coexistence and interconnectivity between movement languages. The way she reveals her experience through movement and storytelling bleeds into their teaching practices in the classroom. How can we tell our stories, while applying new information in class to deepen the quality of our narratives outside of that space? Using house dance philosophies (a club dance style centered around the music, footwork, grooves and the cypher/circle) as a focal point for her curriculum, Jenelle looks forward to facilitating a creative approach towards music and dance in her classes at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.
Jenelle currently teaches Hip Hop & House Dance Fundamentals for Teens at LINES at the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center (SF Dance Center) as well as the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, CA. She has taught workshops at the late MVMNT Arts Academia in Albany, CA, at Mark Sanchez (aka Hippie’s) Soul Movement Retreat, Rae Studios SF, and also at the University of San Francisco. As a professional dancer, she currently dances for Robert Moses’ KIN and is fascinated by the intersection of music, visual media and movement. With expertise in dance, choreography, video production, design and creative direction, she is based in the Bay Area to build and connect with other multifaceted artists.
B-Boy NastyRay, hailing from San Jose, is a world-class dancer and a well-known member of many crews with rich dance history such as The Squadron, Oakland Originalz, Turf Inc..(& more). He started dancing in the late 90’s after being inspired by local b-boys. NastyRay’s dance journey has taken him worldwide for competitions, teaching, and commercial projects. He’s also the co founder of Future Arts Now inspiring creative expression & working with at-risk youth. In addition, he offers an all-ages as well as beginner breaking class at CityDance in San Francisco + inspires with East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.
Jordan Simmons, Theater
Richmond native and proud graduate of JFK High, Jordan served as Artistic Director at the Center (1984 – 2021) and has been a faculty member since 1974. A graduate of Reed College, active Mestre of Capoeira, licensed Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) teacher, and theater director, Mr. Simmons’ portfolio includes more than 50 productions for theater and film – many of which have focused on the lives and concerns of youth and young adults from Richmond’s Iron Triangle and surrounding neighborhoods. Recognition for Mr. Simmons’ work has ranged from the Governor of California’s Award for “Outstanding Individual in the Arts” to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences “Outstanding Contribution to the Bay Area Arts,” an inaugural City of Richmond Human Rights Award, and San Francisco Foundation’s Helen Crocker Russell Award: presented to an “under-recognized, mature artist who has made a significant and ongoing contribution in the SF Bay Area.”