Danielle Brown, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
Danielle Brown, Ph.D. is an artist, scholar, and entrepreneur. Brown earned a doctorate in Music from New York University with a concentration in ethnomusicology and specialization in the music of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brown is a former Assistant Professor of Music History and Cultures at Syracuse University, and has lectured at various colleges and universities. She has worked with elementary, middle, and high school students, and is certified in the Kodály method. In addition, Brown is an active vocalist, cuatro player, and composer. She is the author of the music-centered ethnographic memoir, East of Flatbush, North of Love: An Ethnography of Home, and the East of Flatbush, North of Love: Teacher Guidebook. Brown is a 2018 NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in Folk/Traditional Arts and was a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Musicology at Stanford University during the 2021 Winter Quarter.
Cayla Deacon
Sales & Marketing Intern, Summer 2023
Cayla Deacon was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She is a student at Bates College in Lewiston, ME, and will be entering her senior year in the fall. Cayla is pursuing an Interdisciplinary major and French & Francophone Studies minor, with a concentration in Film & Media Studies. Cayla is joining My People Tell Stories this summer as our 2023 Sales & Marketing Intern. She is looking forward to growing her marketing skills and professional knowledge, as she wishes to have a future career in marketing. Some of her interests include languages, music, visual arts, and international relations.
Goussy Célestin
Music & Dance Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Goussy is a dancer, pianist, composer, teacher, and vocalist who has performed for the last two decades for audiences locally, nationally and in Cuba, England, Haiti, Wales, and Japan. She is a faculty member for the Middle School Jazz Academy and WeBop programs at Jazz at Lincoln Center. She is also a member of Retumba, an all-female music and dance ensemble dedicated to the afro-diaspora cultures in the Caribbean and Latin America. Goussy's current mission is integrating all of her disciplines in her project, Ayiti Brass, incorporating elements of traditional Haitian folklore and New Orleans street beat. Goussy is also a proud mom to two sons, who give her a bigger workout than all her dancing and traveling combined!
Contact Goussy at: www.goussycelestin.com.
Hansell
Echualaibode
Dance Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Hansell Echualaibode grew up in Havana, Cuba. For more than five years he studied at the Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, where he studied Yoruba, Palo, Abakua, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, and Son. Former principal dancer for the Compañía de Danzas Tradicionales de Cuba JJ for over ten years, Hansell proudly brings his heritage and dance experience to his students around the world.
Connect with Hansell Echualaibode on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Elegguaochanla.
Michael Manswell
Dance Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Michael Manswell is an artistic director, teaching artist, choreographer, and singer who began his performance life as a storyteller at arts festivals in his native Trinidad & Tobago, where he won many prizes and awards. Michael studied music at St Mary’s College (Trinidad) with Lindy-Anne Bodden-Ritch and at Brooklyn College (CUNY) with Tom Cultice. As a singer, he has toured Europe, the UK, and the Caribbean and has performed as a soloist in many productions of opera and oratorio. Michael’s dance training includes study with Dr. Eugene Joseph at the Trinidad Dance Theater (TDT) , where he trained in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom, and Folkloric styles. In addition, he worked with Geoffrey Holder on “Dougla II” and “La Valse des Bakas” for TDT and toured with the company in the USA and the Caribbean. A prolific choreographer, Michael has created several works currently in the repertoire of Something Positive Inc, the performing company he now directs. The company has performed internationally in such places as Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Costa Rica, Belize and Trinidad & Tobago. An avid folklorist and an Orisha devotee in the Yoruba religion, Michael presents lectures and workshops in dance, music, and traditional religious practice; he works closely with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) and the Interfaith Center. One of “Brooklyn’s Black Men of Distinction 2000” and one of “Brooklyn’s Black Dance Kings (2010),” Michael is currently an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Lehman College (CUNY) and teaches for Something Positive Inc., Purelements An Evolution in Dance, CCCADI, and E.M Techniques.
Contact Michael Manswell at www.somethingpositiveinc.org.
Mariang Valdés
Music Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Mariang Valdés was born in Havana, Cuba. A graduate of the Havana Amadeo Roldan Music Conservatory, Mariang is a choir director, pianist, and teacher. As a professional musician, she has worked with the Canela Group, Omara Portuondo, Yoshiro, Orquesta De La Luz, Orquesta Caribbean Breeze, Amaury Gutierrez, David Torrens, Denisse D’ Kalaff, Daniela Castro, YeraSon Orquesta Charanga, and The Feeling Messengers. Mariang has worked in several countries including Cuba, Panama, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Martinique, Mexico, the United States, and the Grand Cayman Islands. In addition to her work performing with various groups, Mariang has worked as a pianist and organist, previously at Park and Trinity Methodist Church, and currently at the United Methodist Church of Linden. As an educator, she has worked in a wide variety of schools, including Montessori and Catholic schools, as well as institutions with highly progressive programs. Mariang teaches in New York City, at Casa Feliz, and previously worked at La Escuelita Dual Language Preschool. She also teaches Orff—keyboard and recorder—in New Jersey at HoLa Hoboken Spanish Immersion. Mariang brings music education to schools in an exciting and fun way. She has a CD and show for children called Jugaticantando, where she sings, dances, and interacts with parents and children. Currently, Mariang is working on her new CD, Canta, rie, baila y juega con Mariang.
Contact Mariang at: marianglop69@gmail.com
Miguel Valdés (Miguelo)
Percussion & Voice Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Born in the Havana province of Cuba, Miguel Valdés comes from a highly musical family, which includes his father, one of the top percussionists of the esteemed Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba. Valdés graduated from the Havana National School of Art Instructors (ENIA). After extensive training, he soon found himself with a flourishing career, performing across genres and throughout Cuba with several great musicians, including Richard Egues, Tropicana, and La Ley. Valdés has collaborated with many talented musicians and groups, including Orquesta Filarmónica de Mexico, Gonzalo Romeu, Grupo Bandula, Elvis Crespo, Celia Cruz, Albita Rodriguez, Lena Burke, Emmanuel, Natalia Jimenez, Yomira John, Dennis D’ Kalaff, Ricardo Montaner, Miky Tavera, and Yuri. In addition, he toured and worked regularly with Juan De Marcos’ Afro-Cuban All Stars (Buena Vista). In 2010, Valdés left Mexico to come to the US where he now resides permanently. Since his arrival, he has collaborated with many American and Latin artists like the McCoy Tyner All Stars, Francisco Mela, Rachel Ferrer, Tony Perez, Kambalache, Steve Turre, Matt Dillon, Fellove, Patato Valdés, Elio Villafranca, Mac Gollehon, Vince Herring, Dion Person, Sexteto NY, Itai Kriss, Abdou M’boup, Alex Matos, Nachito Herrera, Michele Rosewoman & New Yor-Uba, Los Hacheros, Cotton Club Big Band, Willy Chirino, Sister Sledge-Debbie Sledge, Frank Owens, Ty Stephens, John Faddis, Terell Stafford, and Chucho Valdés and Jazz Batá 2. Valdés teaches Afro-Cuban music at Barnard College in New York City. He has four CDs and has recorded with more than forty artists. His latest CD, Lovely is broadcast on all digital platforms.
Contact Miguelo at: www.miguelovaldes.com.
Kimani Bishop
Music Instructor, Caribbean Music Pedagogy Workshop
Kimani Bishop was born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago. He grew up in a musical household and was introduced to steelpan at the age of nine. Although his family refused to support his interests in “pan” because of the violence associated with the instrument’s early development, Kimani secretly continued to perform. Upon receiving his high school diploma, Kimani decided to build a career in music, and was offered an opportunity to work as a steelpan engineer at Panland, Trinidad and Tobago [the only steelpan company in the nation]. There, he spent ten years learning the art of building, tuning, and manufacturing all ranges of the steelpan. In 2015, Kimani pursued a bachelor’s degree in music at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine before embarking on a study abroad at Trinity College, where he eventually earned his degree. In 2021, Kimani received his master’s degree in ethnomusicology from Tufts University, and is now completing his doctoral studies in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Kimani has collaborated with My People Tell Stories in the past, and we are thrilled to have him on our team this summer! Contact Kimani at: kimanibishop25@gmail.com.