Rara Tou Limen's 2012 Dance Season will resume on Saturday, January 14th (SF)
and
Sunday, January 15th (OAK)
Our Beloved Dance Community!
Oakland in SOLIDARITY with Haiti!
 Give THANKS for our amazing drummers! |  Portsha teaching NAGO |
 Daniel Brevil in ACTION! |  Daniel teaching students a Haitian rhythm |
Who Are We?
Portsha Jefferson is a professional dancer and choreographer trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz and African derived styles, who specializes in Haitian Folkloric Dance. She began her formal training at the age of six at the Marsha Woody Dance Academy in Beaumont, Texas. Established in 2004, Ms. Jefferson is the founder and artistic director of Rara Tou Limen (RTL), an arts organization that presents Haitian music, dance & culture through classes, workshops, and performances.
A passionate believer in education and youth development, she has worked
for several youth organizations including The Young Performers Theater, The San Francisco Arts Education Project, Westlake School of the Arts, Opera
Picolla, DanceVersity and Swivel Arts. Ms. Jefferson has taught creative movement and Haitian Folkloric dance in schools, universities, community centers and dance studios for twelve years.
Ms. Jefferson was a principle dancer and vocalist with Group Petit La Croix (1996-2003) under the leadership of veteran dancer and educator Blanche Brown. She has been fortunate and blessed to grace the stage with Reconnect, Ase Dance Theater Collective, Feet of Rhythm and El Wah Movement. In Haiti, she has had the privilege to perform with Compagnie Culturelle Des Arts and Ayiti Dans Ansanm (ADA). Guest performances with Afro-Cuban companies include: EMESE: Messengers of the African Diaspora, along with Jose Francisco Barroso & Obakoso.
Ms. Jefferson's dedication and exploration of Haitian culture have brought her to Haiti, where she has traveled throughout the country to research regional dance, rhythms and musical traditions since 2003. Specific interest and concentration of study took place in Gonaives at Lakou Badjo, where Nago (Yoruba) traditions are preserved, and at Tanp Souvenance Mistik, a Vodou community that celebrates it's Rada (ancient kingdom of Dahomey) heritage. Further studies at Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS), Vivian Gauthier's School of Dance and Artcho Danse, the official dance school of internationally renowned dance troupe Ayikodans, provided a rich foundation into the Folkloric aspect of Haitian culture. Lynn Coles, Blanche Brown, Peniel Guerrier, Cadet Jean Evens, Emmanuel Louis, Metayer Frantz, Ramses Pierre, Lee Hetelson and Daniel Brevil, among others, have played a key role in her artistic growth.
Currently, Ms. Jefferson is a guest instructor/choreographer at the University of California at Berkeley, Teen Dance Center in Mountain View, and is an artist in residence for Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and SF Unified School District. In addition, she is an instructor at East Bay Dance Center, Dance Mission Theater and the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts. She also serves as a Cultural Arts Specialist with Oakland Parks and Recreation where she continues to share her love of dance with Oakland youth.
A passionate believer in education and youth development, she has worked
for several youth organizations including The Young Performers Theater, The San Francisco Arts Education Project, Westlake School of the Arts, Opera
Picolla, DanceVersity and Swivel Arts. Ms. Jefferson has taught creative movement and Haitian Folkloric dance in schools, universities, community centers and dance studios for twelve years.
Ms. Jefferson was a principle dancer and vocalist with Group Petit La Croix (1996-2003) under the leadership of veteran dancer and educator Blanche Brown. She has been fortunate and blessed to grace the stage with Reconnect, Ase Dance Theater Collective, Feet of Rhythm and El Wah Movement. In Haiti, she has had the privilege to perform with Compagnie Culturelle Des Arts and Ayiti Dans Ansanm (ADA). Guest performances with Afro-Cuban companies include: EMESE: Messengers of the African Diaspora, along with Jose Francisco Barroso & Obakoso.
Ms. Jefferson's dedication and exploration of Haitian culture have brought her to Haiti, where she has traveled throughout the country to research regional dance, rhythms and musical traditions since 2003. Specific interest and concentration of study took place in Gonaives at Lakou Badjo, where Nago (Yoruba) traditions are preserved, and at Tanp Souvenance Mistik, a Vodou community that celebrates it's Rada (ancient kingdom of Dahomey) heritage. Further studies at Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS), Vivian Gauthier's School of Dance and Artcho Danse, the official dance school of internationally renowned dance troupe Ayikodans, provided a rich foundation into the Folkloric aspect of Haitian culture. Lynn Coles, Blanche Brown, Peniel Guerrier, Cadet Jean Evens, Emmanuel Louis, Metayer Frantz, Ramses Pierre, Lee Hetelson and Daniel Brevil, among others, have played a key role in her artistic growth.
Currently, Ms. Jefferson is a guest instructor/choreographer at the University of California at Berkeley, Teen Dance Center in Mountain View, and is an artist in residence for Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and SF Unified School District. In addition, she is an instructor at East Bay Dance Center, Dance Mission Theater and the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts. She also serves as a Cultural Arts Specialist with Oakland Parks and Recreation where she continues to share her love of dance with Oakland youth.
"... an Inspiration for many, a culture bearer preserving musical traditions of Haiti, and a true ambassador of his country..."
Daniel "Brav" Brevil was born into a drumming family. His father, Joseph Brevil, a respected community activist, houngan (Vodou priest), and accomplished drummer, was Daniel's first teacher and source of knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration. As a young boy, Daniel would accompany his father to the all-night ceremonies in the Vodou temples of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he was in much demand.
As a student, Daniel deepened his knowledge of Vodou, the religion of the Haitian people, and its drumming, dancing, and singing, as he attended Ecole Nationale des Arts, Haiti's premiere school of the arts. He is the former Artistic Director of Artcho/Ayikodans Company and Tamboula, two of Haiti's premiere folkloric dance troupes. He is the Musical Director of Rara Tou Limen Haitian Dance Company. Over the past 25 years, Daniel has worked to foster an understanding of Haiti, its traditions, and its distinct cultural expressions.
Daniel has recorded and performed with luminary figures of Haitian music, such as Azor, Emeline Michel, James Germaine and Daniel Beaubrun (Boukman Eksperyans), among others. His performing career has brought Mr. Brevil to the world's stages including Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guadalupe, Martinique, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Canada, Spain,France, Greece, Japan, and Puerto Rico. Theater credits include: "Haiti: The Rhythms, The Dances and The Gods," which starred Danny Glover. Mr. Brevil toured the United Kingdom with the production "Vodou Nation," to critical acclaim, and was a featured orchestra percussionist in the December 2004 Lincoln Center performance "How Papa Noel Forgot Haiti."
Mr. Brevil is an accomplished drum teacher, leading classes and workshops for youth and adults worldwide. He exemplifies a unique insight into the relationship between dance and drum, which informs his compositions, arrangements, performances, and teachings. Daniel is a current master artist in ACTA's Apprenticeship Program, with apprentice Kendrick Freeman. Their apprenticeship will focus on deepening the apprentice's knowledge of approximately twenty rhythms of the Port-au-Prince regional repertoire.
Haitian Song Class with Daniel Brevil Daniel teaching @ RASANBLE! Haitian Arts Festival
This class will introduce participants to Traditional Haitian Vodou songs. Learn the structure, role and function of these beautiful songs and how they relate to Haitian music and dance. Perfecting his craft since the tender age of eight, Daniel brings a vast amount of knowledge to each class. Learn in a FUN, SUPPORTED environment!
Sundays 1PM - 2PM | $15 per class The Malonga Center 2nd Flr - Studio B | NEW MUSIC! DANIEL BREVIL & CREW LIVE CD!
 Karen, Taji, Daniel & Guy
This live CD captures Haitian music in RAW form. Recorded at RTL's Haitian Folkloric dance classes and at RASANBLE! Haitian Arts & Culture Festival 2010, Daniel Brevil & Crew display an array of traditional rhythms accompanied with melodic singing to enhance the tradition's folklore. Rhythms include: Yanvalou, Parigol, Zepol, Kongo, Mahi, Nago and Bolero. A great educational tool to further your studies in Haitian music & culture! PRICE: $10 | CD's available at RTL's class locations or contact brevilart@yahoo.com
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Community Dance & Drum Offerings... in Motion!
Testimonials
"Every move I make, my muscles remind me that I danced hard. I love this kind of muscle pain, the I got a good work out pain. I just can't help it when those Haitian drums start going, it just gives me ENERGY. I can always count on Portsha to deliver a fabulous class. It's that consistency, her good teaching energy and the live drums that keep me going even though I have this little one at home tugging on me. Oh and watch out when she comes back from a trip to Haiti - she's on fire! Love it!" - Parousha Z.
"Between the two, Portsha the dance teacher and Daniel on the drums, it doesn't get any better than this... the best energy and synergy! Portsha is patient with those beneath her level and she maintains a high energy level. She is positive, enthusiastic, and most importantly she has a aspirational and leader quality beyond her youthful years..." - Jeana G.
"Daniel is an excellent teacher! Clear, Knowledgeable and Concise..." - Matt R.
"Portsha Jefferson and Rara Tou Limen is the best, combining high energy in her dance classes with attention to detail and folkloric technique. Portsha also takes the time to explain the cultural background of traditional Haitian dances and rhythms. With skilled drumming by recognized masters, classes are suitable for all - from beginners to advanced students. You'll come away from these classes truly inspired by the rhythms, and ready for more! It's addictive!" - Coco K.
"What makes this "more than a dance class" so authentic is the knowledge, respect and overall love the instructor and lead drummer have for Haiti and its people. They stay connected to the larger Haitian community in the US and abroad. They truly love what they are doing, as it is seen in the way they take their craft seriously and operate so professionally. This class is the highlight of my week. I leave class feeling emotionally refreshed, physically strengthened, and spiritually full." - Halima M.
"...what he (Daniel Brevil) channeled into that theater was beyond language or even movement. He created a direct energetic path to the divine realm. What made the audience react with gushes of exclamation and leaps to their feet is the secret language of percussion and the healing and life-affirming properties it provides." - Tiffany M. (Artburst Media)
"A fabulous workout and cultural experience! Portsha Jefferson teaches a dance class that will not only work every muscle in your body, but will inspire you to learn all you can about Haitian culture. Her choreography is beautiful and varied and is always both mentally and physically challenging. She breaks down not only the movements she is teaching, but explains what the dance and its accompanying rhythm means and what you should be expressing while you dance." - E. Aviva
