About Us
We have worked with many Schools, Community Centres and African Drum and Dance projects delivering quality and enjoyable Dance Workshops and performances. We have a committee of four adults who aim to promote and increase awareness of West African art and culture for all members of the community. We have worked with Joliba West African Drum School, Mandiani. - Staffs Moorlands African Drum Project and Kamara African Drum Band. Our projects are open to everyone, all races, ages, and religions. Presently there is a lack of cultural activity in Staffordshire, particularly a lack of African Dance tuition. Stacy Matthews has studied many dance styles including West African; she likes to deliver authentic material by delivering a series of African Drum and Dance Workshops. African Dance Production will be offering culture diversity, study of a diverse art form and physical activity in all of their workshops. Everyone who participates will be able to raise their awareness of another culture; they will be able to learn appreciation and acceptance, which in turn, will help people to relate to each other on a different and more positive level.
Experience / Qualifications.
Stacy Matthews
GCSE Dance - Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Contempary.
Intermediate School 171 New York.
1983 / 1988
Major in Jazz, Tap, Contempory and Street Dance.
La Guardia Performing Arts College, Manhattan, New York.
1988 / 1990
www.laguardiahs.org
Performer with Barbados Dance Theatre using styles of Calypso, Contempory and African.
1990 / 1997
Performer with Kamara - African Drum Troupe.
2006 to Present
Perfromer with Mandiani, Staffordshire Moorlands African Drum Project.
2006 to Present
Teacher, West African Dance.
Schools and Youth Clubs throughout Staffordshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire Moorlands.
2006 to Present
Performing with Mandiani at Endon Well Dressing, 2006.
Customer testimonials
I enjoyed Stacey’s African dance performance with the Staffordshire Moorlands African Drumming Project at the Leek Arts Festival launch event in May 2006. She is a skilled and accomplished dancer and performer who maintain a good rapport with musicians and audience.
Stacey was also involved in the co-ordination and implementation of African dance workshops in Staffordshire Moorlands schools and youth groups as part of an on going project for Leek Arts Festival 2007, and in this role I found her to be very organised with a great passion and enthusiasm for African dance.
I wish Stacy every success with her future plans.
Fiona Waddle
Arts Events Co-ordinator
Performing with Mandiani , 2006
Customer testimonials
For the past three years I have been actively involved with a community music project based in Leek, Staffordshire – the Staffordshire Moorlands African Drumming Project.
Over the last eighteen months we have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with Stacy Matthews in her capacity as a teacher of African dance. She has introduced a whole new dimension to the performances that we do, and also brought both expertise and enjoyment to our regular weekly practice sessions. My own daughter has progressed under Stacy's tuition from a stiff and self-conscious style of dancing to something far more fluid in a remarkably short space of time.
Stacy clearly enjoys dancing as well as teaching, encouraging and motivating others. I have no hesitation in recommending her for any programme that will further her development as a teacher of dance.
Stephen Plumb,
[Chairperson, Staffordshire Moorlands African Drumming Project]
Performing with Mandiani 2007
Customer testimonials
Joliba and Kamara have worked alongside Stacy Matthews and African Dance Production for 2 years, delivering Drum and Dance Workshops and Performances.
She has always been very professional with regard to her involvement with us and has added a much needed “spark “ to our projects due to her engaging personality and love for teaching, this, along with her mastery of Dance has made her a very important member of our team.
We hope that Stacy will continue to work alongside us to deliver our projects because we value her contribution.
I would recommend her to anyone who wishes to hire her for dance workshops or performances.
David Woolley
(Head Tutor)
Pictures of some of our drum workshops and Performances, with Joliba West African Drum and Dance & Mandiani .
Theatre Cats,
Anyone can join in the fun. Lichfield International women's day, 2008.
Inspiration to all.
Performing with Mandiani at a retirement party, 2008. Great fun that was.
Audience participation.