INSTRUCTOR BIOS Beth Dyer Doug Kane

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BETH DYER:
Beth Dyer, Director of Tam Tam Mandingue Santa Cruz,has been an apprentice of Djembe Master Mamady Keita of Guinea since 1994.  She has been a certified Tam Tam Mandingue instructor since 2000. Beth has travelled to Europe and Guinea, West Africa, many times for intensive study of Mandingue percussion. Beth is currently the Musical Director and main soloist of Panther Percussion.  Since 1992, Beth has been an accompanist and soloist in local West African dance classes for many well-known teachers, including Mabiba Baegne, Allassane Kane, Alseny Soumah, Mandjou Kone, Nabe Bangoura, and Deb Voisin.  She has performed with Mamady Keita, Babatunde Olatunji, and Mamadou and Mandjou Kone.	Photo by Bernd Geh of Bernd Geh Photographic Arts
Beth's musical development has also been strongly influenced by  Babatunde Olatunji, Mabiba Baegne, Abdoulaye Diakite, Sanga of the Valley, Sikiru Adepoju, Simbo Ahbuba, Fred Simpson and Ladji Camara. Beth assisted with the English translation of A Life for the Djembe by Mamady Keita and Uschi Billmeier.

DOUG KANE:
Doug Kane has studied African percussion since 1989.  He has focused on the traditional rhythms of the Mandingue since 1994, with a strong emphasis on playing dunun.  His primary teacher is Mamady Keita.  Doug has also learned much about traditional dunun playing from Mahiri Keita, Mabiba Baegne and Beth Dyer.  Doug has twice travelled to Guinea for intensive study, focusing exclusively on playing dunun.  He has performed with Babatunde Olatunji and Mamadou and Mandjou Kone, and he currently performs with Panther Percussion & Dance Company.
Doug's musical development was also strongly influenced by such luminaries as Babatunde Olatunji, Mabiba Baegne, Sanga of the Valley, Sikiru Adepoju, Simbo Ahbuba and Ladji Camara.

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