The
Team
Drum Beats team brings the rhythm
of life to you in an explosive percussion of fun,
laughter and energy.
Rob Wines - Manager
After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree,
Rob's international tennis career took precedence.
Whilst competing in France he was inspired by
the music and vibrant rhythms of the many African
communities residing there.
The memory of these rhythms led him to Latin &
African dance & drumming.
Realising that rhythm is an essential part of
an athlete's development, Rob instigated the Rhythm
in Sports programs. These innovative programs
taught tennis techniques and movement skills through
drumming & dance.
Rob's first hand experiences of professional sport
and rhythm has led him to appreciate the value
of rhythm-based activities in developing confidence,
a sense of camaraderie and for the release of
stress. Rob now manages, facilitates and plays
percussion for Drum Beats.
Angela Grima - Creative Director
Angela Grima achieved a Bachelor of Music Honours
degree as well as completing a young actor's scholarship
with Sydney Theatre Company and Bradfield College.
Angela has written and performed music for award
winning short films and in 2000 she was nominated
for the Australian guild of composing awards.
A professional flautist, jazz and opera singer,
she plays flutes from other countries and is a
dynamic percussionist.
Angela's experience using rhythm as remedial therapy
has led her to believe that everyone has musical
and rhythmic talent; some people just need help
finding it!
She has performed at The Basement, Sydney Theatre
Company, Melbourne Fringe Festival and a variety
of other Australian venues.
Angela's experience and infectious personality
is evident as she skilfully facilitates large
and small groups of people during the Drum Beats
shows.
Ian Watson - Musician
Ian Watson is a drummer/percussionist based in
Sydney, has completed a Batchelor of Arts Music
degree and has studied under some of the best
percussionists both in Australia and overseas.
He has travelled to a variety of countries to
experience and learn first hand about their cultures,
customs and musics. His teachers overseas included
masters of West African drumming/percussion, Balinese
Gamelan, Javanese kendang, Korean Samulnori and
North Indian tabla. Ian shares his vast knowledge
and passion lecturing at UWS and performing with
Panda, Songket, Seh Sek Hoi, Anything but Roy,
Hyde 'n' Clay Drummers and Drum Beats.
Ian has also devised a music therapy program using
drums/percussion combined with Reiki which he
has successfully implemented over the past eight
years with disability groups. His versatility
(also playing Latin and Egyptian percussion) and
skill make him a valued member of the Drum Beats
team.
Mory traore - Musician & Dancer
Drum Beats is excited to welcome its newest team
member - Mory comes from Guinea, West africa,
a culture rich in its tradition of dance and music.
Until arriving in Australia in 2006 Mory was the
lead dancer and percussionist with the Ballet
Matam. (for the uninitiated - African ballet is
a dynamic & explosive dance performed to the
beat of the drums). Mory is well respected in
both France and Africa as a teacher and performer,
who loves inter-cultural exchange and working
with different age groups & cultures. (Watch
out for the Thursday night dance classes in Woollarha).
Mory's experience and passion for music and dance
brings an exciting extra flavour to Drum Beats
Performances.
Steven Body - Musician
Musician, teacher and outdoor education facilitator.
Steve is a veteran of several African study tours
where he learnt traditional drumming technique,
he is a founding member of Mohata (The dynamic
African percussion group). He has performed with
funk group Grover and various Singapore based
jazz groups. This rich musical background combined
with ten years facilitating children and adults
in experiential learning give him a unique perspective
through which to bring music to the greater community.
(Steves many students benefit from his experience
at his Tuesday night lessons at Richmond School
of Performing Arts)
Drum Beats is excited to have a performer/ facilitator
of the calibre of Steve Body as part of the team.
Nhlanhla Phewa - Musician
Nhlanhla grew up in Durban, South Africa and
from an early age, has always been involved in
the performing arts including dance, music and
singing, acting in plays, musicals and in television
commercials.
His talent and love for music has seen him singing
with some of the world’s most popular artists
such as Simply Red, Miriam Makeba & Billy
Ocean. ‘He was a lead vocalist in Ipi Ntombi”
the musical that toured South Africa and came
to Star City Casino, Sydney in 1998. Nhlanhla
was a dancer with the Soweto Dance Company and
Imbimba Dance Company in South Africa in the 1990’s.
In Australia he collaborates with Drum Beats and
other South African dancers and artists. Nhlanhla
is the lead vocalist of the Sydney based band
Usutu.
Ron Reeves - Musician
During his teenage years Ron was transported into
another world at a live performance by the legendary
Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha. He was so uplifted
by this he has spent his life endeavouring to
create the same type of experience for audiences
who come to hear him play.
Ron is a multi talented musician and composer
who performs (amongst other instruments) on Sundanese
(West Javanese) kendang, the Middle Eastern tabla,
the mridangam & other South Indian drums,
and flutes from around the world.
Ron has played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,
Iva Davies, Synergy, Trilok Gurtu, Bill Cobham,
Hossam Ramzy, Leonard Eto, “heavy plastic”
group AC/PVC, Java Jazz, Toni Childs, Nigeria’s
“Lebe Olarinjo Masqueraders”, the
Karnataka College of Percussion (India), Jugala
Group (Indonesia), the Supremes, John Wyre’s
World Drum Ensemble and of course these days with
Drum Beats.
Karen Wray - Musician
Karen Wray has been playing and teaching Arabic
percussion for seventeen years. Born in the UK,
Karen came to live in Sydney twenty years ago
and was completely captivated by a Middle Eastern
music session she attended in her early years
in the country. From that day she has studied
the music, dance and culture of this region and
has traveled to Egypt and Lebanon to further learn
and live the music. Karen also holds a passion
for African percussion, making her skills both
blended and broad. Her skills have been well sought
after for Arabic weddings, festivals and multicultural
events.
Simon Peart - Musician
Simon the Stilt Walking percussionist!
Simon comes to Drum Beats with an extensive background
encompassing Latin Percussion, Vocals, Capoeira,
Acrobatics and Theatre.
The eclectic nature of Simon's skills can see
him playing percussion with the Sydney Samba School,
Touring Europe & Sth America with Indigenous
people in theatre productions, singing in choir/theatre
tours through Asia and even popping up on children’s
TV for the ABC.
A generous nature and social conscience has also
seen Simon giving his time as a Founding Member
& Chairman to the Australia Capoeira Association
and as a Founding Member & Administrator of
Regeneration Culture Inc.- (Community access,
multi-arts facility based on principles of recycling
and social development)
Simons wide array of skills & experience with
both children & adults gives Drum Beats an
incredibly versatile team member.
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