Team Jubacana is made up of fantastic experienced creatives and up-and-coming coming young artists dedicated to the sharing of high quality exciting music and dance for young people.
HOLLY
Director & Musical Director
Helping to shape pathways for young artists is one of Holly’s most rewarding ventures. With over 20 years experience in studying, performing and teaching percussion as a specialist in Afro-Brazilian Culture, Holly is passionate about passing on her skills to the next generation. She is also the Director of Juba do Leão, a Manchester based percussion and dance collective for adults and is the Artistic Director of Global Grooves, an inspirational arts charity dedicated to sharing high-quality specialist training in inspirational international performance arts.
DAN
Musician & Project Manager
Dan is a professional vocalist, musician, artist, and also a freelance arts worker and project manager. He’s seen first hand how inspirational arts projects can have a big impact on young people (and all people!) and is excited about working for many years developing Jubacana.
Dan keeps the project running and supports the workshops as a musician.
AUNTY MONA
Music & Movement
Simone aka Aunty Mona is a performer and teacher, and has been shimmying across stages for the past 10 years. She specialises in Afro-Brazilian cultural art forms and regularly performs with Juba do Leão. Simone is passionate about sharing her love for performance with others and just having fun with it, and is gifted in her work with young people.
Simone’s number one quote (cheesy but true)
“By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others.”
FREYA
Project Manager, Musician & Dancer
Freya assists with the project management and weekly running of Jubacana. She is a young performance artist with a passion for dance and music which she loves to share and experience with the group. As co-dance-director of Juba do Leão and a graduate of the ‘Future Leaders‘ programme, Freya has developed her skills and hopes to continue to grow her musical, dance and project management skillset in the years to come.
ED
Musician & Workshop Support
Ed has performed in percussion ensembles for almost 15 years, with a large focus on Brazilian music. Complementing his day job of being a teacher, he is passionate about giving young people the opportunity to explore and enjoy making their own music, as well as expressing themselves individually and as part of a performance group. Ed is also one of the directors of the Community Rhythms project, which aims to promote wellbeing through playing drums in an ensemble.
MIKE MELLOR
GUEST ARTIST
Mike is a guitarist, songwriter and teacher, and has been developing the melody side of Jubacana’s acoustic music project as a guest artist. He is a fantastic multi-instrumentalist and has been working with Holly on projects in schools and communities for the past 5 years. Mike heads up the guitar work and stringed instrument arrangements. His dance moves are also a thing of legend when Jubacana are performing and he is in the crowd.