rhythm konnections evolved from the personal life transformations experienced by its founders Chinta Reiss and Cheze’ Darville whilst traveling, studying and living with indigenous cultures throughout the world. We realise the healing and unifying effects that drumming, dancing and ritual ceremony has on community.

  Chinta Reiss

Chinta is a dynamic group facilitator, teacher and performing artist, with over 15 years experience in these fields.

Chinta inspires greatness in his students and work shop participants. With his enthusiastic friendly style Chinta has a proven ability to work successfully with any size group creating an uplifting rhythm charged experience.  

Chinta has dedicated his life to sharing his rich knowledge of drum music, ritual and ceremony to create community.

Inspired by his dreams to create community through music Chinta embarked on the drummers path. His travels initially led him to the West Africa where he studied Djembe and Dun Dun with the Sou Sou and Mandinka people and studied Bougarabou with the Jola people of Casamance. Through his passion and love of rhythm and a desire to immerse his being in the culture  Chinta was quickly embraced into the communities and invited to drum for many ceremonies. Since then he has travelled to the East Coast of Africa living with the Shona and N’Deble’ people playing music for ceremonies and studying N’goma, the traditional drum of Zimbabwe’.

Chinta is involved in men’s work, facilitating at the annual 5 day  Standing up Alive Gathering, Common Ground and Power Of The Spirit.

He also runs annual 6 day percussion courses with Grafton Arts Festival, Camp creative and was a percussion and rhythm

facilitator at the Academy of Performing Arts Hong Kong.

He Has performed and collaborated with many great percussionists and Bands such as Osange Ramsey of Egypt, N’diaye Rose of Senegal, Epizo, Mohamad & Sibo Bangoura of Guinea West Africa, Wala Ghanaian Drum & Dance Ensemble, Jean Paul Wabotai of Zaire, Chris Berry of Panjea USA and Gervais Koffi from the Ivory Coast, just to name a few.

  Cheze Darville

Cheze’ Darville is a vibrant professional facilitator, performer and teacher. Combining her training in dance and movement with her rich personal life experiences, Cheze’ has created her own innovative and inspiring style of both African dance and healing modalities.

Cheze’ is of Jamaican/Canadian background and it was her quest to seek her ancestral roots that led her to West Africa in 1992. There she spent a year living and studying West African culture. On her return to Australia she started teaching in both schools and the wider community. She formed the performance group Jahbula(meaning celebration) and later N’jinge and performed at Woodford, Global Carnival, as well as extensively along the East Coast as well as overseas.

She has led successful workshops in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada and Jamaica. With her partner Chinta they were invited to teach in Arnhemland in both the mining and Aboriginal communities. This was a huge success using African dance and rhythms as a tool for reconciliation which culminated in a combined school performance with over 350 children. She continues to deepen her knowledge of the power of dance and rhythm and conveys a message which is both ancient and new to help bring about wholeness within our culture.

Cheze is the founder of the Annual African Drum and Dance Camp in Northern NSW since 1997 and more recently “The Ultimate Journey” a 4 day healing retreat for women. Both have been highly successful bringing together people to experience community in the joy and ecstasy of rhythm. Cheze’ is an electrifying performer and gifted teacher whose energetic and highly spirited nature will leave all who have the pleasure of working with her feeling uplifted whether you are participating in a workshop or audience she knows how to get you moving.

Eka Darville

Eka Darville is a gifted performing artist, drummer, percussionist and dancer. He is is a dynamic group facilitator and teacher. Eka has been dancing since he was old enough to walk and drumming even earlier. He is currently working on a degree in music and dance. Rhythm Konnections is proud to welcome Eka as part or our team

Alison Campbell  

Alison is a joyful dancer who delights in movement as her choice of true self-expression. As a dancer she interprets and transforms numerous styles from Jazz, Latin, through to Indian and African to express a global rhythmical free-style.

With a  passion for dance, yoga and travel Alison is an individual who loves movement, seeks variety and the stimulation of ongoing discovery and exploration.

Alison (B. Bus) is also founder of Talent to Fly the Byron Bay based Marketing Consultancy that works with business to inspire them to ‘take flight’.

“She’ll be out there dancing on the hills where eagles fly.”

Zerina Millard

Zerina Millard is a passionate and positive performing artist, dancer and facilitator. Zerina’s has been dancing all of her life and her dance training stretches across the globe from South America to South-East Asia, India, the Middle East, the South Pacific and New Zealand.

She has facilitated dance both in Australia and overseas, working with a vast range of people. She has performed at Bellingen Global Carnival, Melbourne Moomba and Brunswick St parade and many other corporate and community events. Zerina has trained in African, Brasilian, Salsa, Merengue, Lambada, Forro, Cumbia, Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, Belly dance, Classical Ballet, Modern dance, Hip hop, Jazz, Butoh and South Pacific Dance.

Zerina holds a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University and Certificate II in Dance from the Northern Rivers Arts Conservatorium. She is also trained in and practicing Cultural Bodywork (Hawaiian and South Pacific style massage) and Theta Healing.

“Dancing has always been my passion. I especially love African dance because it is so joyful and energetic but also because it is for everyone, young and old. For me dance is an expression of life, when people move their bodies and connect with others they experience a sense of joy and belonging. Assisting people reconnect with themselves and their community is the reason I do this work.”

Kinsho

Kintsho Ka Tshabalala

Kintsho’s rare and unique musical talent has taken him all around the world, and has provided him with the opportunity to work along side some of the highest profile international recording artists as well as a wide variety of multicultural musicians, singers and dancers.

Kintsho hails from South Africa, and belongs to somewhat of a Musical Royal family.  After many years of valuable experience working in various combinations with Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and the cream of local artists and Musician:  Kintsho’s talents as a dancer choreographer and master percussionist took- him to London, Rome, Paris, USA, Canada and Australia.

Pape M’Baye

Pape M’baye is also a Griot. he was the head-drummer for 25 years of his fishing village Yoff in Senegal West Africa. He is a highly skilled percussionist & has mastered many African drums - the djembe, the sabar, the tama (talking drum) & the bougarabou. He performed in the National Orchestra of Senegal. As a teacher he is joyful and exuberant creating a fun & relaxed atmosphere to experience the richness of Senagalese culture. Pape has led and choreographed numerous African drum and dance troupes - his latest, African Children, toured Europe.
 

Lamine Sonko

Lamine is an exceptionally talented dancer & musician. born in Senegal West Africa to a griot family. His father, Bouly Sonko, is presently the director for “Le ballet national Du Senegal”. His mother was the first solo dancer for the ballet & for “doudou N’diaye Rose’. Lamine began performing when he was 10 yrs old. he soon featured as a solo dancer, percussionist & singer in different well known local groups in Senegal. He & his family are highly respected artist & griots in Africa & internationally. Lamine shares his gifts as a master dancer, musician and facilitator.