In schools, in communities, and online

From artist-led workshops to special classroom curricula to free online lessons, Ordway's Education and Community Engagement programs connect artists with you—wherever you are. Get to know the extraordinary artists who are sharing their work, and learn where else you can find them!


2023-2024 Beyond the Stage Artists

Tumelo Khupe

Award- and tournament-winning krump dancer

Tumelo Khupe is a krumper, emerging choreographer, and actress based in the Twin Cities area. She began focusing on her passion for performing arts while still living in Botswana, before moving to the United States to pursue a performing arts career in 2016. Through work with Maia Maiden, Darrius Brown, and more recently, Herb Johnson 111, she has become a part of the street dance community, more specifically the Minnesota Krump (MN KRUMP) community, with alias "Melo.” She also works closely with mentors Wynn Fricke, Claudia Tatinge Nascimento, and Patricia Brown.

Tumelo is interested in how krump offers endless possibilities for storytelling through its technique and the language shared amongst its practitioners, and providing a shared experience that encourages community building.

With a BA in music theater and a minor in dance, Tumelo has received awards including the David Wick Leadership Award, David Wick Best Choreography Award, and The Mabel Meta Frey Outstanding Theater Artist Award, as well as first place in the first "King of the Ring" krump tournament event in Texas in 2020.

FEATURED ON THE ORDWAY EDUCATION YOUTUBE
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@melo_kh_ on Instagram

Ensamble 7/4

Seven witty music lovers thrilling audiences in and out of Venezuela.

Founded in Venezuela and currently based in Florida, Ensamble 7/4 has toured in the US and internationally throughout Europe and South America. They have recorded 5 albums; “Welcome to America” and “FestFanfaren”, and are both Silver Medal winners of The Global Music Awards 2018-2020 respectively.

The group also has appeared at international festivals such as the Trumpet Festival of the South East 2022 in Atlanta, the Miami World Music Festival 2018-2021-2022, the Italian Brass Week 2012-2020; International Trumpet Guild 2015-2019, FIU Music Festival 2019, Sauerland-Herbst Brass Festival 2015-2016-2017; Miami Dade College Honor Band Music Festival 2017; Schagerl Brass Festival 2014; SBALZ Festival 2011.

As members of “El Sistema” in Venezuela, in 2015 the 7/4 toured with maestro Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra (SBSOV). This time, they appeared in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where they performed in concerts such as the 2015 LA Phil Opening Night Gala.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Ensamble 7/4 Website

@ensamble74 on Instagram

Tamiko French

Multidisciplinary Creative, Sound Healer, Crystal Healer.

Since 2011 Tamiko French has been a multidisciplinary creative with a background in dance performance and choreography. Additionally, creating jewelry and sharing her gift with communities abroad has been a sincere passion that is now her full time business. Her love for science, nature, and the magic between them is carefully synergized with each service she delivers. Whether it be crystal consultation, crystal healing, custom functional jewelry, movement exploration, or a unique sound bath, you can discover something that illuminates your soul. Her vibrationally charged work has been featured at Rituals in Midtown Global Market, at various pop up shops, and resident at Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center where she is a teacher and welding artist.

In 2020, Tamiko added sound healing to her array of services in response to the rising needs of safe calm space from the murder of George Floyd, and the homeless displacement where many volunteers and homeless needed some form of calm affirming her own healing journey. She has been accredited with the International Natural Healers Association and has been featured at Well Connected Twin Cities, SALT Salon and Spa, Abbott Hospital and Mother Baby Center, One Yoga, and Watershed Spa.

FEATURED ON THE ORDWAY EDUCATION YOUTUBE
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Tamiko French Websitte

@soulspeakexpressions5836 on Instagram

Lisa Arnold

Represented by Art Resources Gallery in Minneapolis

Lisa Arnold is a teaching artist who believes that art changes people and people change the world. She encourages her students to engage with themselves and the diverse world around them by using their life experiences to create art and art experiences to create their lives. Her main goal is to empower students by honing their visual, technical, and poetic abilities. She gives students tools in art interpretation and creation so they can express themselves in positive, productive, and creative ways, both inside and outside the classroom.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
@xola_arts on Instagram

Chops Inc.

Helping School and Community Drumming Groups access Festivals and Competitions

Leveraging a 30-year history in national drum corps and percussion communities, Chops partners with local schools and educational groups to make restorative efforts come to life within Minnesota's music education sphere. Chops works with professionals and organizations throughout Minnesota to identify, mentor, and uplift underserved music educators and education programs in the urban core. With a belief that music education and the performing arts are strong vehicles for improving lives, Chops aims to ensure all have equitable access to grow through music education. Chops offers evidence-based program development, professional mentorship, and resource management services to education communities in the Twin Cities. In addition, Chops provides live performance opportunities for youth and adults from in- class drumming residencies, to economic opportunities with Panhandlers, Tin Cups, and ChopsLIVE entertainment groups.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Chops, Inc. Official Website

Center for Irish Music

Dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community

The Center for Irish Music (CIM) is a thriving nonprofit community music school based in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood. The CIM is dedicated to handing down traditional Irish music to the next generation of musicians in our community through private lessons, group classes, and events featuring world-class artists like the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend. This school performance features teaching artists Norah Rendell (flute, whistle, song), Brian Miller (guitar, bouzouki, banjo), Mary Vanorny (fiddle), and Danielle Enblom (fiddle, stepdance).

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
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Center for Irish Music Website

@CenterforIrishMusic on Instagram

Sivanuja Balaji

Artistic director and Founder of Nritya Kalakshetra School of Performing Arts

Guru Sivanuja Balaji is the visionary Founder and artistic director of Nritya Kalakshetra Academy of Performing Arts. She is a disciple of late Mr. Adyar K. Lakshman and Ms. Krishnaveni Lakshman, and studied under the legend Padma Subramaniam.

With over 28 years of dedication, she excels in teaching, performing, and choreographing various art forms. As an alumna of Kalakshetra Foundation, she has honed her skills in Bharathnatyam, Mohiniattam, folk dances of India, and Carnatic music, vocal percussion, and drums.

Ms. Sivanuja's influence goes beyond the studio. Her students showcase a diverse range of performances, from traditional Bharathanatyam to the elegance of Mohiniattam and the vigor of Kuchipudi, seamlessly integrating contemporary expressions.

In the cinematic realm, she contributed her choreographic talents to the film REFUGE, working with renowned choreographer Jennifer Aravey and award-winning filmmaker Philip Harder.

Recognized for her contributions, she serves as the coordinator for Griffin College London in Minnesota and neighboring states, Guest Artist at Ordway and Community advisory panel, and she’s also a member of the Cowles Center's Program & Education Committee.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM
@Nrityakalakshetraacademy on Facebook

@sivanujabalaji on Instagram

Doktor Kaboom

A man who creatively blends Science, Theater arts and Comedy.

David Epley, through the character of Doktor Kaboom! performs original interactive Science Comedy shows for audiences of all ages. Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration, Doktor Kaboom! keeps his crowds riveted with interest and rolling with laughter. Join Kaboom! for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular (and often successful) science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate, and entertain.

David Epley is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been fortunate enough to discover two passions in his life.

Science, his first, took him to studies at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. His second, performing, became his career, and for 20 years David has made his living writing, performing, and directing original interactive theatre across the US and Canada.

David is thrilled to be able to bring his passions together and honored to share them with you. He considers himself quite fortunate to have found his calling in life and blessed to be allowed to make a living doing what he loves.

David lives in Seattle, Washington, and is the proud papa of his teenage daughter, Jindalee. He thanks his mother, Barbara, his father, Paul, and Annie, the love of his life, for their unyielding faith and loving support.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM

@doktorkaboom on Instagram

Andy Mor

Choreographer, Instructor and founder and creator of AMANIM5, LLC.

Andy Asong-Morfaw (AKA Andy Mor), founder and creator of AMANIM5, LLC; a dance brand for holding monthly dance workshops with its perks for merchandise. Originally from Cameroon, and live in Coon Rapids, MN. My style derives from African (Makossa from Cameroon) and branching to Hip Hop with other styles of dance like Jazz, Urban, and house. I have a Masters’ in Project Management from St. Mary’s University and I am the assistant choreographer for the Timberwolves’ 612 dance crew and have choreographed for the NBA Timeberwolves’ dancers as a guest choreographer, performed and choreographed for actor and singer, Dua Saleh during the Timberwolves half-time from the Netflix series, "Sex Education”, formal dance instructor at All day Studio, current dance instructor at Hothouse Mpls in Minneapolis while running a Health Care business as well. I have been affiliated with Mixtape, a hip-hop collaborative group at the Cowles center for 3 years, and did "Andy Mor & Cabarave '' last year of 2023. I have done residency work for the University of MN (2019) and Bates Dance Festival (2023). Former cast member of “I’m From” Vol. 1 & 2 at the Southern Theatre and choreographed for Southwest High School’s showcase for 2 years and South High School and have taught at University of Minnesota as a guest artist and choreographer. I have also taught and choreographed for Barrio dance in Madison, Wisconsin. My style specializes in jazz funk (collaboration of styles and movement that expresses performance, stage presence and personality in the form of choreography for intermediate and advanced levels).

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM

@Andy.mor5 on Instagram

Desaré Cox

Choreographer, Instructor and Red Bull Dance Your Style-MN Qualifier

Desaré Cox (she/her) is an artist native to Chicago, IL, raised in Minneapolis, MN. As a self taught dancer inspired by the movement, spirit, and community around her, she quickly learned, through embodiment and hard work, the true nature and essence of hip-hop. Desaré believes that dance is emotions personified and a powerful language that connects us all. Through that language, her work is fueled by the intention to grant viewers a moment to feel seen, understood, and represented, while simultaneously allowing the expression of emotions and experiences— freely, and unapologetically. Currently, Desaré is teaching movement at Hothouse dance studio, is a flourishing model, forever student, and safe space; always striving to be a better teacher, artist, and human.

TEACHING STUDENTS THROUGH ORDWAY'S ARTISTS IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM

@chipotlayyye on Instagram

2022–2023 Beyond the Stage Artists

2021–2022 Beyond the Stage Artists