The Core Teachers
Teachers
Victoria Cross
Vistoria is an artist/educator who has worked extensively in schools around the country and locally, in Santa Fe, NM both as an Artist-In-Residence and as a teacher. She has a strong interest in transforming recycled materials into art. Puppets and masks made of favorite worn fabrics, socks, buttons, and beads have become characters of her storytelling/dance performances, as well as examples used in guiding participants in creating their own personal puppets, dolls and masked characters.
Victoria has written several books on the subject; “What's That You Say?”, “Puppets-Spirits in the Making”, and “Masks- Spirits in the Making”. She also oversaw the creation of a 30 minute video-”Los de Los Suenos- The Ones of the Dreams” featuring appearances of her masked figures in the New Mexico landscape.
Philomena Salem
Philomena is an artist, educator and advocate of child well-being. Philomena earned her BA in Moving Image Arts from the College of Santa Fe (now Santa Fe University of Art & Design). Philomena has worked directly for the betterment of children since 2007 when she worked as a production assistant and juror for KIDS FIRST! Coalition for Quality Children's Media. She has worked with children of all ages in preschools, summer camps, museums and juvenile correctional facilities where she teaches video production, photography, theatre, painting and graffiti art, poetry and graphic novels.
Assistants
Willow Martinez
Victoria Cross
Vistoria is an artist/educator who has worked extensively in schools around the country and locally, in Santa Fe, NM both as an Artist-In-Residence and as a teacher. She has a strong interest in transforming recycled materials into art. Puppets and masks made of favorite worn fabrics, socks, buttons, and beads have become characters of her storytelling/dance performances, as well as examples used in guiding participants in creating their own personal puppets, dolls and masked characters.
Victoria has written several books on the subject; “What's That You Say?”, “Puppets-Spirits in the Making”, and “Masks- Spirits in the Making”. She also oversaw the creation of a 30 minute video-”Los de Los Suenos- The Ones of the Dreams” featuring appearances of her masked figures in the New Mexico landscape.
Philomena Salem
Philomena is an artist, educator and advocate of child well-being. Philomena earned her BA in Moving Image Arts from the College of Santa Fe (now Santa Fe University of Art & Design). Philomena has worked directly for the betterment of children since 2007 when she worked as a production assistant and juror for KIDS FIRST! Coalition for Quality Children's Media. She has worked with children of all ages in preschools, summer camps, museums and juvenile correctional facilities where she teaches video production, photography, theatre, painting and graffiti art, poetry and graphic novels.
Assistants
Willow Martinez
The Guest Teachers
Jill Basso, MA, LMT
Jill is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Tai Chi Instructor. She has worked with children of all ages in public school and private settings since 1988. She has helped to transmit T’ai Chi play to children since 2004 and massage since 2010, in New York and Santa Fe. She has been a core instructor at Golden Acorns Camp, since its inception in 2009. She says “I love how the Golden Acorns Camp embraces the healing arts and brings this opportunity to children, especially to those who may not have the circumstances to experience it in their lives”.
Liz Brindley
Bio coming soon..
Soriba Fofana
Master drummer and musician, Ibrahimasory Fofana, also known as Soriba, is from the Susu tribe of people who reside on the coastal region of Guinea, Conakry in West Africa. Soriba’s love for traditional music began at an early age and he began studying with Ali Sylla of Les Percussions de Guinea and later with Morcire Camara of Percussion Wassa. He went on to become Director of music for Percussion Wassa in Matam, Conakry in 2005.
Soriba came to the US in 2009 and began teaching and performing traditional music of Guinea in schools, festivals and in workshops nationwide. He is the director of MORIA, West African Dance & Drum Ensemble in New Mexico. Soriba believes in sharing his traditions with all who are seeking, captivating and inspiring all, as the melodies and ancient rhythms reach the soul and call out to the spirit of the ancestors.
Shuga Shane Montoya
Shuga Shane, a Native New Mexican, has been dancing for the past 14 years and teaching for the past 8 years. Aside from teaching, choreographing, and performing he organizes hip-hop based community events in Albuquerque. Originally a b-boy or break-boy, Shane represents United Hip-Hop Family and Chief Rockers (Native based performing arts group). Throughout the years he has also expanded his dance disciplines to various styles such as Ballet, Commercial Hip-Hop, Jazz, House, and Latin, and has danced with various companies such as Festival Ballet Albuquerque, Musical Theatre Southwest, and is currently a member of Dancing Earth (Indigenous Contemporary Dance Company). Traveling and meeting new people has played a vital role in his growth as a dancer, street performer, and mentor.
Jeff Porter
Jeff is a percussionist based out of Tulsa, OK. He has been playing and studying African based music for the past 13 years.He studied in Cuba in 2000 and just returned from six months of studying in Brazil!
He has studied with many teachers including Michael Spiro and Alex Acuna of Weather report.He has recorded on an album with the horn players from Paul Simon’s band from Graceland,Emmy Lou Harris, and has performed with many different bands such as The String Cheese Incident, The Motet, Tea Leaf Green, and many others. His goal is to bring the spirit of the music to as many people as possible because it is really fun!
Tory Wildharber
Tory currently lives in northern California where he operates a plant nursery-yoga studio-community educational space. Tory has been sharing his experience and knowledge of permaculture, gardening, herbology and music with children from a young age. He has been involved in Golden Acorns since its inception. Tory loves bringing his knowledge of caring for the earth to children of all ages.
Jill is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Tai Chi Instructor. She has worked with children of all ages in public school and private settings since 1988. She has helped to transmit T’ai Chi play to children since 2004 and massage since 2010, in New York and Santa Fe. She has been a core instructor at Golden Acorns Camp, since its inception in 2009. She says “I love how the Golden Acorns Camp embraces the healing arts and brings this opportunity to children, especially to those who may not have the circumstances to experience it in their lives”.
Liz Brindley
Bio coming soon..
Soriba Fofana
Master drummer and musician, Ibrahimasory Fofana, also known as Soriba, is from the Susu tribe of people who reside on the coastal region of Guinea, Conakry in West Africa. Soriba’s love for traditional music began at an early age and he began studying with Ali Sylla of Les Percussions de Guinea and later with Morcire Camara of Percussion Wassa. He went on to become Director of music for Percussion Wassa in Matam, Conakry in 2005.
Soriba came to the US in 2009 and began teaching and performing traditional music of Guinea in schools, festivals and in workshops nationwide. He is the director of MORIA, West African Dance & Drum Ensemble in New Mexico. Soriba believes in sharing his traditions with all who are seeking, captivating and inspiring all, as the melodies and ancient rhythms reach the soul and call out to the spirit of the ancestors.
Shuga Shane Montoya
Shuga Shane, a Native New Mexican, has been dancing for the past 14 years and teaching for the past 8 years. Aside from teaching, choreographing, and performing he organizes hip-hop based community events in Albuquerque. Originally a b-boy or break-boy, Shane represents United Hip-Hop Family and Chief Rockers (Native based performing arts group). Throughout the years he has also expanded his dance disciplines to various styles such as Ballet, Commercial Hip-Hop, Jazz, House, and Latin, and has danced with various companies such as Festival Ballet Albuquerque, Musical Theatre Southwest, and is currently a member of Dancing Earth (Indigenous Contemporary Dance Company). Traveling and meeting new people has played a vital role in his growth as a dancer, street performer, and mentor.
Jeff Porter
Jeff is a percussionist based out of Tulsa, OK. He has been playing and studying African based music for the past 13 years.He studied in Cuba in 2000 and just returned from six months of studying in Brazil!
He has studied with many teachers including Michael Spiro and Alex Acuna of Weather report.He has recorded on an album with the horn players from Paul Simon’s band from Graceland,Emmy Lou Harris, and has performed with many different bands such as The String Cheese Incident, The Motet, Tea Leaf Green, and many others. His goal is to bring the spirit of the music to as many people as possible because it is really fun!
Tory Wildharber
Tory currently lives in northern California where he operates a plant nursery-yoga studio-community educational space. Tory has been sharing his experience and knowledge of permaculture, gardening, herbology and music with children from a young age. He has been involved in Golden Acorns since its inception. Tory loves bringing his knowledge of caring for the earth to children of all ages.
