Educational Background/Training

Coppin State University, 2003 | Baltimore, MD
Master of Arts in Special Education

Virginia State University, 1976 | Petersburg, VA
Bachelor of Science in Health And Physical Education

• Dancer with Sankofa Dance Theatre – Baltimore Maryland
• Studied in Senegal West Africa with Kibbi Ajanku and Kuuna Mujamal
• Provided Dance Education in the Baltimore County School System- K-12
• Conducted Lecture Demonstrations in K-12 Schools
• Dancer with Kankouran West African Dance Company – Washington, DC
• Studied extensively with Assane Konte, and Papa Dom Mbyeye, Yousouf Kumbassa, Derrel Sekou Suma Walker and the late Baba Melvin Deale and Baba Olatunji

About the Artist/Ensemble

Sheron White Simpson is a native of Lynchburg and founder-of Kuumba Dance Ensemble , Inc., a nonprofit West African Drum/Dance Company created for children and adults and providing opportunities for each to perform in a wide range of community events. Sheron taught Health and Physical Education for 10 in The Lynchburg City Schools before moving to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. where she served as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal and principal. Sheron has performed with Dr. Nolan Williams, Jr. and The Voices of inspiration and has sung at the White House numerous times along with other amazing events such as singing at Norman Lear’s birthday party where Dr. Williams wrote a song specifically for him and framed it. Sheron also toured with Recording Artist, William Becton and Friends and is now performing with Tanner Sharp and High Praise. In addition to her singing career, Sheron was a member of Sankofa Dance Theatre in Baltimore and Kankouran West African Dancers in Washington, DC. Sheron moved back to Lynchburg was employed with Horizon Behavioral Health as a QMHP Clinician and Case Manager. In addition to to being a director, dancer, drum instructor and choreographer for Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc. she is married to David Simpson, is a caregiver for her mom, volunteers in her church’s Daycare and aftercare programs, an Elections Officer for the city of Lynchburg, and a Certified Therapeutic Options Instructor.

Sheron continues to study West African Dance with instructors from Guinea, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Authentic instructors from the Diaspora including Ezibu Muntu in Richmond Virginia, Wesley Williams in Greensboro, NC and Kaloum in Greensboro, NC.

Educational Program Description

Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc. tailors its workshops, performances and educational sessions to the needs of the entire community. They offer workshops to schools, churches, Adult Day Programs, Developmental Delayed Adults and children, Hearing Impaired, civic organizations and provides the entire community opportunities to learn about the richness and cultural traditions of Africa and the Diaspora through lecture demonstrations and authentic performances. Participants will actively engage in all aspects of  hands on drumming/dancing or both in sessions that are age appropriate.

In addition to dance workshops, lectures, and performances, Sheron created Lynchburg’s “”Drums Not Guns” to address the violence amongst youth and heal the city community with drum education. Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc. expects to ramp up it’s outreach and continues to offer wellness to children and youth in schools and recreation centers by using the drums as a mechanism to gain their attention and further education them on the safety aspects of drumming and the dangers of guns. Participants are offered opportunities to include visual art by drawing how drums can keep you safe. The premise is ” Pick up a drum and put down the guns.”

Fees

KDEI, accepts donations according to budgets of constituents, travel and cost of transporting equipment. Therefore fees will be discussed and determined depending on the nature of the sessions, distance and length of show/ or lecture demonstration/participation. A possible range could be for a (2) 45 minutes- one hour event $500-1500 depending on the above parameters. Please contact Sheron for more information.

Audiences

• All Ages
• College/University Students
• Adults