ABOUT MICHELLE
History:
Michelle is a drum circle facilitator & teacher from Cape Town, South Africa now a permanent resident in Bath, UK.
She has been playing Djembe, bass drums & various types of percussion since 1998.
Her solid foundations in Djembe came from her first teacher, Greg Stopforth. Teachers through the years include Sidy Sangare from Mali, Ladji Kante from Guinea, Emmanuel Gomado from Ghana and Dingiswayo Juma from Zimbabwe.
Through the years she has had the privilege of working with Michael de Wit of Roots Rhythms, Eddie Bunting of Drums Rhythm, Bevil Spence of Drumba, Julie Blundell of Rhythm Workshop, Tim Ramsden of Beat-It, Janis Merand of Women on Djembe, Tessa Hosford of Rhythm Sinc, Kobus Conradie, Leon Visser and Ronan Skillen among others.
In 2001 she began facilitating interactive drumming sessions for corporate team building events, social events & parties. Later moving into Conflict resolution & Leadership workshops in collaboration with Tim Ramsden.
She facilitated weekly sessions at Valkenberg Psychiatric hospital’s maximum & medium security wards and the occupational therapy department for 6 years.
She facilitated weekly group sessions at Stepping Stones Rehabilitation center in Kommetjie for 16 years working with addiction patients using drums & percussion as a therapy tool to assist patients in their recovery process.
She has taught weekly classes at Waldorf School in Constantia, Synergy School in Sunnydale and the Noordhoek Monterossi Pre-primary. She facilitates workshops with underprivileged children dealing with broken homes, abusive peers, addiction & the emotional trauma that goes with it working with CASE in Hanover Park, Cape Town and the One Love Learning Foundation project teaching weekly classes at Cavalleria Primary School in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein for 8 years.
She co-ordinated & facilitated various school’s and community based programs with eMzantsi and Cape Town carnival for 11 years. The aim being to bring children and adults from different communities together through the medium of art, drama & music to get to know each other better.
She regularly performed with the all women performance group “Women on Djembe”, The Beat It African Music Ensemble and The Far South Drummers playing at weddings, social functions and corporate events.
Now:
The transition to the UK brought about a transformative and unique quality to the experiences now offered.
Michelle spent the first few years in the UK honing her skills, working as a health and wellbeing coach and mental health service manager to name a few. She is now qualified in the fields of social studies and counselling skills, Pilates and Nia dance, nutrition and extensively trained in a variety of mental health conditions. This unique combination allows Michelle to work with individuals and diverse communities with a holistic and empathic approach to transforming lives.
Her passion lies in helping and empowering others to become the best version of themselves through the healing power of drumming and community.
Michelle is a drum circle facilitator & teacher from Cape Town, South Africa now a permanent resident in Bath, UK.
She has been playing Djembe, bass drums & various types of percussion since 1998.
Her solid foundations in Djembe came from her first teacher, Greg Stopforth. Teachers through the years include Sidy Sangare from Mali, Ladji Kante from Guinea, Emmanuel Gomado from Ghana and Dingiswayo Juma from Zimbabwe.
Through the years she has had the privilege of working with Michael de Wit of Roots Rhythms, Eddie Bunting of Drums Rhythm, Bevil Spence of Drumba, Julie Blundell of Rhythm Workshop, Tim Ramsden of Beat-It, Janis Merand of Women on Djembe, Tessa Hosford of Rhythm Sinc, Kobus Conradie, Leon Visser and Ronan Skillen among others.
In 2001 she began facilitating interactive drumming sessions for corporate team building events, social events & parties. Later moving into Conflict resolution & Leadership workshops in collaboration with Tim Ramsden.
She facilitated weekly sessions at Valkenberg Psychiatric hospital’s maximum & medium security wards and the occupational therapy department for 6 years.
She facilitated weekly group sessions at Stepping Stones Rehabilitation center in Kommetjie for 16 years working with addiction patients using drums & percussion as a therapy tool to assist patients in their recovery process.
She has taught weekly classes at Waldorf School in Constantia, Synergy School in Sunnydale and the Noordhoek Monterossi Pre-primary. She facilitates workshops with underprivileged children dealing with broken homes, abusive peers, addiction & the emotional trauma that goes with it working with CASE in Hanover Park, Cape Town and the One Love Learning Foundation project teaching weekly classes at Cavalleria Primary School in Scottsdene, Kraaifontein for 8 years.
She co-ordinated & facilitated various school’s and community based programs with eMzantsi and Cape Town carnival for 11 years. The aim being to bring children and adults from different communities together through the medium of art, drama & music to get to know each other better.
She regularly performed with the all women performance group “Women on Djembe”, The Beat It African Music Ensemble and The Far South Drummers playing at weddings, social functions and corporate events.
Now:
The transition to the UK brought about a transformative and unique quality to the experiences now offered.
Michelle spent the first few years in the UK honing her skills, working as a health and wellbeing coach and mental health service manager to name a few. She is now qualified in the fields of social studies and counselling skills, Pilates and Nia dance, nutrition and extensively trained in a variety of mental health conditions. This unique combination allows Michelle to work with individuals and diverse communities with a holistic and empathic approach to transforming lives.
Her passion lies in helping and empowering others to become the best version of themselves through the healing power of drumming and community.
Naturali Catchi Rhythms was founded in South Africa by Michelle in 2002.
The primary objective is the use of drums and percussion instruments to encourage self-expression and creativity, to share the therapeutic and healing power of the drum and to empower people of all ages to use drumming as a tool of transformation.
Today she brings her bright energy and contagious enthusiasm to the UK with which she shares her wealth of knowledge about this uplifting and fun musical modality for entertainment and health.
Contact Michelle on 07909 973588
or email
[email protected]
Scroll down to see who has enjoyed the Naturali Catchi Rhythms experience:
UK Events:
Celebrate Southern Africa Event
Bath Mencap
3rd Keynsham Girls' Brigade
Heswall Disabled Children's Holiday Fund - South West Camp
Wiltshire Heights Care Home, Bradford on Avon
Celebrate Southern Africa Event
Bath Mencap
3rd Keynsham Girls' Brigade
Heswall Disabled Children's Holiday Fund - South West Camp
Wiltshire Heights Care Home, Bradford on Avon
Facilitated events through the years have included:
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Corporate:
Metropolitan Health Gestetner Old Mutual Engen Euro Fruit PIMS SA Port Control Media 24 CMH Pavilion Bioharmony Group Dimension Data Foshini Group Delloit OTASA Western Province Caterers Vodacom Simba Radiant & Colas Multichoice Medipost TCI Mediclinic Dish Caterers Supergroup Sharenet Springbok Atlas Direct Axis Alvarion Callafrica Pam Golding Sanlam MI Overseas Baroque Medical Diamond Works Compuscan SA Space Agency Confiance Jenman Travel Clicks BIBC Tiger Brands Microsoft Kodak Sanparks MIP SARS Novo Nordisk GUD Hodgsons BP Bright Ideas |
Entertainment Booking agents:
Action Entertainment Parallel Worlds Real Wired Music Spot On Promotions O2 Productions African Impact Tour Operators: Moji African Tours & Travel Hoeri Kwaggo Tours – Johnsons & Wales University Aramat Cape Tours Seekers Travel Abercrombie & Kent Tourvest Cape Forest Adventures Akilanga DMC & Events International: The Rifles Trust Fusion North One Love Learning Foundation Hospital & Clinics: Valkenberg Hospital Stepping Stones Clinic Alexandra Hospital |
Schools / University:
Alazhar Primary School Melkbostrand Private School Springfield Convent Elkanah House International School Kommetjie Primary School Sunvalley Primary School Cavalleria Primary School Constantia Waldorf School Noordhoek Montessori Pre-Primary Tembaletu School Synergy School Parklands College Durbanville High School Astra School Stellenbosch University UCT Department of Pharmacology UCT Librarians NGO & Non profit: SPCA Desmond Tutu Peace Centre Yabona Humsa Rocklands Centre Rape Crisis Centre SANZAF CASE Hanover Park Salesian Institute Alanon ASSITEJ South Africa Harlequin Foundation – eMzantsi Carnival Red Zebra Foundation Edupeg The Girls Brigade Kommetjie Christian Church Ishishini Lethu Development Centre The Skills Exchange Cooperative |