Student Login

Whidbey Island’s Marimba Center

Rubatano paChitsuwa
Dana Moffett, director

Mauya Mauya!  Welcome to Rubatano paChitsuwa. The name, meaning 'United on the Island', came from Cosmas Magaya and Beauler Dyoko after one of their many visits to Whidbey Island. They and many other Zimbabwean guests feel at home here while sharing their Shona music and culture with us.

Rubatano Center is a gathering point for learning how to play traditional and contemporary music from Zimbabwe on marimbas. Although this music is rich in tradition, variety and complexity, it is easy and fun to learn without having prior musical experience. One of the missions of Rubatano Center is to explore this richness and experience the joy of playing marimba in ensemble form.  Rubatano Center currently has nine classes per week, spanning several generations.

As a teacher of this music, I strive to maintain a warm-hearted spirit in my studio as we learn and work together, building a feeling of community, support and motivation for each student.

About Dana

Dana Moffett started playing marimba in 1995 with Michael Breez as her first teacher.  The first thing she felt when hearing it for the first time was ‘total joy’.  She has since studied with many teachers, American and Zimbabwean.   Dana has been teaching marimba for the past eight years.  She was a co-founder of Titambe Marimba on Whidbey Island.  She has also been a member of Musasa Marimba Ensemble, and is currently a member of Ruzivo with Paul Mataruse, and Rubatano's Project Group, Nzira.

Dana’s love of the music has taken her to Zimbabwe twice, to study the music and culture.  She enjoys being a student of this music, be it marimba, mbira, dance, or singing.  Dana is dedicated to the enrichment of her local community through the teaching of Zimbabwean music and culture.

From the Director
I would like to express how excited I am to have the opportunity to teach marimba to you.  My personal goal is to give my students the tools for discovering the special world of Shona music.  Most importantly, my goal is to create a genuine love for the music so that you will want to continue learning long after lessons have ceased, and that you will enjoy this music for a lifetime. Everyone takes marimba classes for different reasons. Whatever your reason, I hope to help you succeed and accomplish your goals.

From the other side of the word, from another time, this music comes to us telling stories deeply relevant to our own time:  stories of family, ancestors, generosity, kindness, hardship and peace.