About the Beautiful Teachers at Rubatano
Dana Moffett has undertaken a long journey into the complex and beautiful music of Zimbabwe, resulting in her creation of Rubatano Center on Whidbey Island. The center's focus is marimba instruction and a direct exchange of instructors from Zimbabwe. In addition to teaching in the Northwest, Dana has taught at numerous camps and festivals including the annual Zimbabwean Music Festival, Nhemamusasa North in Canada, The Canvas in Juneau, Alaska and for the Matanho Project in Zimbabwe.
Dana is a performance artist with Ruzivo and Paul Mataruse, touring in the United States, Canada and Zimbabwe. She has a strong background working with youth camps and youth performance groups. Through her passion she fosters respect for the music and the demands of performing in an ensemble. Dana's love of the music has taken her to Zimbabwe ten times, to study the music and culture. She enjoys 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.
Rubatano Center is pleased to introduce Micah Petrich to our teaching team. Micah has been undertaking a teacher training course this past year and has now launched his first class. Micah has been a dedicated and enthusiastic follower of Zimbabwean music and culture, studying and playing in Rubatano groups since 2013.
Caden Davis is new to the PNW and is delighted to be joining the beautiful happenings at the Rubatano Center. Caden is an enthusiastic performer, educator, composer, and listener of all types of music, spanning from his studies of Baroque and Romantic classical music, to the deep and ancient traditions of the mbira, and everything in between. A North Idaho native, Caden earned his Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho in 2021, before hopping on board with Polyphony Marimba (based out of Santa Fe, NM) for their 7 week national tours in 2021 and 2023. In between, Caden was music director at a church in Coeur d’Alene, ID.
He was introduced to the Kwanongoma Marimba style in elementary school. After elementary school, he continued to play in the newly formed Coeur d’Alene Youth Marimba, where he eventually took on a leadership role around age 14. Attending Zimfest in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022 has given him the chance to hear the authentic style and playing of Zimbabwean music, which has continued to ignite his passion for this music. He has directed and taught several groups of all ages, including 4 years during his undergraduate studies, and 2 years with a young-adult group he formed in Coeur d’Alene. He is so excited to bring his experiences to the Rubatano Center and get connected in the scene here!
Zimbabwean-style marimba music offers students a unique cross-cultural opportunity to explore an in-depth and wide range of music from Africa. Students build their musical confidence and have the opportunity to experience success quickly. Learning in ensemble form, on soprano, tenor, baritone and bass marimbas, encourages the importance of listening to each other. In addition to hands-on instruction, students are introduced to the African culture, rhythm, songs, dance and language associated with the instrument's origins.
Rubatano Center - Dana Moffett marimba@whidbey.com 360.661.6187
