ABOUT US
Nikko Snow - Teacher
Nikko was introduced to the colourful world of West African rhythm and dance by Lynn in the early days of MoonDance. Lynn had studied the art form in Guinea and was encouraged to share it in her own community.
After falling in love with the lively rhythms and high-energy movements, Nikko was invited to study, perform and teach with MoonDance. She had the honour of working with several Guinean teachers as well as those who had studied in Guinea.
Beyond dance, Nikko studied biology, environmental studies and outdoor education. She had some fantastic opportunities to live, study and work in interesting communities including Bamfield, Hornby Island, Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, Victoria and Vancouver. She pairs her love of nature and the outdoors with movement in her creative dance classes for children, youth and families.
After 20 years with MoonDance, Nikko continues to share her passion for dance in the Victoria community and beyond! In 2025 she had to opportunity to return to Monteverde, Costa Rica to share West African rhythm and dance with the Cloud Forest community. She offered classes through Riochante, an open-air community centre as well as workshops for 60 elementary school children at the El Centro de Educacion Creativa (Cloud Forest School).
Our Drummers!
Allan started drumming in school bands from grade 6 through 12. He also played in a variety of rock & roll dance bands outside of school. In percussion performance, he received an Associate in music from Malaspina College. Allan began hand drumming and playing West African music in 2000 and has studied with several instructors, including Jordan Hanson of Drum Victoria. He has played in performance ensembles and for MoonDance for 20 years.
John became interested in drums through elementary school band. During high school and university, he played in jazz and rock bands. In his early 20s, he made a living as a freelance drummer in Toronto playing jazz, rock, and musical theater gigs. John did a cross-Canada tour with a pop group, and a Caribbean cruise with Bo Diddley. In his 30s, he was introduced to Ghanaian drumming in Vancouver. In his 50s, he became interested in Malian drumming through Drum Victoria and Guinean drumming with MoonDance.
Graham has been playing African drums on and off since 2007. He first learned to play in the Edinburgh University African Drumming Society. Since that time, he has looked for opportunities to continue playing wherever he has lived, finding classes or small groups of people to play together with in London, Inverness, Devon and now Victoria!
ABOUT MOONDANCE
Lynn Weaver
Founder / Artistic DirectorLynn founded MoonDance many years ago as a vehicle for connecting community and promoting wellness and vitality, and is so thrilled that Nikko took up the torch to continue this community offering!
Lynn continues creative exploration as a dance artist, and is a scholar-practitioner with work related to forced migration, gender equity and racial justice. Currently, Lynn is the senior program director with the Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Association, the national umbrella for private refugee resettlement in Canada. She has worked and volunteered in global-community, including in Guinea, Ethiopia, France, and Costa Rica, and was a 1000 Voices Fellow. A recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Community Service, Lynn is currently a volunteer board director with Social Planning Cowichan with a focus on poverty reduction strategies and anti-racism/decolonisation work. She has a master’s degree in Global Leadership. Her research centres refugee agency and autonomy during the migration journey.
Lynn remains an active member of the International Dance Council CID, the UNESCO partner NGO with members in over 170 countries, and while no longer teaching dance at this time, Lynn says she will always consider dance an important part of her life and identity.
“I am endlessly grateful for the amazing community that grew out of MoonDance.”
With thanks,
Lynn
