Talented,
creative and charismatic, Joneeba Mouflet's story
is an inspiring one. He has come a long way from his
impoverished childhood in Martinique, his days without
food in Africa, and his nights sleeping on the New
York City subway to his current success, never allowing
financial barriers to stop him from following his
dreams.
Joneeba
was born in Martinique, and then he spent many of
his childhood years in Senegal, Mali, and Guinea,
West Africa, where he trained with renowned masters
of West African drumming and dance in small villages,
as well as in performing arts schools and companies.
Years later, his unique talent won him a scholarship
and sponsorship by the Dance Theater of Harlem inviting
him to come to the United States. Through his extensive
experience in African, Ballet, Jazz and Modern dance,
as well in music and acting, he is now a much sought-after
teacher, performer, choreographer and composer. He
has taught and performed in venues ranging from Disneyworld
and Busch Gardens to concert halls across Europe,
Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Canada and Japan.
He has choreographed, danced, and played music with
Spike Lee, Chaka Khan, Will Calhoun, Al Corley, Kid
Creole and the Coconuts, Lindsay Wagner, Olatundji
and many others.
Over
the last eighteen years, Joneeba has created and perfected
an amazing blend of floor exercises, yoga and African
dance – performed to the captivating power of
drum rhythms – that has become one complete
fitness program called Joneeba™. This technique
exercises both mind and body, and also feeds the spirit.
Devotees have followed him for eighteen years from
one studio to another and for the past twelve years
to his own very popular and award winning Djoniba
Dance & Drum Centre in New York City. He has achieved
guru-like status among the thousands of individuals
who have studied with him worldwide and the many who
currently crowd into the Djoniba Dance and Drum Centre
each week. His students have included Julia Roberts,
Brooke Shields, and Roshumba, as well as Iman and
Montel Williams’s children. “Just because
they lack funds, children should not be deprived of
the power, self-discipline and joy that dancing, drumming,
sports, and the arts provide,” says Joneeba
Mouflet, who is tireless in his work as a humanitarian.
He has taught thousands of children from low-income
families to dance and drum for free and started a
not-for-profit children’s program 12 years ago,
committed to inspiring young people and helping them
gain discipline, confidence, and success in life.
Joneeba’s
teaching of African Dance to adults and children has
profound results: one’s body finds freedom in
the power of rhythm. Now with his DVD, he is bringing
the uplifting rhythmic movements of Africa and the
joy of Joneeba™ to millions.