Faculty
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RAY MCNAMARA Ray McNamara has played on film scores, records, television, commercials, and various stages. As a member of the Daniel Lentz Group, Ray toured Europe and the United States. He has collaborated with many L.A. based choreographers including: Fern Ackerman, Loretta Livingston, Stephanie Gilliland, Susan Rose, Michael Mizerany, Linda Sohl-Donnell and Fred Strickler. In 1995, He collaborated with Anna Halprin for the annual “Earth Run” at Mt. Tamalpais. He later presented excerpts of that work at the International Dance Educators Workshop at UC Riverside. Ray has presented master classes in “Body Music” as well as “Music for Dancers.” He has also assisted in master classes by: Bela Lewitzky, Donald McCayle, Bill T. Jones, Dancemakers, and Tandy Beal. Ray has choreographed Rhythm Pieces using his style of Body Music for: UC Riverside, Fullerton College, Riverside Community College, Orange Coast College, Mt. San Antonio College, as well as several high schools. He is continually in demand to do workshops in Rhythm and Body Music. As a Steel Drum soloist, Ray blends his unique style of soca and jazz to bring the Steel Pan to a new level. Ray has toured the U.S., Japan and the Caribbean with his group, the Calypso Pirates. His latest project, Damaru, combines traditional rhythms and instruments with modern day technology, developing a unique synthesis in sound. As an educator, Ray has taught at Cal Arts, Northern Illinois University, and UCLA. In addition to being the Music Director for the Department of Dance at UC Riverside, he is also the director of the Steel Band at Fullerton College, and the Music Teacher for the International Montessori School in Claremont.
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