Meet our Instructors

Alexandra Ray

Alexandra Ray is a drum and rhythm practitioner who is constantly exploring the intersection of rhythm and nature. She started playing the drums over 18 years ago and has developed an interest in world percussion. She plays many different types of drums and her current practice integrates the healing rhythms of the drum with mindfulness and gratitude around nature. Alex has been a member of several percussion groups and performance ensembles in Georgia, Texas, and Minnesota. She is the director of the drumHeart festival ensemble and teaches a variety of drum classes and workshops at the Women’s Drum Center. She is excited to share, learn and drum with others! For more information on Alex, visit www.rootrhythm.com

WDC Classes: drumHeart Music Director, Rhythm & Wellness Workshops

Bettie Seitzer

Bettie Seitzer started her musical journey at the age of 10 playing the violin continuously through high school, college, and beyond. She spent 6 years traveling the upper Midwest in a Blues and Bluegrass band. She first visited the WDC in 2009 and was immediately smitten with the drums! She started in Women Who Grove and then moved to drumHeart, of which she is still a member.

Bettie’s love of West African music has led her to study the rhythms and cultural context of the music she loves and to seek out new songs for the classes she teaches. She has attended workshops led by West African Master Drummers at the annual Wula Drum and Dance Retreat. Those Master Drummers have encouraged her to embrace the music, play it joyfully, and share the background of the songs, their origin, and meaning. Every year at the retreat she learns new songs and brings them back to her classes teaching not just the rhythms but also the importance of the music.

WDC Classes: Hand Drum for Beginners, Women Who Groove & Drum Circle Leader

Dan Engebretson

Dan Engebretson has been an active member of the Twin Cities hand drumming scene for the past 20 years. His passion is studying and playing traditional West African djembe and djundjun rhythms, and for over 15 years he has taken lessons and workshops with such notables as Guinean drummers Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate', Fode' Bangoura, Sekou Conde, Abdoul Doumbia from Mali, and many other drummers from Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. He is a member of Mamady Keita's Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy, a detailed and comprehensive curriculum designed to train teachers on the knowledge of Malinke rhythms. He also studies traditional "village-style" drumming from the teachings of Malian drum master Sega Sidibe'. Additionally, Dan has studied with various U.S. drummers including Michael Markus, Paulo Mattioli, and locals Kenne Thomas and Brian Van Tassel.

Aside from his love of music, Dan also studies all aspects of traditional West African culture and enjoys books, wine, and foreign travel.

WDC Classes: West African Drumming Level I, Djembe Diyamu & Drum Circle Leader

Jo Klein

Jo Klein's musical background includes teaching acoustic guitar, serving as a youth summer music leader for over a decade, and participating in vocal and bell choirs. Additionally, Jo enjoys collaborating with others in local coffee shop gigs. Jo has been a member of the Women's Drum Center's performance ensemble, drumHeart, since 2009, playing an array of stick and hand drums such as surdo, tom, and djembe. Jo has taught a variety of beginning stick and hand drum classes at the WDC, as well as facilitating private drum circles/parties for organizations or friend groups. She fills in as supply drumHeart leader when needed. Jo currently serves as the WDC Administrator and produces the monthly newsletter.

"Music is most meaningful to me when it is participatory and shared with others. I am proud to be a part of an organization that provides energy and joy to so many recreational and charitable events."

WDC Classes: drumHeart Assistant Director, Hand Drum Basics, Private Parties & Small Group Lessons Facilitator & Drum Circle Leader

Alyssa Moffatt

Alyssa has over 20 years of experience playing African music in group settings, performing live, and on multiple recordings. She is a student of Sowah Mensa and can be heard playing and singing on two of his albums. For over 14 years, she was a member of African music ensembles at Macalester College and St. Thomas University. She served as lead vocalist, lead drummer, vocal coach, section leader, and event coordinator. Alyssa. Is a passionate musician and guil artist. Alyssa joined drumHeart and the Women’s Drum Center in 2019.

WDC Classes: Gyil Series