Is a Nigerian of Igbo descent who lives and plays with her husband and their child in Oakland. She is a dancer, musician, performer and educator. Her love for the performing arts & youth development—tied with her work in social justice, public health and community action have found her working and/or performing with organizations such as Loco Bloco, Dance Mission Theater, Performing Arts Workshop, Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco, Youth Speaks & the Brass Liberation Orchestra. She has worked with youth and families of all ages and backgrounds for over 13 years in art and health education. She is a Co-founder of One3snapshot.com, a community-oriented art & graphic design collective, Director of D-fuse an Afro-urban dance performance group and holds a Bachelors' in Community Public Health Education from San Francisco State University.
The joys and challenges of raising her child have incited a new passion for teaching babies and toddlers, and for connecting back to the cultures from her childhood and her family heritage. Boom Shake/Tyke Tunes is very close to her heart for this reason. Nkeiruka deeply believes that art and health share a common bond. Dedicating her life's work to working with youth all over the world, she hopes that through artistic expression, youth can attain optimal health and foster change in their communities.
Sarah Norr, Facilitator
is a musician and community organizer who's lived in the Bay Area since age six. She began studying piano at age 7 and guitar at 15; has played a variety of percussion instruments for the past ten years; and has recently been experimenting with chromatic harmonica. These days Sarah can often be found leading chants on the picket line with hotel and restaurant workers; playing drums for social justice with the Brass Liberation Orchestra; teaching women's percussion workshops; leading sing-a-longs; and rocking out with her 2-year-old nephew Lalo. She speaks (and sings!) Spanish fluently, and is always adding to her collection of Spanish and Latin American music - from farmworker anthems to Christmas carols to Manu Chao songs.
Ynessa Flores, Program Associate
is a dance and drum performer, and mommy who loves to explore and learn about different cultures. Spanglish' and Sign are the languages at home for she and her daughter; with them always learning new words from family and friends. They love music and dance of all types of genres. Ynessa has been dancing and playing music for as long as she can remember. Over the past few years she has also expanded her skills into teaching and facilitating: as an internship, Ynessa organized and taught dance to preschoolers ages 3-5; She worked as an apprentice for Loco Bloco's Bloquito (3-5years) Carnaval class, and as Mother has worked with her daughter in various movement and music activities. Ynessa loves working with kids and is very excited to be a part of the Boom Shake Tyke Tunes team to explore kids, music, dance, learning and culture.
is a musician and community organizer who's lived in the Bay Area since age six. She began studying piano at age 7 and guitar at 15; has played a variety of percussion instruments for the past ten years; and has recently been experimenting with chromatic harmonica. These days Sarah can often be found leading chants on the picket line with hotel and restaurant workers; playing drums for social justice with the Brass Liberation Orchestra; teaching women's percussion workshops; leading sing-a-longs; and rocking out with her 2-year-old nephew Lalo. She speaks (and sings!) Spanish fluently, and is always adding to her collection of Spanish and Latin American music - from farmworker anthems to Christmas carols to Manu Chao songs.
Ynessa Flores, Program Associate
is a dance and drum performer, and mommy who loves to explore and learn about different cultures. Spanglish' and Sign are the languages at home for she and her daughter; with them always learning new words from family and friends. They love music and dance of all types of genres. Ynessa has been dancing and playing music for as long as she can remember. Over the past few years she has also expanded her skills into teaching and facilitating: as an internship, Ynessa organized and taught dance to preschoolers ages 3-5; She worked as an apprentice for Loco Bloco's Bloquito (3-5years) Carnaval class, and as Mother has worked with her daughter in various movement and music activities. Ynessa loves working with kids and is very excited to be a part of the Boom Shake Tyke Tunes team to explore kids, music, dance, learning and culture.
