Telephone: (647) 654-6046

Our membership draws on the existing cultural mosaic of diverse ethnicities that spans the globe.

Our membership reflects a diverse microcosm of cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. ADE is open to all individuals young and old, of any gender orientation and abilities. It is believed that each and every one on this planet has a unique mission in this world so all and sundry are welcome under one roof guided by strict performance rules that keeps a tradition for posterity.

Shirley Nana Sarpong Boateng. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, she is currently enrolled in the Diploma of Pharmacy Technician programme at Sheridan College. She wants to keep in touch with her roots/language, heritage, and learn about other ethnic groups. She enjoys meeting nice people. She danced with African United Dance Group based in Mississauga. At Erindale Secondary School, she danced hip hop, salsa, and step dance with her friends. She danced with many dance groups in Toronto. She learns and performs with Nutsifafa African Performance Ensemble, and ADE. Her hobbies are dancing, sewing, abstract and still-life paintings.

Rita Boateng. Born in Ghana, West Africa, the dances she saw people perform inspired her to learn more about the traditional dances of her country. As a York University student (Bachelor in Health Studies), she has had the opportunity to learn from Isaac Akrong and Professor Modesto Amegago to expand her knowledge of the various dances of Ghana. In 2002 she performed with GSAY Dance Group based at North York. She has also had the opportunity to perform with many dance groups in Toronto. She’s glad to be part of ADE and hopes to be a part of it for a long time. Her hobbies are cooking, soccer, dancing, and listening to music.

Darcel Frederick was born in St. Vincent, and raised in St. Kitts, Antigua and St. Lucia.  She started dancing at six years old and continues to explore Modern and African Dance.  She has completed summer programs at the Ailey School in New York and Jacob’s Pillow in Massachusetts. Currently she is completing a degree in Dance and Kinesiology at York University.

Bert Smith has answered the call of the drum over twenty years ago. Originally from Jamaica, he was member of the Gayap Rhythm Drummers, a percussion group based in Toronto during the 1980s. In the 1990s he became interested in the relationship between drumming and dancing, so he joined many African drum and dance groups in Toronto. Recently, he became a member of the African Dance Ensemble (ADE), a dance company led by Isaac Akrong, where he hopes to continue to help with the promotion of African culture through drums, songs and dances.

Dr. Nina Soyfer was born in Vinnitza City, Ukraine. At the age of five years old, she started her music, dance, and art education. By fourteen years old she graduated from music secondary school, and gained professional dance experience. She performed in many professional dance ensembles in Ukraine; successfully participated in different competitions. Starting at just sixteen years old, Nina started choreographing and organizing dance compositions within the contemporary and Latin American Papyri styles.

Nina specializes in Classical Piano Performance. She also choreographed, and composed an eastern dance for the "Russian Matreshka 2005" festival, and performed as a first dancer.

Nina enjoys stylizing a variety of ethnic dances of the world and creating new dance styles. She has studied Indian dance art, Israeli ancient dances, as well as Ukrainian, Russian, Latin American, Funk, Eastern, Contemporary, etc. With a great enthusiasm and joy, Nina is participating in ADE and learning more about African dance and music. She also has interest in the singing and drumming styles of Africa and the world.

Leonard Williams. Playing the African Drums and other percussion are for me, very satisfying. Furthermore, to participate in African music and dance, and a multiplicity of other cultural expressions are some of the most certain ways to reconnect the severed connections of my African, ancestral consciousness.

Jana Zoric

Efua Ayanda Appiah is currently in her second year aspiring in the major of Sociology at York University. Born in Lesotho, South Africa, but lived and grew up in Ghana, Efua is one who does not want to forget her roots. With a rich background - her great grandfather from Dominica and her grandfather from the Gambia – she is always trying to discover more about herself and dance is a great way to do it. She is very pleased to be in the ADE family.



Isaac Akrong is an exceptional performer of traditional dance and drumming, Isaac Akrong hails from the Ga people of the coastal belt of Ghana. At an early age he was immersed in the traditions of his culture. His love of traditional music and arts led him to the University of Ghana, School of Performing Arts where he completed an undergraduate degree. Isaac was invited to join the Ghana Dance Ensemble of the Institute of African Studies, Legon; where he continued with his learning and love of traditional music performing a multitude of different cultural dances.

Isaac holds a Masters degree in dance and PhD in Ethnomusicology from York University. For many years he taught African music and dance at the Music Department at York University. He has been a guest performer with Kwasi Dunyo, Prof. Modesto Amegago, Prof. Robert Simms, Madagasca Slim, workshop with Mor Thiam, and many other groups worldwide.

 Isaac was a visiting artist in Dance at the Wesleyan University, Connecticut U.S. where he performed with Abraham Adzenyah and Helen Mensah in a student’s concert, and was Associate in Performance: Dance at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.

He has a strong commitment to sharing his knowledge of traditional dance and drumming with the world. As a serious researcher, Isaac is determined to see Ghanaian music and dance documented for future generations. 

"My goal is to propagate the message of African culture, and explain everything possible about it. I am building on the knowledge that exists so that people will understand African music and dance more."

He believes that, as humans,

"We sing and dance through our lives on earth and beyond."

Our membership draws on the existing cultural mosaic of diverse ethnicities that spans the globe.

Our membership reflects a diverse microcosm of cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. ADE is open to all individuals young and old, of any gender orientation and abilities. It is believed that each and every one on this planet has a unique mission in this world so all and sundry are welcome under one roof guided by strict performance rules that keeps a tradition for posterity.

How to Join

Upon filling an application form (available upon request) and an interview with the human resource committee, one may be enrolled under the constitution and bylaws of ADE.

Volunteering/Internships

Opportunities exist for interested volunteers or student internship placements. Please contact us for additional information. 

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