Meet The Artists

  • A woman with long braided hair wearing sunglasses, a sleeveless crop top, and jeans, crouching against a vibrant rainbow-colored background.

    Shayla Alayre Caldwell

    DANCER

  • A smiling man with long dreadlocks wearing a black beanie, tan jacket, navy sweater, and carrying a black backpack, stands on a train platform outdoors.

    Stuart 'Mookie' Sanders

    FOUNDER, DRUMMER

  • A woman with long wavy hair wearing a white sleeveless top, high-waisted blue jeans with a tied white cloth, and beige open-toe heels standing against a vibrant multicolored gradient background.

    Nikki Hartfield

    DANCER

  • Young man with dreadlocks smiling, wearing white AirPods, a white cap with 'MusicalGenius' written on it, a white shirt, and a beaded necklace, sitting against a blue background.

    John Fuentes

    DRUMMER

  • A man wearing a colorful bucket hat, white t-shirt, and ripped jeans standing against a blue background, giving a thumbs-up and smiling.

    Moussa Drama

    DRUMMER

  • Smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing an orange and yellow patterned top, sitting with crossed legs in a bright indoor setting.

    Dejah Rice

    DANCER

  • Young man sitting on a sofa, wearing a patterned bucket hat and ripped jeans, in an indoor setting.

    Tavori Atkins

    DRUMMER

  • A young African American woman with braids and large earrings stands against a red background, wearing a white tank top and blue jeans.

    Ashley Williams

    DANCER

  • A man with dreadlocked hair sitting down and holding a large traditional drum.

    Seny Tachol

    DRUMMER

  • Born and raised in New York City, Mookie embodies everything that a true musical explorer should be. Though he identifies more with being a New Yorker, his diversity and Caribbean roots have, in some part, influenced his passion for music, and distinct talents.

    At a young age his biggest influences were Prince and Stevie Wonder—two musical legends who relied mainly on their pure talent. As Mookie phrases it, “You have to become so great at what you do, you have to become a pinnacle of inspiration... a one-man show!” This personal philosophy opened his eyes to the various paths one can take when pursuing a music career. It isn’t solely restricted to become just an artist, writer, producer or a manager. Every path is free for you to venture.

    Mookie became a master of music through his great experiences and hard work. When he was 17, he joined the ‘Artist Collective’ [a performing arts program in Hartford, CT] and began touring around the USA playing drums and keyboard for 5 years. Mookie was also granted
 the great opportunity to play the keyboard and tour with 50 Cent. In 2009, he began to collaborate with MBK Entertainment—Alicia Keys former management company—and continues to work with them. Yet, in 2011, he decided to start up his own production and management company, and so he formed Mook’a’milli Entertainment.

  • Shayla Alayre Caldwell is a native of New Haven, Connecticut. She began dancing at a very young age with mother, dance teacher and mentor, Shari Caldwell. She became heavily influenced by traditional West African dance after being introduced to Guinean culture by Aly Tatchol Camara. She was further introduced to various styles of dance and a plethora of choreographers, performing artists as well as the importance of composition while attending the Educational Center for the Arts and Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts in CT. She was accepted into the B.F.A program at Virginia Commonwealth University and studied briefly before landing a dream position as performing artist in company Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence, A Dance Company in 2011. She was honored to be promoted to assistant rehearsal director after six years. It was a pleasure for her to find a balance between concert theater and commercial work as she landed gigs touring and teaching hip hop styles. A few highlights of her dance career include representing the USA at the International Festival of Ballet held in Cali, Colombia, performing at the infamous Joyce Theater, Fire Island, Delacorte Theater in Central Park, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and being featured in the New York Times courtesy of RKB/ Evidence. She has also taught and assisted dance classes at various theaters, performing art schools and universities as community outreach and fitness awareness. She has taught movement development & exploration classes to students of the Black Arts Institute- Stella Adler Studio of Acting for their summer program. She is currently an adjunct professor at NYU’s TIsch School of the Arts teaching hip hop, modern contemporary fused with traditional West African styles. She teaches the dedicated and multifaceted dancers of Restoration’s Youth Arts Academy located in Brooklyn, New York. She is overjoyed that she has returned to Evidence, her “dance home” , as rehearsal director after giving birth to her daughter in 2019. She is ecstatic to see what the future has in store for her and her dance career!

  • Born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, John talent as a musician began to bud since the age of 5. At the age of 14 he started off as a student and learned how to teach music.

    Playful yet introspective in his passion for music, his melodic style reflects his love for arranging and composing afro Caribbean music and drumming.

    In 2010, John started teaching students music based off of the school curriculum as an artistic teacher in the Hartford area.

    From 2015 until now, his talent has been recognized and he was able to be apart of a steel band in New York that led him being able to play in TRINIDAD for 2017 & 2018 carnival.

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description
A diverse group of eight young adults sitting and posing on a yellow couch in a modern, well-lit space. One person is playing a drum, and others are smiling or looking at the camera.
Five men standing in a colorful mural background, each holding a drum, with DJ equipment in the foreground.
Five people dressed in colorful traditional African attire, with four women standing and one man sitting on the ground playing a drum, outside on a sunny day.
Group of four people at an outdoor cultural event, dressed in traditional African attire, with drums and instruments, under banners and balloons, expressing gratitude.
A group of African musicians playing drums outdoors near a waterfront, with a clear sky and a lamppost visible.
African dancers performing with drums while audience watches under a wooden pavilion.
A street performer playing drums for a group of children and adults near a waterfront with a historic ship and white building in the background.
Women in colorful traditional African attire dancing on an outdoor surface, with a group of people watching in the background.
A group of six young men with face and hand paint, dressed in traditional African clothing, standing on a gravel surface outdoors.
A man playing a djembe drum while dancing, with a group of women and a man watching in the background at an indoor party.
A group of five men and one woman with face paint, traditional clothing, and drums, listening to a man with headphones and a DJ controller, in front of a colorful abstract mural.
People playing traditional African drums outdoors.
People dancing and drumming at a social event or party with a dance floor and spectators watching.
Group of people dancing and playing drums, dressed in colorful traditional African clothing, indoors with a wooden roof.
Group of people at an outdoor event, with three Black men with white facial and body paint in the foreground, and a woman with long hair and a white dress in the background, under clear blue sky and a building with string lights.
Group of seven young adults in casual clothing, with three seated on a sofa and four standing behind, holding drums and percussion instruments in a modern indoor setting.
A man with dreadlocks playing a drum on a chair at a lively celebration, surrounded by other people enjoying the event.
A man in a colorful, traditional African dashiki and patterned pants stands in front of a group of people playing drums under a blue canopy outdoors.
A DJ wearing face paint and sunglasses plays music at a tropical outdoor party with a colorful abstract mural background. Several people dressed in summer clothing and face paint are dancing and enjoying the event.
A DJ is playing a drum at a party where a woman in a pink ball gown is dancing with guests watching. The setting features colorful balloons and festive decorations.
Two men wearing sunglasses and traditional clothing standing on a city street, posing for a photo, with people and buildings visible in the background.
Three young men sitting on a couch in a modern room, playing drums and percussion instruments, smiling and engaging in a musical activity.
Three performers in traditional Hawaiian attire dancing on a city sidewalk while a musician plays drums nearby. There is a crowd seated at outdoor cafes in the background, with tall buildings and trees lining the street.
A man playing traditional African drums with a drumstick in a room decorated for a celebration or event, with guests sitting at tables in the background.
Group of people standing outdoors on a sunny day, dressed in colorful traditional African clothing, with a background of blue sky, white clouds, and parked cars.
Group of five men dressed in white shirts and blue patterned pants, with some wearing blue headscarves, standing against a brick wall. They are holding drums and posing for the photo.
Group of five men taking a selfie in front of a colorful mural with abstract shapes.
Four young women with diverse hairstyles and colorful clothing posing against a yellow background, smiling and looking at the camera.
Woman dancing energetically on a wooden floor at a party with musicians and guests around, celebrating with colorful balloons and decorations.

Contact us for bookings!