Like Water Biographies
Ryan Edwards is the founder and director of percussion and dance troupe Like Water Drum & Dance, as well as the owner of Like Water Drumworks. He is the husband of Dori, father of Jafiah River Djarra and Mayaquoia Moon, who all live in Chelsea, MI. He makes his living playing, making, teaching and talking about drums and things African. Ryan has studied western and world drumming since the age of 12. He has pursued a career in music performance and instruction, and feels strongly about the importance of teaching youths. He has studied music locally in Michigan, at Berklee College of Music (Boston), in New York City, as well as in Guinea, West Africa. Ryan's favorite line of poetry is by the Sufi mystic Rumi, who wrote, "Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love."
Dori Edwards has been involved in music, art and movement since a young age. She has been a major creative force behind the works of Like Water, particularly in costume design and production, dance leadership, as well as the manufacture of healing salves and shekeres. Dori Edwards was born in Jackson, Michigan. She has two children; they are the joy and inspiration for all that she does. She is a Waldorf preschool teacher and has her heart wrapped up in gardening. Dori also tries in every avenue of her life to bring balance, be thankful, and maintain a slow, steady rhythm. She treats every act as a form of prayer, and sets out with pure intent and thankfulness. Dori hopes to weave good intentions and peaceful vibrations into our community and world. "Life seems to love the liver of it. Money and power can liberate only if they are used to do so. They can imprison and inhibit more finally than barred windows and iron chains." — Maya Angelou
Kurt Maier is a high school teacher who resides in Ann Arbor, MI. He began drumming at age 10 on his father's 1940's Leedy trap set. Kurt says he plays West African music because it is fun, beautiful, complex, and challenging, kind of like he is. Kurt enjoys reading so much that pretty much any book he is currently reading is his favorite. A few that come to mind are The Shipping News, Thin Red Line, and The Corrections. An all time favorite CD of Kurt's is London Calling by the Clash. Aside from his wife and cats, Like Water ranks right up there with Michigan Football as one of his favorite things. "There is more logic in humor than in anything else, because, you see, humor is truth." — Victor Borge
Susan Light holds a BBA degree in management and makes her living as an Administrative Assistant at a union trade school in Flint. She is a musician at heart, however, and has studied and enjoyed a variety of musical pursuits throughout her life. Initially drawn to African drum music by its seductive power and passion, Susan has been thoroughly enjoying her exploration of its unique, polyrhythmic structure. Her list of favorite things includes the CDs Security and Passion, both by Peter Gabriel, and Assarouf by Steve Shehan and Bali Othmani. Also included are the book Mutant Message Down Under by Mario Morgan, and a quote from the movie Braveheart: "Every man dies, not every man really lives."
Jeremiah Davis (or JD), age 19, resides in Ann Arbor. He began his musical career at Stone High School (Ann arbor) in the Drum Choir, which is led by fellow Like Water drummer Kurt Maier. JD says that music is an important part of his life because it helps to support emotions, and is a healthy way to work through them. The reason he loves to play African music is that he feels the unity and unselfishness work its way through those involved, which he states is unusual to find in American music. His favorite CD is "Best of Violent Femmes," and favorite poet is EE Cummings, who wrote, "So wrong (wrong wrong) and with a smile at which the rightist man remembers there is such a thing as spring and wonders why."
View the calendar of events to see where Like Water is performing.