Dan has been working professionally for over 15 years in marketing and communications for many different arts-based not-for-profits from Carnival and theatre, to music and visual arts projects. He is a Mossley-based musician and artist too, being well studied in Carnival arts both in music and visual arts. He currently freelances for Global Grooves, The Vale, Cabasa CIC, and Jubacana CIC.
Dan regularly performs as a percussionist with North-East Brazilian inspired drum and dance organisation, Juba do Leão, and is a founding member and project manager for Oldham-based youth drumming and dance outfit, Jubacana, and a founding member of Stilt Walking troupe Full Stilt. Outside of Carnival he’s a singer-songwriter under the name Coruja Jones.
“Global Grooves introduced me to Carnival (for the Afoxê project in 2009?!) and I’ve been involved in The Vale since the beginning…eventually making Mossley (where we’re based) my home. I’m chuffed to be back sharing the amazing things happening at The Vale and the projects that GG create, as well as all the exciting events all over the UK and internationally.
I’ve been studying Carnival and Afro-Brazilian percussion for nearly 15 years now with the GG crew and it’s wonderful to see how it’s all grown over the years, the impact it makes, and the journey it’s taken me on. I’ve been to some incredible places all over the world as a performer and met so many fantastic international artists. As well as still performing with GG, it’s great to be back helping share the story of something that changed my life, as well as sharing how we can connect and collaborate with people from all over the world in positive, beautiful ways.”