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About Us
Stephanie Buffington ~ Tribal Music Tours, Founder and Tour Producer
 Stephanie began traveling the world as the chaperone for the Dating Game. In the years since, she has traveled to over 45 countries following her passion for adventure in the world’s tribal cultures. She has danced with the Kuchi tribes in the deserts of Afghanistan and played drums with the Ganawa people in Morocco.
Stephanie formed Tribal Music Tours in 1995 to share her passion and knowledge with others. Since her first trip to Bali in 1980, Steffi has fallen in love with the beauty, culture and spiritual power of this island paradise. Last year, TMT escorted 22 drummers and cultural travelers from around the globe to create the 1st annual “Sacred Drum Festival of Ubud” which has helped raise money for Balinese handicapped children.
For the last ten years, Steffi has hosted world music events in So. California where she continues her ministerial training at Agape International Spiritual Center. By leading groups with Tribal Music Tours, Stephanie is realizing her vision help people experience our planet as a global village. Through rhythm and ceremony, she guides travelers to reconnect with what is ancient and eternal inside themselves.
Reverand Karen S. Wylie - Guest Facilitator
 Rev. Karen is currently the Spiritual Director of the Symphony of Life Spiritual Center in Ojai, California. She is dedicated to her work as a minister, spiritual counselor, workshop facilitator and speaker. She is also an ongoing contributor to various inspirational publications, including Inner Visions Magazine published by the Agape International Spiritual Center and the Science of Mind Magazine.
In 2004, Rev. Karen "retired" from her corporate career and spent more than two years traveling around the world, visiting sacred sites and indigenous peoples. "Somewhere along the way, I began to see the world through different eyes," says Karen, "and I realized that I was on a unique and sacred pilgrimage."
An enthusiastic traveler and guide, Rev. Karen leads groups on sacred journeys to sites throughout the world, including Egypt, Hawaii and Sedona, Arizona. A highly intuitive and passionate teacher of truth, Rev. Karen lives and loves fearlessly and empowers others to do the same.
Paulo Mattiloli - Guest Facilitator
 Paulo is one of the worlds leading percussionists and drum circle facilitators, with a magical ability to inspire and empower others through drumming.
He tours nationwide, facilitating corporate, college, and community drum circles and has lead drumming events, master classes, and workshops across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Mexico. He is passionate about his work, radiating joy and patience while graciously sharing the spirit of rhythm and community teambuilding. He has been leading the "Rhythm Journey" for over a twenty years, taking the participants deeper into the experience of their own creative expression and inner joy.
Barbara Mintz ~ Guest Facilitator
 Barbara has studied Western classical dance forms (ballet and modern). and attended Adelphi University, The Julliard School and Empire State College (SUNY) where she completed her B.S. in Dance Therapy. She is also studied improvisation, African dance, yoga, Sacred Arabic belly dance, martial arts (Pencak Silat), Balinese dance and Indian dance.
Barbara was drawn to Bali as it was a place where worship through dance was still being performed in the temples. She has lived there for the last 20 years, studying Balinese dance for many years of those years with 90 year old dance master Sang Ayu. In Bali, she developed a Holistic dance technique which combines and integrates all her studies, to encourage and support awareness, healing, and joy of movement. She is a renowned teacher who has taught and performed internationally as well.
Tjokorda Gede Rai
 Tjokorda Gede Rai is a master healer and fountain of traditional knowledge and wisdom. He bridges the traditional models and symbology of Bali with the modern context with an ease that is irrepressible and fascinating, and full of a resonance which is deeply transformative for all who encounter him.
He is the grandson of the last King of Ubud and is considered one of the most important healers in Bali. He has been written about in medical journals and books, and his "clients" include well-known celebrities and medical experts, to local Balinese and Indonesians. He has trained hundreds of healers worldwide. His teaching comes from traditional Balinese lontars (sacred texts) passed down from generation to generation.
Besides his healing work, which is particularly sensitive to identifying and correcting imbalances in the body-mind system, he teaches his own system of modre, gestures and movements, called 'Pranala' to enhance the balance of mind and body and aid accomplishment and fulfilment in daily life.
Tjokorda's work – with its emphasis on development through the balancing and lively integration of opposites – is a modern and extremely relevant expression of currents that profoundly shape the Balinese way of life.
Christine Stevens ~ 2008 Guest Facilitator
 Christine Stevens is a modern day troubadour who introduces people all over the world to musical expression in the form of drum circles. Through her company UpBeat Drum Circles, Christine offers programs for corporate teambuilding, diversity training, and personal growth seminars. A featured speaker, Christine is equally at home in the middle of a 1,000-person drum circle or on the podium addressing thousands of professionals. As Director of Music Therapy and Wellness Programs at Remo Drum Company, Christine has led music and wellness seminars in England, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States.
Based in Los Angeles, UpBeat Drum Circles is a visionary consulting company that incorporates drumming into diversity training, corporate teambuilding, health & wellness presentations and events.
Idris Hester ~ Guest Facilitator
 Idris Hester is an acclaimed professional musician, member of the AGAPE Drum Ministry and International Spiritual Center where he is a practitioner and ministerial student. He was trained by Dr. Barry Bittman and Christine Stevens and is a certified Health Rhythms Facilitator and has assisted in many of their programs. He has created the universal "Drummunication" experience, a simple yet deeply moving rhythmic process that allows participant to get in touch with their authentic Self to make healing shifts out of negative and limiting patterns. He has worked with religious organizations, schools and treatment centers for drugs and substance abuse with overwhelming positive outcomes. Known as the "Miracle Man" by overcoming his own "terminal" health issues, Idris is a true modern day urban shaman who's powerful workshops will leave you uplifted and transformed.
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