Freddie Rivera is one of the original members of the Chuck Davis Dance Company. He has performed professionally since the age of 9, due to his early musical training under the instruction of his mentors:
Mr. Jose Quinonez (Uncle) at the age of 5 studying the Afro-Cuban drumming form and Mr. Ronald Love, Kolowole Balagun (sound tech. for Channel 7 news New York, and the Gil Noble’s “Like It Is” T.V. program, as well as Being Mr. Noble’s personal sound tech.). Mr. Love introduced Rivera, then age 9, to the Chuck Davis Dance Company as an apprentice musician. Rivera was one of the first children to come under the teaching of “Papa Ladji Camara” who was the former lead Percussionist and drummer for the National Ballet of Guinee West Africa, “Le Ballet Africain”. In 1974, Rivera was the subject of a documentary research video conducted by W,G.B.H. Boston. He was chosen to be the subject of this video because of his then rare involvement in the art of African percussion. At this time, there were a small number of children being taught to play the Djembe style of drumming in the U.S.. Rivera had the honor of being one of these.
Rivera has performed or been an artist in residency at: Sarah Lawrence College, The Bronx Community College, Duke University, New York University, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Atlanta University (Spellman College), The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, etc.
Currently he is a Music Accompanist with the Department of Dance at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in addition to being a primary Music Accompanist with the Charlotte Ballet.