Name: D'Ari Pouyat

Description:

D'Ari Pouyat is a recording artist and alternative arts educator specializing in teaching songwriting to Grades 7-12. Since 2002, he has served as the front man of the band Nine Mile, sharing the stage with such acts as Sarah Harmer and Avril Lavigne. He is an accomplished producer as well as the host of the educational radio show The New Indie, which looks at the challenges faced by contemporary musicians.

With his collaborator Melissa Larkin, D'Ari co-founded DARKSPARK, an alternative arts education program that teaches curriculum through songwriting, visual art, and multi-media. DARKSPARK conducts in-class programs in Ontario and BC schools as well as offering summer programs and community workshops, where students have the opportunity to write and record songs inspired by a particular subject or issue. DARKSPARK has worked with First Nations youth at the Quinte Mohawk School to write songs about their history, and takes a multi-disciplinary approach that is attuned to the needs of different learners.

D'Ari prefers to work with middle school and high school students.