The Funny and Unique Derique, an Emmy Award winning clown, is internationally known for his unique blend of Hambone Body Drumming, (an African American body percussion art form), circus skills, and modern day physical comedy. Derique's universal quality has touched millions with performances on stages and television shows, throughout the Americas, South Africa, Asia and Europe.

Derique has performed with many entertainers including Bobby McFerrin, Lou Rawls, and the late Sammy Davis Jr. His television credits include hosting the KQED children's TV show "Short Stories and Tall Tales," being featured on the Disney Channel, and most recently on a segment of "Spark," a KQED production on solo-performers. Derique also wrote, directed and starred in "Hambone Hamtech: Bring on the Groove" a multimedia production about the history of Hambone, earlier this year at Oakland's Alice Art Center.

Derique began his career at age 15 performing clowning, juggling, gymnastics, unicycling, dance, and body drumming. He was a main attraction with Circus A La Mode and was on tour with San Francisco's Pickle Family Circus and Make-A-Circus. He is currently the Circus Arts program director at Oakland Children's Fairyland. Derique is a committed educator and continues to teach the history of Hambone in schools throughout the Bay Area. Many of his protégés of Hambone are students in West Oakland's Prescott Circus Theater.

www.derique.com