Yolanda Stevenson, also known as, COQUEST is one of the premiere poets in the San Francisco Bay area. Using a seductive voice quality, song, and interpretive dance she has been hailed as a powerful and inspirational performance artist.
Born in Oakland, California, Yolanda has always been involved in the arts. A natural performer, Yolanda also graced many stages with her poetry, acting, and dancing talents. As a young adult Ms. Stevenson performed with Move Dance Theater, Imhotep Dance Ensemble and The Pamm Drake Dancers. As a poetess she performed with The Punany Poets, Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone, Secrecy and Caustic Records. As an actress she was featured in “America the Beautiful” as Myiesha, “The Photograph” by Ntozake Shange, as Michael, and in the highly successful Bay Area production “Brother Dap” where she sang, danced, and played two different characters. As
“I thank God for my talents and the talents of the people I have studied with,” says Yolanda. First on her list of training is her brother Woodrow Thompson who starred in the original role of Richie in the internationally famous “A Chorus Line.” My brother taught me a lot; she says. “He was my main motivation to cultivate my talents to the fullest.” Yolanda has also studied African dance with Linda Johnson, Jazz dance with Bonny Sita and Pamm Drake, and Hip Hop with Traci Bartlow. Yolanda’s acting training has been with the Berkeley Black Repertory Theater and The Black Actors Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia.
Currently, Yolanda is an integral member of the International Toastmasters Association, where she’s engaging in public speaking and seminars, in addition, she is a current member of The International Black Writers Association, where she performed her poetry regularly in educational workshops for the Bay Area youth. She is also working on a recording career as a songstress, poet and Inspirational Speaker. Yolanda also has her sights set on the film industry where her interests are, producing a television show, developing a youth performance group and a publishing/production company.
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| Let the Power Surge The title, “Let the Power Surge” was given birth after a meditation of my father’s, Jacques passed soul. I pressed the record key and the words just came out while in a trance, later to be transcribed to the poem,”Let the Power Surge”. The title means to extend your inner self to outside reality, in order to perpetuate illumination and divine self love and expression.I believe we all have chosen paths and unique gifts to fulfill our life’s purpose. The journey is being open and receptive to understand yourself and your talents, so that you can ignite and shine your internal flame to warm the hearts and minds of others. May enlightenment, unconditional love, and self illumination be showered upon you while you indulge in the experience of “Let the Power Surge”. Hotep! (This means Peace) |  |