More about Sena

born and raised in Munich Germany by the name Jeanette Mühlmann, educated by an artistic family of inventors who survived two world wars, knowing about integrity and ethics from day one, inspired by many voyages throughout Europe, Asia, India, the Middle East and the Caribbean Island of Jamaica, receiving my name "Sena" 1997 from a tribal woman in Ouidah, ancient Dahome, West-Africa, Sena now lives and works in Brooklyn NY...

At the age of 4 instead of kinder garden Ballet Classes
On Ballet Stages as the only child between grown ups, often dancing a solo;
Instead of Swan Lake African Dance,
Instead of orderly homework un-orderly exercises with homeboys
Critical Daydreamer (school was often a drag; too many empty words, too much left in the dark)
Strong tendencies towards any kind of underworld (if you provoke me with conventional thinking and bans I will not rest until I find out truth)
Observer of human behaviour on all levels of life (funny and painful)
LMU University Munich: Studies of politics, sociology and journalism (learning about the principles of mass manipulation and detesting it)
At the same time sensational successful inventions of my outfits out of grandma's underwear and lace curtains (photos in Stern Magazine)
Behind cameras writing TV reports - informative, still not enough to capture me -
1980
Debut as stage actress and co founder of the well known German theatre group "Magic Flute" (winning Theatre Group of the Year)
Playing small and huge stages, private and State Theatres
1981 five months in India
1980 - 1987
Assistant theatre director, director, co-writer, translator of theatre plays and actress ( playing leading parts from Schiller to Arthur Miller, from John Osborne to Tennessee Williams, from Mark Medoff to you name it)
Playing Festivals and State Theatres, Touring
Starting to sketch playwrights and scripts
At the same time singing lessons with a variety of teachers from Opera to Jazz - from Kunstlied to Blues
1987 - 1996
Leading Lady in German TV Serial produced in Mexico, internationally launched
In front of TV and Movie cameras and on theatre stages throughout the German speaking countries Germany/Austria/Switzerland -speaking and acting out words of other poets 80 - 300 nights in a row made me want to change them; Revelation: I need to write and perform my own words -
(1989 two month visit to NYC and LA for the first time)
1992
Excessively writing poetry and short stories
First very dramatic and theatrical spoken word/poetry performances with music (using licks from Miles Davis, Santana and Prince)
1993-96
Leading Actress in 3 new theatre plays, 2 of them written by the authors with my person in mind
1996
first published Poetry Book in German and English "Jeanette - softly but highly dangerous I open you heart" ISBN 3-9521062-0-8
Exhibition of my Book @ the Frankfurt Book Fair / Geneva Book Fair
First Poetry/Spoken Word Performances in Germany and Switzerland with original live music - Landy was my first Guitar Player, Arsene de Souza (Africa) and Dousty Dos Santos (Brazil) my percussion Players; I was still writing and performing in German Language though, I had this urge to reach a broader, international audience, building bridges into other cultures ...
1997
Voyage with Guitar Player Landy to Ouidah Benin, West Africa, to visit our Drum teacher and Percussionist Arsene de Souza, who is an initiated Master Drummer and plays all big ceremonies.
Receiving the name Sena from Arsene's Mother
Starting to play African percussions
1998
Invitation to first Poetry Slams in Munich Germany, twice a Winner
Same year visit to NYC for 2 weeks, staying for 3 months and thinking about moving...
Creating first Rap "Freiwillig" with Roykey Creo
1999/2000
First guest appearance in the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Creating and recording more songs in NYC
Moving back and forth between Munich, NYC and the island of Jamaica (St. Mary in the Hills)
Frequent Performer and Spoken Word Artist in NYC, guest poet in Kingston Jamaica
New poetry and new pants
2001
The pants lead to starting my own fashion line "Sena"
April 2001 first fashion show in Madiba (Brooklyn)
Nov 2001 starting sharing a store in Orchard Street (Lower East Side) with another designer
2002
More Fashion Shows, Exhibitions and Performances in NYC
2003
Jan. Fashion Show in Dubai (Middle East) with own music
June leaving the Store in Orchard Street and moving the Sena Showroom to Dumbo in Brooklyn, creating a new collection
Becoming distinguished member of international society of poets, 2 awards
Same time getting into music more than ever before
2004
New Rhythms
Launch of first T shirt with Poetry
June Sena Collection on the runway @ Caribbean Fashion Week, presented with own music
Foundation of Publishing Company "We Walk By Faith" and "Fire Dragon Records"
Moving the Showroom again
Sept. Release of Debut Album Sena Natural High
Nov. surviving a crazy car accident which was not my fault without any injuries, whereas my side of the car was crushed into half the size ( Grateful thanks to the Spiritual Law and the Almighty deep within)
2005
Slow down the insane paste
New Beginnings...
Internet Radios, Community Radios and NY Magazines start acknowledging Sena