Dance Mission Theater
3316 24th
Street
(corner Mission)
San Francisco CA 94110
Tel: 415.826.4441
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All classes are ongoing.
Single classes can be bought with cash or check, while class cards may be purchased with cash, check or debit cards.
Drop-in Fee: $13.00 a class.
Class Passes: $44.00 for four classes, or $100.00 for 10 classes, good for three months for any class. You may purchase class passes at the front desk.*
*Class passes are not accepted for Nia or workshops. For $8, you may extend your 4-class or 10-class pass for one month if you come in before the card's expiration date. This may be done only once. 15-class passes are only on sale once a year (December and January). They are good for 1 year and cannot be extended. Passes are valid for only one person and are non-transferable and non-refundable.
New students: All classes (except for workshops) are on-going. You may start at any time. Just show up at the front desk ten minutes before the class is scheduled to start, sign up at the front desk and you are good to go! To expedite signing in your first time, please download, fill out and bring in this FORM (you only have to do this once).
In order to make classes accessible to everyone, Dance Mission does offer work exchange opportunities. Please call the office for more information (415-826-4441).
For Cancellations, please call 415-826-4441 and listen to the out-going message for the most recent updates or check the Dance Mission Theater Calendar of Events.
Please note that last minute cancellations/substitutions are sometimes unavoidable.
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World Dance Workout with Stella Adelman
Mondays, 10-11am (New! Starts Feb 4!)
Zumba with Anita Cabrera
Wednesdays, 9-10am (New! Starts Feb 6!)
We are happy to introduce our new morning workout program. These are donation-based community classes that are open to any and every one that wants to get both their sweat and groove on at the same time. The high energy, spirited classes are inspired by dances from the Latin, Caribbean and African Diaspora. They are taught in both English and Spanish.
$10 suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.
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Contemporary Fusion with Anna Sullivan
Saturdays, 10-11:30am
Starts April 6
Contemporary Fusion is a high energy class that blends techniques of modern, ballet, hip hop, break, and African dance forms to create a truly unique stylistic dance form. The class starts off with a yoga inspired warm up that focuses on building core and upper body strength, followed by traveling phrases that move in and out of the floor. The final combination of the class is athletic, energizing, and offers a fresh perspective on contemporary dance today. Be prepared to sweat and get down to some fresh beats.
Anna Sullivan is the Artistic Director of her quirky aerial and dance theater troupe, Anna and the Annadroids. In 2003 Anna graduated with a degree in choreography. After graduating college Anna began a dance project called Anatomical Scenario where she experimented with exaggerated movements and character building to explore her interests in human psychology. Out of this project her characters Anna and The Annadroids were born. Since then Anna has produced ten evening dance concerts, created work for countless special events, had her work produced at the New York International Fringe Festival three times (2006, 2007, and 2011), received multiple project grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and Ohio Arts Council, and in 2008 she received Columbus' top award for Artistic Excellence for her production, Clone Zone. Anna relocated to San Francisco in 2011 and since has re-staged her production, Clone Zone, at Dance Mission.
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Reggaeton Fusion with Tika Morgan
Wednesdays, 8-9:30pm
Starts Sept 12th
In this energetic class we will learn to move to the wildly popular "Reggaetón" while exploring the movement styles that inform this hot Latin Dance expression. Tika pulls together movement styles intrinsic to the music: Dancehall, Cuban Salsa, Latin Hip Hop Reggae and Samba while pointing back to their roots in West Africa. This class features a warm up, stretching and body isolation's followed by step breakdown and routines that are sure to make you smile all over! Beginner/Open Level - Shoes Optional
Tika Morgan is a full time instructor of Brazilian Modern and Latin Dance with 16 years in the field. She has taught and performed both regionally and internationally in several Brazilian Dance companies, Musical Theater and Carnival Parades. She trains annually in the acclaimed Silvestre Technique program in Bahia, Brazil and works to promote the technique throughout the United States. Her classes seek to connect people with the universal and important world of dance expressed through the African diaspora.
Please click here to watch a video of the class.
Visit: tikamorgandance.com
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West African Funk with Yeni Lucero
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:000pm
All levels
AfroUrban Fuzion is an Urban Technique class, for the dancer that is in search for a deeper understanding of movement derivatives and its organic flow to rich African inspired beats, from afro-house and reggae-dance hall. This class will tap into the use of contemporary and technique to refine the urban dance skills. To harmonize the body to its rhythmic pattern of African Soul, this class will introduce and manipulate traditional movements and dance forms that originate from Senegal, Guinea and Liberia. On top of that be prepared for a sprinkle of Hip-Hop as well. This class is what you have been waiting for...the class that taps into everything. All levels welcome.
Watch a video of this class!
Jenny Lucero Rivera (A.K.A Yeni Lucero) was born in the small town of Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Coming to the Bay Area later in life, she began her training in West African dance at the age of 15, and soon pursued more versatile training at San Francisco State University, in which she obtained a BA in Dance and Choreography. Ms. Lucero also had the opportunity to extend her training at the Alvin Ailey School during the summer of 2006. She is a professional dancer, instructor, and an up-and-coming choreographer. She has performed work by Diamanou Coura/West African Dance Company, Paco Gomes, Annie Rosenthal, Jacinta Vlach, Robert Moses'Kin, and most recently Ron K. Brown. Ms. Lucero has taught at Lines Ballet/San Francisco Dance Center, teaching intermediate Afro-Modern and Zumba Fitness. In addition, she has taught Hip-Hop and Latino Fusion Dance at Fremont and McClymonds High Schools. Most recently Lucero choreographed a dance for Diamano Coura. In addition Lucero also had the privilege to be one out of the two instructors of flying yoga to help win, Best of the East Bay 2011 award for "Best Hybrid Exercise - Zumba fitness at flying yoga". Miss Lucero is proud to be part of the instructor team at Flying-Yoga, Dance Mission & Bay Functional Fitness with the honor to be teaching at PIXAR, Emeryville. Lucero can also be found on Facebook under Yeni Lucero, E-mail: yenilucero@gmail.com
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Tribal Fusion Belly Dance with Jill Parker
Tuesdays, 8pm-9:30pm
All levels
All fierce boys and girls are welcome! LGTBQ & trans-friendly.
Join the founder of the modern belly dance movement, Jill Parker, as she shares over two decades of traveling the world teaching, performing and immersing herself in the global belly dance community. Each class will start with a dynamic warm-up, pulling from yoga, pilates & core belly dance drills and isolations before moving into lead-follow ITS (Improv Tribal Style Belly Dance), then fusion drills, combos and short choreographies.
About Jill Parker:
Jill Parker is an international, award winning belly dancer. She's an exceptional belly dance teacher with a gift for demystifying this sensuous form, making its techniques accessible to new dancers, while offering tremendous insight for refinement to advanced dancers. Jill is an original member of Fat Chance Belly Dance, founder of Ultra Gypsy, director of the Foxglove Sweethearts and has trained many of the top dancers in the genre. In addition to an international touring schedule, she teaches weekly classes at Dance Mission (SF), ODC Dance Commons (SF) and Spring Fall Dance Studio (Berkeley).
Jill's Facebook Page
Video of Jill Parker at Tribal Fest 11
Please bring: a yoga mat, water, a towel (for the sweat) & dance shoes or socks if you have sensitive feet as we dance barefooted.
Please note: when Jill Parker is traveling, one of her handpicked co-teachers/dancers will substitute the class. Schedule of teachers will be available in advance.
Questions: Stephanie Ann, bellydancesanfrancisco@gmail.com
Photo by: Christine Fu
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Afro-Cuban Folkloric with Susana Arenas Pedroso
Thursdays, 6:15-7:30pm
All levels
Live drumming!
Susana Arenas Pedroso was born and raised in Havana, Cuba, where she danced professionally for 8 years before coming to the United
States in 1998. She studied and trained with some of the most renowned dance institutions in Cuba, including the Culture House of Matanzas and the National
Folkloric Group of Havana. She spent 5 years dancing with Raices Profundas, one of Cuba's most respected folkloric dance companies, rising to the position
of female soloist and traveling and performing throughout the country. Prior to this, Ms. Pedroso danced with the group folkloric group Alafia Ire, under
the artistic direction of Luis "Aspirina" Chacon. For several years she danced with the experimental group, Oche Olorum, performing folkloric dance to
poetic dialog. She also danced with the popular dance company Tierra Virgen. While in Cuba, Ms. Pedroso was cast in several full-length films, including the
major role of Yunai in Steve Fagin's Tropicola and a role in the international co-production El Blanco de Los Espejuelos.
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Afro-House-Hop with
Rashad aka Soul Nubian & live DJ Josesoul
Saturdays, 2-3:30pm
All Levels
With roots in underground dance culture, AfroHouseHop builds on the stylistic forms of Pan-African dance, the soul of Deep House and the momentum of
Hip-Hop. This unique blend of movement explores the foundations of House dance which includes choreographed combination's and an open freestyle
component.
Rashad is a dance artist, choreographer, urban arts facilitator and founder of AfroHouseHop dance movement. Rashad has been apart of
underground dance culture for more than 15 years while simultaneously studying the art of choreography and performance. Rashad has performed with Bill T.
Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Ronald K. Brown/Nick Cave "Soundsuites", Rennie Harris's: Illadelph Legends Festival 2006, appearances at Jacobs Pillow
Dance Festival summer 2009, a two year member of Jacinta Vlach/Liberation Dance Theater, works with The Living Word/Hybrid Project SF, Hip-Hop Theater
Festival SF and The Black Choreographers Festival 2005 & 2009. Constantly examining the theory of movement and facilitation, Rashad is the first African
American graduate of The Moving On Center School for Participatory Arts and Somatic Research as a Somatic Educator (CMT-SE). He is currently an adjunct
faculty member at the University of San Francisco where he teaches Hip-Hop Dance in the Performing Arts and Social Justice Department.
Watch a video of the class
and also check out afrohousehop.blogspot.com.
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Hip Hop
Taught by Allan Frias
Saturdays, 12:30-2pm (Beg)
Mondays, 6:30-8pm (Adv. Beg)
Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm (Int)
Allan has been a leading force of the Bay Area Hip Hop scene for the last 8 years. He teaches 4 packed classes a week at Dance Mission
Theater, not only Allan's base but also the home of his hip hop ensemble, Mind Over Matter, which performs throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Allan
also directs and choreographs for the Junior Jam youth performance program at the Golden State Warriors and has appeared on Fox TV's So You Think You Can
Dance. Allan, who looks more like a football player than your average dancer, shows firsthand that body type does not make a dancer. His enormous size
and personality lend power to his teaching, stage presence and choreography and his performance quality is riveting. Please click here to watch a video of the intermediate class.
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Beginning Ballet
with Byron Heinrich
On Hiatus
Class begins with a simple, thorough barre emphasizing placement and alignment without the use of force. Following is center work designed to move dancers into spacious, expansive movement. Holistic and respectful, it is appropriate for people of all dance disciplines, both professional and novice alike.
Bryon Heinrich received a BFA in Dance Performance from the Philadelphia Colege of Performing Arts 1994. He has performed with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Trockadero De Monte Carlo from 1994-2000. He founded the Central Dance Theater in NE in 2000 and Man Dance Company of San Francisco in 2008.
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West African (Guinean)
with Joti Singh
Saturdays,
12-1:30pm
Live Drumming!
All Levels
This high energy class will focus on the dances and rhythms of Guinea, West Africa. Joti has studied West African dance from Guinea for over a decade with
master dancers Moustapha Bangoura, Alseny Soumah, Naby Bangoura, Youssouf Koumbassa and Mamady Sano. She has traveled numerous times to the region to study
with dancers from the national ballets in Conakry, Guinea. Joti is the Artistic Director of Duniya Dance and Drum Company, choreographing and performing
various dance styles from India, Guinea, and combining forms to create her own unique style. The class will be accompanied by drummer Bongo Sidibe from
Conakry, Guinea, who has studied with Mamady Keita at his school Tam Tam Mandingue, Conakry. Bongo is the Musical Director of Duniya Dance and Drum Company,
founder of the international reggae band Wontanara, and has performed with the Grateful Dead, Rhythm Village, and Black Nature of the Sierra Leone Refugee
Allstars.
www.duniyadance.com.
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Vogue and Tone with Jocquese Whitfield
Vogue
and Tone with Jocquese Whitfield (aka: JoQ)
Mondays, 8:00-9:30pm
Vogue is characterized by model-like poses, inspired by
Vogue Magazine, integrated with angular, linear
and rigid arm, leg and body movements. The style of dance arose from Harlem ballrooms in the early 1930s. This dance style was originally called
"performance" and evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called "vogue-ing". There are six elements of Vogue-ing: hands, spins,
catwalk, duck walk, dips and floor performance. The class will start with a fifteen minute warm-up where we focus on core work and isolations. After the
warm up, we will transition into across the floor work and choreography. Not only will you learn the history of Vogue, but you'll will receive an intense
workout. Jocquese will break down each element from Hands to Spins, Catwalk to Duck walk, Dips to Floor Performance. Each element has specific movements
that will strengthen and tone different parts of the body. The choreography will be infused with other forms of dances such as jazz, modern, ballet, hip-hop
and Afro-Haitian.
Jocquese Whitfield (aka: JoQ) is a dancer/choreographer born and raised in San Francisco. Starting his career steeped in the
improvisation of freestyle hip-hop, Jocquese has added modern, classical, and Diasporic dance traditions over the last several years. He has been a member
of City Shock San Francisco, F.B.C. (Funk Beyond Control), and UFO Movement, J. Jun Productions and is currently dancing with M.O.M. (Mind Over Matter).
Currently pursuing studies in Dance and Theater, Jocquese's current movement vocabulary revisits the bold, rebellious statements of the 1980's as expressed
through fashion, nightlife, and a love of the abstract. A shape-shifter, Jocquese challenges assumptions of sexual identity in dance as he plays with
gesture both "masculine" and "feminine".
Watch a video of the class
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Street Method with Nicole Klaymoon and the Embodiment Project
Wednesdays, 8:00-9:30 pm
Street Method includes
foundational and rhythm based house footwork, strengthening, stretching, the craft of free-styling and unique choreography. The choreography blends
hip-hop, house and waacking with influences from other urban and social dance traditions. With an emphasis on funk, flow and authenticity, this class
encourages its all-level community of students to surrender to the beat in a supportive and loving atmosphere that values the cultivation of an individual's
internal rhythm and style. The class will be taught in a monthly rotation by Embodiment Project company members, Jena McRae, Mika Lemoine, Jennifer "Jenay"
Anolin, and Nicole Klaymoon.
Nicole Klaymoon, Artistc Director-Founder of EMBODIMENT PROJECT, received a B.A. in dance from UCLA. Her one-woman
show, "The Sixth Vowel", directed by Kamilah Forbes and choreographed by Rennie Harris, was performed at various venues and events across the country and
Europe including the Hip-Hop Theater Festival in New York and DC, Miami Project Hip-Hop, Illadelph Legends of Hip-Hop Festival in Philadelphiaand the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Klaymoon is currently is on faculty in the dance department at Marin Academy, and hosts the REBIRTH, a street dance
event sponsored by Ford Foundation and La Pe–a Cultural Center. EMBODIMENT PROJECT (EP) is fiscally sponsored by La Pe–a Cultural Center and is a recipient
of the Zellerbach Grant. EP performed their first original work, "Bloodline," at the Left Coast Leaning Festival at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and
Dance Mission Theater collaborating with renown vocalist, Valerie Troutt. The Embodiment Project strives to distill emotion from art by incorporating
street dance, spoken-word, theater, and song to express personal and poignant narratives.
www.embodimentproject.org
Watch a video of the class
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Afro-Cuban
Folkloric with Roberto Borrell
All Levels
Saturdays, 3:30-5 pm
Roberto
Borrell learned traditional and popular Afro-Cuban dance, percussion, and song from master musicians and dancers while growing up in la Havana Vieja,
Havana, Cuba. He is a respected dancer and percussionist of Afro-Cuban Yoruba, Abakua (Calabar), Rumba, Arará (Dahony), and Palo (Congo). He also a
master dancer and teacher of Cuban popular dance styles such as son montuno, danz—n, and cha cha cha.
Mr. Borrell led the Afro-Cuban folkloric
group Kubata in Cuba for 10 years before coming to the United States in 1980, where he founded a new company under the same name. Kubata, then based in
New York City, performed Roberto's productions for 10 years in many major East Coast venues, such as the Smithsonian, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall.
He also was founder and musical director of the famous New York-based Son Grupo, part of Kubata productions.
Borrell danced in the front line of
the Folklorico Nacional de Cuba for several years and, in major United States venues, has performed and recorded both as a dancer and percussionist, with
legends such as Tito Puente, the Machete Ensemble, Chocolate Armenteros, "Cachao" Lopez, and Richard Egües.
Mr. Borrell was the co-founder,
percussionist and musical co-director of the 11-member Orquesta la Moderna Tradición, one of the only ensembles in the United States that is
dedicated to the performance of classic Cuban dance music: son, guaracha, cha cha cha, and especially the lilting grooves of the danzón.
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Cuban Folkloric (Haitian)
with Temistocles Fuentes Betancourt
Wednesdays, 8-9:3pm, All Levels
Live drumming!
This class will cover many of the Afro/Haitian/ Cuban dance forms found in Oriente Province in Cuba. These distinctive forms are the result of the cross pollination of Afro-Haitian and Afro-Cuban styles. After the Haitian revolution, many French colonists left with their slaves for the eastern part of Cuba. The Haitians brought their beliefs, customs, music and dance, as well as the fundamentals of their Vodu religion. These influences were assimilated by the Cubans who lived in that area and created an exciting cultural hybrid. These styles are rarely seen outside of Cuba and this class provides a unique opportunity to study these exciting dance forms.
Temistocles Fuentes Betancourt (Temi) has over 35 years experience as a principal dancer, regisseur, professor and choreographer with the Ballet Folklorico de Oriente. This company is the oldest folkloric company in Cuba. In Santiago de Cuba, he also served as regisseur for Ballet Folkloric Cutumba, Director of Conjunto Folklorico Kazumbi, Professor of Salsa at Ateneo Cultural Antonio Bravo Correoso and Choreographer of the youth Carnaval group, "Los Chicos Alegres de Veguita de Galos". Since coming to the US he has appeared in "Oyuoro" a folkloric performance in New York City and choreographed for the Cuba Caribe Festival in San Francisco. He currently teaches at Dance Mission, the San Francisco Park & Recreation Department and the YMCA.
Watch a video of the class
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Bollywood Fire with Archana
On Hiatus
Bollywood Fire, Indian dance classes: Learn the dances from Bollywood, Mumbai.
www.bollywoodfire.net
www.youtube.com/user/bollywoodfire
Archana has been performing and
teaching bollywood dancing since 13 years now.She comes originally from the 'Bollywood industry' in Mumbai and has been in bay area since 2 years. She won
the Miss Talented title for her dance performance in "Miss India Worldwide 2002". She has worked with some of the top most Indian singers, actors and
choreographers such as Alisha Chinai, Sharon Prabahakar, Astaad Deboo, Mahesh Mehboobani. She has appeared in 3 music videos, toured around and outside
India for Channel V and MTV roadshows and has also choreographed for various plays. Locally she has been performing for Berkeley food festival besides
weddings, parties etc. and also teaching for prestigious festivals such as the SF Free Folk Festival.
Watch a video of the class
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Brazilian Dance with Raffaella Falchi
Tuesdays, 8:00-9:15pm
Live drumming!
Raffaella has been a professional Brazilian dance performer since 1998.
Raffaella's dance training and experience includes performing professionally with numerous Brazilian dance companies in the Bay Area and performing both
locally and internationally both in Europe and Brazil. She has performed in numerous types of events including the SF Carnaval Ball and many SF Carnaval
Parades. In 2004, she became co-founder of Sambamora Dance Company which offers dance classes, performances and costume design in the Bay Area. Raffaella's
samba class was also awarded best of the bay in 2004. She is currently teaching samba workshops through ODC/ Rhythm and Motion and UCSF Bakar Fitness
Center. She also teaches youth samba classes at Out Of Site Youth Arts Center.
Watch a video of Raffaella's choreography
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Beginning Cuban Salsa with Alvaro Batista
Mondays at 6:30pm
This class focuses on students who are new to Cuban Salsa and Rueda de Casino. Cuban Salsa is a partner dance that is a combination of Rumba and Son. In this class, Alvaro introduces the basic footwork, style and musicality of Salsa before moving on to more complicated turns and patterns and what it means to lead/follow. You do not need to bring your own partner. Wear anything that you feel comfortable moving in - from heels to sneakers to jazz shoes!
Although students may drop in at any time, it is recommended to start the class on the FIRST Monday of every month if possible asÊ the class is progressive. Below is an *example* of a typical curriculum for the month. Please note that the curriculum varies depending on the needs of the class.
- 1st Monday: Basic steps and rhythm, outside turns and cross body leads
- 2nd Monday: Inside turn (Enchufla), Llevala Abajo y Exhibe, cross body lead into Cuban basic step (Dile Que No y Guapea)
- 3rd Monday: Start putting combination moves together using moves from the previous weeks
- 4th Monday: introduction to basic Rueda de Casino moves (Rueda de Casino involves dancing as a group with multiple couples)
If the month has five weeks we will add more turns or review turns from previous weeks.
Intermediate Cuban Salsa and Rueda with Alvaro Batista
Mondays at 8pm
This class is for students who have a good grip on the beginner's Cuban Salsa basic steps and moves and are ready to step it up a notch. Please note that it iis highly recommended that you know the following moves before you take this class: Basic steps (front, side, back), Guapea, Enchufla, Dile Que No (cross body lead), Outside turns and Dame Una (Rueda move). If you have any questions about the curriculum/class you can email Alvaro at alvarob17@yahoo.com. The intermediate class does not have a set curriculum as there are too many moves under this category. The first and second Mondays of the month we start with the easier intermediate moves and they get more challenging on the third and fourth weeks. New turns are introduced each month. The class ends with dancing in a Rueda. Sometimes referred to as Rueda de Casino, this is a particular type of Cuban Salsa where the couples dance in a circle. It was developed in Havana, Cuba in the 1960s by the famous group Guaracheros de Regla. Everyone dancing in a Rueda will do the same moves in response to the caller's commands, switching partners frequently. Prerequisite: A solid foundation in Cuban Salsa.
Alvaro Batista was born in Panama and has lived in the Bay Area since 1980. He has been dancing most of his life and since 2000 has been dancing Cuban salsa and Rueda de Casino. Alvaro is very involved in the Cuban music scene in the Bay Area. Along with two partners, they started A–ejo Productions and have been promoting this music genre and dance style since 2002 through parties, clubs, concerts and dance classes. ÊAlvaro started "The Salsa Lab" in January of 2010 with the goal of introducing the community to Cuban salsa. He focuses in helping his students develop their skills, style, creativity and appreciation for the art of dancing and music. Alvaro loves to teach and hopes he can pass on the love he has for the music and some of the dance techniques he has learned.
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Bhangra and Bollywood (All Levels)
Taught by Joti Singh
Mondays, 6:30-8 pm
All levels, beginners welcome
Bhangra is a harvest dance originally from the state of Punjab in the northwestern corner of India and Pakistan. As people continue to
cross oceans and cultures, Bhangra music and dance ceaselessly evolves, as influences of Hiphop, Reggae and many other genres of music inspire the artists
who create this new Bhangra music and dance. Today Bhangra is danced mostly at weddings and celebrations by both men and women.
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Samba-Aerobics
Taught by Silvana Sousa
Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm (Beg/Int)
Saturdays, 8:45-9:45am (all levels)
A highly celebrated samba class that teaches the basic steps from its traditional roots. It is authentic, fun and energetic!
Silvana is a native of Goiânia, Brazil and has been with the group since its inception. After Aquarela's Maria Souza who officated as Queen of 1995,
Silvana was elected Carnaval Queen of San Francisco in 1996. Today, Silvana is chief choreographer of Aquarela. Silvana is a registered nurse. She lives and
works in Berkeley.
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Cuban Rumba with Royland Lobato
Saturdays, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Cuban Rumba is very different from ballroom Rumba. It was originally condemned by the Cuban elite as overtly erotic, and was danced only by marginalized Afro-Cubans. Today, rumba has gained popularity and is respected as Cuba's foremost national
dance. Elements of it were most likely transplanted from the Congo during Cuba's four-century-long Atlantic slave trade, then developed in the provinces of Matanzas and Havana. Many of its rhythms are from the Abakuáan Afro-Cuban male secret society which honored forest deities-combined with Bantu traditions of the Congo. There are three types of Rumba - Yambú, Guaguancò, and Columbia . Yambú is the oldest known form of rumba: dramatic, slow, and seductive. Guaguancò is fast, complex, and defined by the vacunao, a rapid masculine thrust from the hips, hand, or foot-an attempt of the male to achieve union with the female, which she repeatedly encourages then rejects. Columbia developed in Cuba's inland hamlets, with elements of Congo
dances and Spanish flamenco.
Royland Lobato is originally from Guantanamo, Cuba and is a founding member of the Havana-based dance company, 7 Potencias. Royland has been teaching throughout the Bay Area since 2005.
Watch a video of the class
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Rueda/Cuban Salsa (Intermediate) with Royland Lobato
Saturdays,
2-3:30pm
Rueda or Rueda de Casino is a type of salsa that is danced in circle. It was developed
in Cuba in the early 1950s. Pairs of dancers form a circle, with salsa turns are called out by one person. Many moves have hand signs to complement the
calls, which is useful in noisy venues, like clubs. Many moves involve switching partners. Most of the calls are the same across the boards, however
different teachers do have their own variations.
Photo on right by Patrick Hickey.
Watch a video of the class
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Haitian Folkloric with Portsha Jefferson
Saturdays,
1:30-3pm
This class introduces the technique of Haitian Folkloric dance. Representing various nations such as Mayi, Ibo and Nago, each dance has it's own distinctive
character, choreography and spirit. You will experience the meditative Yanvalou, the fiery rhythms of Petwo, to the playful and celebratory dances of Banda
and Rara. Expect a high energy class in celebration of a rich, spiritual tradition. A dance experience guaranteed to UPLIFT, INSPIRE & INFORM!
Live
Music with celebrated Haitian drummer Daniel 'Brav' Brevil and Co.
Portsha Jefferson is the founder and artistic director of Rara Tou Limen, an
arts organizationthat has been promoting Haitian culture for the pastsixyears.RTLhas continually offered participantsthe opportunity to experience Haitian
music, dance and culture through classes, workshops, performances and educational events in both the United States and in Haiti.Portsha has taught creative
movement and Haitian Folkloric dance in schools, universities, community centers and dance studios for eleven years. A passionate believer in education and
youth development, she has worked for several youth organizations including The Young Performers Theater, The San Francisco Arts Education Project, Westlake
School of the Arts, Opera Picolla, DanceVersity and Swivel Arts. Portsha's dedication and exploration of Haitian culture have brought her to Haiti, where
she has traveled throughout the country to research regional dance, rhythms and musical traditions.Currently, Portsha is an artist in residence for Oakland,
Berkeley and SF Unified School District. In addition, she is a faculty instructor at East Bay Dance Center and at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the
Arts. She also serves as a Cultural Arts Specialist with Oakland Parks and Recreation.
Contact Info: raratoulimen@gmail.com
Photo by Bethanie Hines Photography
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| Afro-Haitian with Michelle Martin
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm
All levels * live drumming
Africans carried their songs, dances, and religions with them when they were taken to the Caribbean
island of Haiti as slaves. There, dances from different African ethnic groups (primarily those of Dahomey and Congo origin) evolved and mixed and, being
flavored by the French and Arawak Indians also living on the island, dances formed that are unique to Haiti. Other large factors influencing Haitian
movement include the Haitian history of revolution and the creation of Vodou cosmology. In this class you will learn social and religious dances including
Petwo, Ibo, Kongo, Banda, Gede, Rada, Nago, and Djouba - to name a few. Be prepared to dance strongly, flirtatiously and subtly. Be prepared to move the
hips, undulate the back, roll the shoulders, and bend the knees to live drumming. Dances are done barefoot and women should bring long, full,
Caribbean-style skirts if they have them.
Michelle Martin specialized in dance and visual arts with Oakland Park and Recreation Department for
thirteen years. As she pursued a major in Dance/Performing Arts, she was given the opportunity to study in St. Louis, Missouri with Ms. Katherine Dunham and
several other masters of the original Dunham Dance Company. Her studies have taken her to the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, as well as independent study
with Jean Leon Destine and Richard Gonzales, in New York City. Ms. Martin has traveled throughout Nigeria, Cuba, and Haiti to study dance and music through
religious ceremony. She has conducted classes at several San Francisco/Bay Area institutions including Lines Contemporary Ballet, CitiCenter Dance, Rhythm &
Motion, Alice Arts Center and currently at Dance Mission and Mill College. Ms. Martin has been an Artist-in-Residence with the S.F. Unified School District
since 1989 and is working with the School of the Arts High School in the Theater Department. She has worked with Bantaba and Diamano Coura West African
Dance Companies, toured Nigeria with Wajumbe Cultural Ensemble, and was the Assistant Artistic Director, choreographer, principal dancer and singer for the
nationally acclaimed group Petit la Croix with Blanche Brown. She is the 2010 recipient of the Alliance for California's Traditional Arts Master/Apprentice
Grant Award.
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| Modern
Dance with Chimene Pollard
Saturdays, 10-11:30am
Chimene's Hawkins-based class is accessible to all levels. Informed by the Alexander Technique, students somatically find the strength and release of each
movement through the efficient use of the head, neck and torso connection. The basis of Chimene's classes and choreography allows movers of all different
levels and disciplines to explore the play, ease and dramatics of dance while building strength, confidence and a sensory vocabulary that connects this art
form to their daily lives.
Class is an hour and a half in length. The beginning of each month brings a new set of exercises and phrase work that
will build in difficulty as the month progresses. The goal of this is to give the dancer multiple opportunities to view and experience the movement and know
it more fully. The class begins with a guided floor warm up that invites the joints to open, the mind to focus and the muscles to warm. It is a moving
meditation that varies only slightly from time to time so that dancers can really let the mind go and focus in on sensory experience of movement in the
body. The class moves into standing exercises in the center that work on technique and introduce some of the movement that will be seen in the main
combination. The combination takes up the last 40 minutes of class.
www.chimenepollard.com
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| Hip
Hop with Micaya
Thursdays, 6-7:15pm (beg)
Tuesdays, 8-9:30 (int)
Micaya has been a dancer, instructor, and choreographer for over 20 years. Formally trained in ballet, jazz, modern, and African dance forms,
she began teaching hip-hop in the early 1990s. She began producing high energy, underground, sold-out hip-hop shows in the heart of San Francisco's Mission
District in 1993. Those shows led up to the creation of the First Annual San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest in 1999. Now with seven years of success and
presented at the historic Palace of Fine arts Theatre, the San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest has grown into one of the most exciting events of the year.
Micaya's choreography has been featured in corporate events as well as music videos, television, nightclubs, festivals, theaters, cabaret, and touring
productions. She is the founder and director of her own dance company, SoulForce, that performs all over the Bay Area and is the producer of the popular
annual community show "Mission in the Mix" which features SoulForce along with up and coming local companies and students.
Micaya incorporates her
many years of dance training and styles into her teaching. Her classes are popular due to her passionate teaching style. Expertly broken down, Micayas'
choreography is taught in a non intimidating way that all people understand. Micaya teaches all over the Bay Area to students of all ages and backgrounds -
as well as teaching throughout the country and abroad.
More information available at www.micaya.com or www.sfhiphopdancefest.com.
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| Beginning Hip Hop with David Schrag
Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm
Beginning/ Intermediate Hip Hop is a class designed to suit all levels of hip-hop dancer. David applies
a constructivist teaching method to reach everyone from the amateur hip-hop enthusiast to the more experienced or classically trained dancer. The goal of
his class is to provide a framework of choreography in which each dancer will be able to add their own personal style and attitude. It is also focuses on
an inclusive atmosphere, rather than a place that caters to any select group of dancers. Most of all, the class is designed for people to feel comfortable
(and shake their tails!) David phases elements of B-boying, old school and more modern video-style choreography. Classes usually consist of a warm-up,
stretching and choreography. Routines are usually repeated every two weeks, allowing students to build on their past week of experience.
For an
example of David's teaching, please click here: www.youtube.com
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| Nia with
Zack
Saturdays, 9-10am
Nia Technique is a cardiovascular fitness and personal growth practice that integrates the body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Nia embraces both
form and freedom: the form of simple steps, kicks, and stances that anyone can learn; and the freedom of each student's inner dance. Nia truly represents
the 'joy of movement.'
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