Educational Work
We were honored to host incredible master classes Online
We continue to focus on our goal to:
Educate, Share and Create a beautiful Community Globally
2022-2023
Guest Teachers and Master Classes
Márcia Matos: Afro Brazilian Roots and Orixás Master Classes.
Matos is a dancer and teacher from Bahia, Brazil. She is graduated in Dance from the "Universidade Federal da Bahia" and teaches the roots of Afro-Brazilian dance while inspiring each dancer to find their authentic "voice" in movement.
Vanessa Isaac: Contemporary Brazilian, Afro Brazilian and Samba Master Classes
Vanessa Agle Isaac is a performer, choreographer, dance educator, producer and writer. She is the artistic director and choreographer for the Vanessa Isaac Dance Company.
Isaac’s unique language of movement combines the rich cultural traditions of her native Brazil with the boldness and aesthetic pluralism of contemporary dance. Her innovative choreography embraces both eclecticism and ancestral bonds while celebrating diversity, connection, and environmental healing and health.
Kellyn Rosa: Samba Technique
Kellyn Rosa has danced with some of the most famous Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro including Salgueiro, Estação Primeira de Mangueira and Portela Samba Schools. In 2018 we both were Guest Artists and Teachers at the beloved California Brasil Camp. Kellyn has beautiful technique and methodology!
Luana Bandeira: Afro Brazilian & Samba Technique
Bandeira is a dancer from Rio de Janeiro. For 6 years she was the Rainha da Bateria (Samba Queen) for Estácio de Sá Samba School. She was awarded “Best Queen Jorge Laford” in 2014, Prêmio Personalidade do Carnaval 2015, Rainha dos Sambistas do Rio de Janeiro, Corte 2016 among other awards. She is now Musa (Muse) for the Viradouro Samba School, the current Champion Samba School in Rio. Luana has traveled internationally teaching Samba and together with her brother Marcos Bandeira she founded the social project titled “Origens” in Rio.
Pablo Guerreiro: Malandro Style
Guerreiro started his artistic career at the Afro-sul Odomodê music and dance group. He worked as a dancer at the Musical Ginga Tropical and is the Artistic Director & Choreographer from Acadêmicos do Cubango Samba School. Pablo teaches classes internationally.
Leida Tolentino: Afro Elevation Movement
Leida Tolentino, Phd is a lifelong educator with a doctorate in psychology and neuroscience. She is also a dancer with a passion for West African styles and their forms in the diaspora (Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban). In her teaching, choreography, and performance, she blends different world influences, and utilizes dance as a vehicle for authentic expression, social connection and spiritual elevation.
Caio Nunes: Samba Jazz Fusion Class
Nunes is a choreographer from Rio de Janeiro. He served as a “Comissão de Frente” Choreographer for various renowned Rio’s Samba Schools including for Salgueiro, Império Serrano, Unidos de Vila Isabel, Grande Rio and São Clemente. He was also one of Rio’s carnaval juror in 2009 and 2010. He has traveled internationally teaching. Caio is responsible for the body preparation of many actors and singers in Brazil. His classes are always fun and full of energy!
Cris Basimah: Hips Tecnique
From Rio de Janeiro, Cris! Basimah is an award-winning Bellydancer, specializing in dance styles of the Middle East (Raqs sharqi and Folk Dance) and Latin cultures. She has performed throughout the United States, Egypt and Brazil for societies, foundations, corporations and Universities. Cris! is the Dance and Artistic Director for The UCSB Middle East Ensemble Dance Company and she also shows across California.
Cheri Clanpett Borda: Restorative Yoga for Dancers
Clampett is the Founder and Director of the Therapeutic Yoga Training Program and is the co-author of the Therapeutic Yoga Kit. She is a C-IAYT, ERYT-500 certified yoga therapist with over 30 years of teaching experience. Cheri believes we are all on a healing path. Each of us in our own way is healing from stress, trauma, and all the challenges that life brings. Cheri specializes in teaching the restorative practice of Therapeutic Yoga which brings the body into a safe sanctuary leading to relaxation, peace, and healing.
2021
Guest Teachers and Master Classes
Sheila Aquino is a Dancer, Choreographer and Teacher. She performed and choreographed for some of the most celebrated Samba Schools in Rio. She danced for the Mangueira “Comissão de Frente” with choreography by Carlinhos de Jesus and the “Comissão de Frente” of the Vila Isabel Samba School with choreography by Ana Botafogo (Prima Ballarina do Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janerio). Sheila has also choreographed for Mangueira Samba School with Marcelo Chocolate, Marcello Moragas and Maurício Wetzel.
Residing in Rio de Janeiro, Pablo Guerreiro started his artistic career at the Afro-sul Odomodê music and dance group. He worked as a dancer at the Musical Ginga Tropical and is the Artistic Director & Choreographer from Acadêmicos do Cubango Samba School.
Pablo teaches classes internationally. Pablo and I have performed together and he is truly a gifted teacher and dancer.
A professional dancer, Kaita Mrazek has trained in several movement modalities including Ballet and modern Dance
Kaita has co-created a movement technique called Fascia Floss that incorporates active stretching and acupressure for dancers. Her work has been featured in mindbodygreen, New York Times, and several peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Lisa Beck is a devoted Odissi Classical Indian dance student of Shakti School of Dance with Colleena Shakti and the creator of an unique style of Indian fusion. She is a prolific teacher and choreographer and a dynamic performer who travels the world to study, teach, and be a bridge for East and West. In her former life in Santa Barbara, Lisa specialized in West African Dance and Drum, taught a popular Bollywood dance class for years, and studied and performed Afro Brazilian (with Vanessa), Middle Eastern, Contemporary, and Tribal Fusion dance styles. Lisa has studied extensively with Colleena Shakti and student teaches VKY for Shakti School of Dance and Shakti Summer School.
Kellyn Rosa is a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Kellyn has danced with some of the most famous Samba schools in Rio de Janeiro such as Salgueiro, Estação Primeira de Mangueira and Portela Samba Schools.
In 2018 we both were Guest Artists and Teachers at the beloved California Brazil Camp. Kellyn has beautiful "lines", technique and methodology.
Vanessa Agle Isaac is a performer, choreographer, dance educator, producer and writer. She is the artistic director and choreographer for the Vanessa Isaac Dance Company. Her choreography finds inspiration Contemporary dance and ancestral Brazilian dances and rhythms.
Vanessa has been a guest teacher in Monaco for the Monte Carlo Ballet “Fete de La Danse”, at the International Samba Congress in Los Angeles, Ecole de Danze Kim Kan in Paris, Centre Momboye in Paris, Gustafson Dance School (State Street Ballet), California Brazil Camp, UCSB and The University of Southern California in Los Angeles to name a few organizations . Vanessa has been nominated for the prestigious Brazilian International Press Award in the Dance category.