Dance Mission Theater: Class Descriptions

Dance Mission Theater

Dance Mission Theater
3316 24th Street
(corner Mission)
San Francisco CA 94110
Tel: 415.826.4441


All classes are on-going. You may drop-in at any time for Youth Program Class Schedule, click here
Afro Urban Fuzion with Yeni Lucero Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm Starts March 27 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

Tribal Fusion Belly Dance with Jill Parker Tuesdays, 8pm-9:30pm Starts April 3 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

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.

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.

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.

Beginning Ballet with Byron Heinrich Saturdays, 3:30-4:30pm, Ballet Fundamentals (Absolute Beg) Saturdays, 4:30-5:45pm, (Beg-Intermediate) 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.

West African (Guinean) with Joti Singh Saturdays, 3-4:30pm 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.

Vogue and Tone with Jocquese Whitfield Vogue and Tone with Jocquese Whitfield (aka: JoQ) Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm *New Time! 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

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

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.

March 28-May 16, 2012 Cuban Folkloric Dance Series with Temistocles Fuentes Betancourt Wednesdays, 8-9:3pm March 28-May 16 (please note that class will be happening as normal before the series starts) Live drumming! $13/drop-in or $80 for the entire series You may pre-register by calling 415-826-4441 March 28-April 4: Carabali, Yuka, Makuta, Palo April 11-18: Tumba Francesa, Mason, Yuba, Frente April 25-May 2: Yambalu, Congolaye, Vodu May 9-16: Merengue Haitiano,Tahona,Gaga This 8 class workshop 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 workshop 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

Bollywood Fire with Archana Saturdays, 11:45am-1:15pm 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

Brazilian Dance with Raffaella Falchi Mondays, 8:00-9:15 pm 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

Absolute Beginning Taiko Workshop with Bruce Ghent January 15 - February 26, 2012 Sundays 10:30am - 12 noon FREE class January 8! To register call 15-826-4441 or email dancemissiontheater (at) yahoo.com For more information contact taikomotion (at) yahoo.com Learn the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming with Sensei Bruce 'Mui' Ghent. The Introductory taiko class will cover basic fundamental skills and history which will prepare students to advance to the next level of classes. Beginners ages 12-adult, with little or no music experience are welcome. Taiko drumming is a rigorous physical activity. Bring water and wear clothes to exercise in � sweat happens : ) Class is taught with traditional martial arts etiquette and discipline as outlined in the student handbook supplied. New students should arrive 15 minutes early (10:15am) for the first class at to complete registration.

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.

Congolese - Central African from the Congo (All Levels) Taught by Kayos Makaya On Hiatus Tuesdays, 8:00-9:30 pm Live drumming with master drummer, Massengo This dance style is known for its smooth, grounded and soulful movement as depicted by its pelvic rotation, shoulder and torso rotation. Live music is typically played on the Ngoma, a Congolese drum which is cylindrical and elongated in height. The class will be composed of a minimum of two different rhythms so that the students get to experience some variety within this dance style. This class will teach you the technique of traditional and contemporary Congolese while your body and soul enjoys the rhythms, dance, and song, as they are intertwined. Women bring a piece of African fabric or other (lappa) to wrap around your waist if you have it (2-yards +/-). Otherwise, dance pants, yoga pants, tanks, other comfortable clothing are fine. Congolese is done barefoot.

Salsa (Beginning/Intermediate) with Ramon Ramos Alayo Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00pm Cuban Salsa is a partner dance that is a combination of Rumba and Son. In this class, Ramon 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! Salsa Rueda (Intermediate/Advanced) with Ramon Ramos Alayo Mondays from 8-9:30pm (New! Starts 2/7) and Wednesdays from 8-9:30pm 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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.'

Cardio Taiko (All Levels) Beat drums and get in shape! Cardio Taiko is the revolutionary new cardio-taiko-drumming exercise class guaranteed to energize, slenderize and empower you, while keeping your feet moving and your hands drumming! No experience necessary. Cardio Taiko combines elements of aerobic dance workout, yoga, pilates and enrgizing, life changing Japaense Taiko drumming to the hottest world rhythms! Taught by Taiko Director of Dance Brigade, Bruce "Mui" Ghent. For permission to attend, please contact the instructor and taikomotion_at_yahoo_dot_com.