The dance company presented a fabulous program on Sunday November 8. I was invited by my friend…read morewho saw a posting in the 504 Coffee Shop. I had no idea what to expect except that the company is made up of able bodied as well as disabled (but then that is not the operative word here, because everyone is so skilled) dancers in wheelchairs. The choreography, the unique music and performances were wonderful. I urge you to see this group as soon as you can. Target sponsored the program on Sunday. It was held at the Malonga Casquelord Center on Alice Street in Oakland, an easy walk from Lake Merritt. The building is interesting too. You will love this group, I know it. Check out Axis Dance.

I work for a youth non-profit that refers kids to Axis for their youth classes. The families we…read morehave sent there have had RAVE reviews about their experience. AXIS is extremely welcoming, inclusive, and community-minded. We love AXIS and are so thankful for the opportunities they have given to our families!!!!

If you've been playing taiko for years and want to take it up to a more creative level, this is the…read moretaiko dojo for you. Drawing on his education in modern dance and years of performing with SF Taiko Dojo & others, Sensei Bruce "Mui" Ghent composes and choreographs cutting edge original songs which are by far more superior to the typical powerhouse taiko songs. I've played taiko over 6 years with SF Taiko Dojo and another East Bay group. I've learned more technique with Maikaze Daiko than the other two combined. Maikaze hosts an annual Meigetsu (Harvest Moon) Taiko Festival Oct. 2-4, 2009. Over 9 other SF Bay Area taiko groups will participate. It's a great way to see the variety of styles. See Maikaze Daiko's website for details: http://www.maikazedaiko.com/

Ohayo-Gozaimasu!…read more Ever since I saw a Taiko performance in Golden Gate Park during AIDS walk a few years back, I've wanted to beat on some big ass drums. Sadly, I knew that I lacked a sense of both rhythm and timing. Despite these musical handicaps, I decided to find a place to learn Taiko and see what it could make of me, and Maikaze Taiko turned out to be that wonderful place. Sensei Mui, as well many of the sempai (more senior students), are very passionate about Taiko and it shows! I started the introductory class last October, where we went over Taiko etiquette, history, and even got to use the drums the very first day. This is one of the few classes I've taken that I felt some instant gratification and sense of achievement from. What's more is that I'm sure it's not just my imagination when I say that I really believe my senses of rhythm and timing are actually improving! Each week, we progess and add parts to a song that we're working on, as well as do drills to help us get into the groove and improve our form/timing/etc. Not to mention, Sensei Mui walks the room and helps each student with their technique, so we aren't just senselessly banging on the drums. At $15 per session, this is probably one of the best deals for an hour and a half long class where all of the equipment is provided. The introductory courses start approximately every other month, and are held on Sunday mornings. There are more advanced courses (Monday evenings), as well as workshops for improvement during the week (Wednesday mornings and Friday mornings). The studio is easily accessible by public transit, and if you have to drive, parking is readily available during the Sunday morning classes.

I love Mary's classes and performing with her and the rest of the troupe! I've been taking 1-2…read moreclasses per week for 1.5 years. My cardio health has improved, as has my dance technique and sense of community. Mary puts a lot of love into teaching us the detailed choreography, designing costumes for events and parades, and getting us ready to perform. She has more energy than any of us. The dance studio is beautiful and love that they have events several times a year. The owners of Hidden City Ballroom are great too. I'm fortunate to have found such a wonderful community. Come join us!

Hi, I've been a student of Mary Dollar's, director of Samba Do Corocao, for almost three years…read more She is one of the best teachers I have ever encountered in my 30+ years of taking dance classes. She is also a fantastic choreographer and costume designe. We are performing in the 4th of July parade in Orinda this year and just finished Carnaval 2025. Come out and see us or join us in class at the Hidden City Ballroom in Pt. Richmond to experience Brazilian Samba at its finest!

Project Bandaloop is amazing! If I were good enough, and they would have me, I would drop out of…read moregraduate school right now to dance on walls and cliffs with them. Since that is not the case, I had resigned myself to frequent visits to their website UNTIL I found out that they host beginner and int/ adv workshops! Woohoo! Maybe I will be an amazingly talented beginner and they will beg me to travel the world with them and dance on the Petronas Towers, Chartres Cathedral, maybe even at Petra or the Coliseum. Please. Please. Pick me. I'll do anything. ________________________ Update: Since I have now completed both the beginner and int/adv workshops offered by Project Bandaloop, I feel this review needs an update. The workshop is a lot of fun, although pretty hard on the body. I figured that vertical dancing might have its challenges, but I had no idea how much a rock climbing harness and nerve endings could disagree. However, that did not stop me from going 4 days in a row...doubling up on pants and shirts can make a huge difference. The beginner workshop (5 hours over 2 days, $110) features a warm up, and then a rotation through the climbing wall featuring bouldering/dance, dance from single point suspension ("pods"), the trampoline walls, and the wood wall. The advanced workshop (6 hours over 2 days, $150) has an additional floor station and focuses on play and choreography more than orientation and skills. The workshops were between 15-20 people with 5-7 instructors. The instructors were great! Definitely gave the freedom to play, while also providing constructive pointers and maintaining a safe environment. The founder of Bandaloop, Amelia, was also in and out, watching the advanced performances, answering questions, etc. While she did not offer me a position in her dance troupe, I am definitely addicted, and will be going back for more. Maybe one day I can have my own trampoline wall. The one downer: the warehouse in Oakland seems pretty sketch upon first approach,. It isn't well marked, and looks kind of run down. It also can be tough getting in earlier, etc because all the doors are locked. However, the next workshop is in a new location close by in Oakland, so this may change soon.

truly amazing, innovate aerial artists! google them, and check out some of their performances, or…read morebetter yet, go see them in person!

Maestra Sambambaia conducts a fun, funky and informative Dança Afro class that I've loved attending…read morefor years now. Her class is based in her love and knowledge of Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban dance.

So much love and respect for Nives and her powerful medicine. I love her dance classes! They are…read morefun, challenging, and a place to find community. Nives is rich in cultural knowledge, technique, and has a gentle firm way of bringing out the best in us. Come join us! You won't be disappointed.

I'm a super fan of this group! The master-teacher, Jimi Nakagawa is incredibly talented! He's…read morefunny and charming and humble. He's very creative artistically and I love many of their songs. Jimi-san is the sort of leader who creates fun communities. I've seen them perform now many times and they really have the "it" factor. He's also very child-friendly. All in all, there's a lot to love about this group and it's leader.

The taiko teacher Jimi is very skilled, artistic and funny. He composes amazing songs and…read moremovements. I've been taking his class last 8+ years and still learning every time. Great community. Highly recommended!

Ballet's illustrious heritage was paved by Kings and Nobility who guaranteed its posterity. Ballet…read moredancers became the muses of composers who also popularized it throughout the centuries. Flamenco, however, hung onto the fringes of perdition and suffered immense persecution. The Spanish Inquisition and Aristocrats did not want to accept the migrant gitanos (gypsies), Sephardic jews, Morsicos (Moors) in Southern Spain. They were often banished or forced to convert. Today it is still unclear when and how flamenco started- but one cannot doubt the spirit and pride that is inherent in this dance- its purpose is clear- to preserve the memory and the stories of the people who suffered during this time. It is this spirit that lives on in the dance, the defiant spirit- that quelled the marching soldiers footsteps with the dancer's own taconeo (footwork), or the spirit of floreo (hand movements) that elevates the soul, and the defiant face that dared look back to the condemning court. The poet Lorca (my personal favorite) speaks of this Spirit as the Duende- the Life Force that inhabits the dancer- it is closely defined as a possession of sort- a transfiguration that channels the performers and audience to that time and place. This zenith is where the feelings of raw emotion, destitution and punishment finally dissolves and where hope and resurrection are no longer a dream but has now become reality! Concha Vargas, Ethan Margolis, Daniel Staffler Clara Mora and Carmen de Quintin- gave a performance that conjured the duende- I felt the upheaval and destruction- I sank like an anchor deep in the ocean, the very last breath around me vanished. But it was this will to survive that persisted through my veins. It was such a powerful emotion- one of the rare ones I have ever experienced. A people limited in their capacity to write and preserve their heritage- did so with this artform- the only best way they knew how:- the dance, the guitar, the song. Marked by blood and pride this they knew would pass on for generations to come. That night- I clapped, I cried and LIVED- again. Ole' ! PS- La Pena Cultural Center of Berkeley hosted the night's event- the next door Valencia Cafe- was a great retreat for wine and beverages!

If you're looking for authentic flamenco outside of Spain, you've found it! I go to the shows at…read morethe Kuumbwa in Santa Cruz--no bad seats in this small club and perfect for flamenco. I think flamenco is best in small clubs, so the audience and artists can interact. In Santa Cruz audience is knowledgeable, appreciative, and friendly, which inspires the artists even more. The festival producer knows the artists and the music well, and lines up phenomenal shows. It's a musical highlight in my year, especially since I can't make it to Spain!

AWESOME! Danceversity World Dance Camp ages 8 to16 During…read moreAugust Summer is the most high energy & fun, week or more, my daughter enjoys this . They have multiple dance teachers and often have live drums. 9AM to 4PM. They do a performance on Fridays! Held at Ashkenas in Berkeley.this is her 3rd year! They also offer: Weekly Classes though out the year in different locations. Summer Program DANCEVERSITY SUMMER CAMP 2010 REGISTRATIONS NOW ACCEPTED! 40% off additional weeks of camp! Contact Hannah for details at 415-794-7463 School Workshops Youth Performance Company Professional Performance Company Birthday Dance Parties

This year I enrolled my daughter for 2 weeks of dance camp with DanceVersity and she was able to…read moreexplore dance styles and culture from 8 different countries! Not only has she improved her ability to work together in a creative way but she made lots of new friends and has increased confidence to perform! This program is awesome for youth as well as our local artists who get to share their passion and love for their art form. Happy they continue classes during the school year but eager for summer camp again!