Denise has studied international dance for over 15 years and lived in Central and South America for 21 years. In addition to growing up around many genres of Latin American music and dance, her international dance background includes Flamenco, contemporary Spanish, Belly Dance, Bharatanatyam (classical South Indian), Polynesian and West African. Denise toured with the professional contemporary Spanish dance company, Estudio Gitano, in Guatemala, and has created, directed, choreographed and danced with Fiesta Afrolatina, a Davis-based dance troupe. She draws from many genres to design dance classes that celebrate the blending of many cultures. Furthermore, Denise has a background in martial arts, boxing and group exercise. Having sampled about 10 different kinds of martial arts, she draws from these experiences as well as her passion for dance and having a good time, to create fitness classes that are challenging, fun and safe. Denise is certified to teach the group fitness classes: Zumba®, Turbo Kick® and PiYo™ and Macumba. Teaching dance and fitness classes gives her the opportunity to share her passion for dance, music, culture, fitness and education.

Amy Taylor grew up in Davis. She studied dance for 12 years before attending UC Irvine. While at UCI she was able to continue her education in ballet, modern, and jazz and was fortunate to have the opportunity to perform works by such artists as Donald McKayle, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor, and Jose Limon. After receiving her B.A. in Dance she danced professionally in southern California. Since then, she has been in Davis working as a choreographer for the Drama and Music departments at Davis Senior High School as well as teaching dance at various dance studios in Davis and Sacramento. Amy has also studied pilates and yoga for 10 years. Amy has a passion for spreading the joy of dance and movement and in helping people become physically healthy, strong, and injury-free!

Bahareh is a UC Davis alumni who first learned social Iranian dance from her family. In college, she joined the Iranian Dance Team and learned classical Iranian dance as well as a number of regional folk dances. She now hopes to spread knowledge of Iranian culture, music, and dance to all eager students!

Bettina has been dancing Flamenco for over 12 years and has performed in Baltimore, San Antonio and most recently in Sacramento. She has studied with Yaelisa and Drea Pacot in California and performed locally at private venues, Lunas Café, Dia de la Familia, the Crest Theatre, and Ashkenaz, Berkeley. She has studied at the Cristina Heeren Flamenco Foundation in Sevilla Spain. She is from Kenya and her dance background and interests is international with an emphasis on social and popular dances of Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. The thing that she loves about flamenco is the combination of musician and dancer, of percussion instrument and choreography, of grace and strength, of attitude and subtleness, of innovation and structure within one dancer.

Bhavana grew up dancing Garba (Indian folk dance) and watching lots of Bollywood films! As a child, she loved to imitate the dance routines and facial expressions. Since childhood, she has sought out learning about various forms of Indian dance and yoga as a way to maintain connection to her culture. Bhavana has been teaching yoga and Indian dance in Davis for two years. For her work, she is a first-grade teacher in Woodland. In her classroom, dance and yoga are an essential component of her physical education curriculum.

Professional dancer with French National Contemporary Dance Teaching Degree (Diplome d'Etat), Bounheuang was teaching contemporary dance in France from beginner to advanced level (children/teens/adults) and was performing for choreographers Vendetta Mathea(la-manufacture.com), Sophie Poupin (Centrechoregraphiquelechantier.com), Madelyne Reant.In Davis, she taught at the Experimental College and conducted contemporary dance workshops for ballet dancers at Lisa Applegate Dance Studio in 2005, performed in Share for Hilary Bryan (Mondavi Center) & in Fierce/Pink/House with Sideshow Physical Theater (http://theatredance.ucdavis.edu/proartists/sideshow.aspx) for Della Davidson in 2007.After completing the BoTree Yoga teacher training in 2008 with Meghan Bowen, she continues Yoga training and Somatics, in California, Europe and Asia, and integrates them into her movement/dance/holistic healing. She has a private bodywork practice in Davis, Body Wisdom (Art and Healing Arts) which aims to promote Awareness, Creativity and Body/mind Harmony through Therapeutic Touch, Yoga, Energetics, Dance and Visual Arts. (www.mybodymywisdom.com)

Courtney has been dancing, competing and teaching West Coast Swing for 10 years. She is currently traveling most weekends to compete in the Classic Routine Division all over the country. While Courtney enjoys the new avenues that competition has opened for her, the social dance floor remains her favorite aspect of the dance. Courtney has danced with Allen Frias' hip hop company Mind Over Matter, Jayc Labio's salsa company Con Afinke and explored other forms of dance such as jazz, modern, ballet and country.

Debbie is a fitness enthusiast from way back. After pushing her midlife "reset" button in 2010, she became a Piyo instructor, ACE-certified personal trainer, and running coach. She loves working with people who seek to make positive changes in their lives, improve their fitness levels and achieve the significant health benefits that come with an active lifestyle. Debbie teaches morning classes at FDF and is available by appointment for fitness assessments, consultations and personal training sessions.

Dominique brings a passion for dance to her fitness classes, emphasizing good technique while keeping the energy high. Dominique has studied dance for about 7 years. She is a UCD graduate, where she studied modern dance and ballet. After graduating, she continued to study ballet, as well as pursuing Latin dance, ballroom and hip-hop. Three years ago, Dominique became hooked on dance fitness classes and is now certified in Macumba and Turbokick.

Erica graduated from UC Davis with a BS in Community and Regional Development and from the School of Education with a BCLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has been teaching and building communities in the classroom the past few years with elementary and middle school students from Sacramento to San Francisco. Erica enjoys working with children of all ages, helping them to reach their fullest potential in their academic and extra curricular endeavors. In addition to teaching and motivating others, Erica is passionate about African and Latin influenced dances and she loves to share this with everyone! She has choreographed and coached teenage youth to perform for Quinceañera parties and while living in San Francisco she co-taught adult bachata classes at Café Cocomos. Erica looks forward to share her excitement for Afro-Latin dances through teaching Zumba at the Fiesta Dance N’ Fitness studio. As an advocate for language immersion programs and multicultural curriculum she is equally eager to share with the children and youth the Spanish language while exploring different cultures from all over Latin America (customs, history, and music) through dance!

Gelsomina "La Zamora" has been studying flamenco dance for 15 years. Initially, she trained in San Francisco with primarily La Tania and Yaelisa. She's travelled to Spain 5 times with the most recent visit lasting three years to study with such legendary dancers as Manuela Carasco, Pastora Galvan, Milagros Mengibar, Rafaela Carasco, Belen Maya, Juana Amaya, Yolanda Heredia ,Maria Àngeles Gabaldòn, Fuensanta La Moneta, and Adela Campallo. She taught and performed in Seville, Spain, as well as three years in Kobe, Japan, where she was a featured soloist. She's recently moved to Davis and is currently working on a piece to be performed in December at the Cowell Theater, San Francisco. She's an extremely committed teacher and is very eager to share her love of this evocative and cathartic dance form with her students.

Giana is a professional dancer, actress, choreographer and instructor who inspires her students to reach new levels in both social and professional dancing. She fuses her skills and extensive training in Salsa, Latin, Jazz, Musical theater, Modern and Flamenco, creating powerful, emotional performances and choreography. She has won numerous championships and is a guest instructor and performer for many venues across the country. For more information on Giana, visit her MySpace page.

Gopal Slavonic has studied and played flamenco for 17 years and studied Flamenco guitar in Sevilla, Spain at La Fundacion Christina Heeren. He studied at the Foundation for two years where he received the opportunity to study with many great guitarists. Gopal has returned to Spain to study many times over the last decade. Gopal has worked with California Flamenco artists Mark Taylor, Cerro Negro, La Fibi, La Carola, Roberto Zamora, Kina Mendez, Pilar Moreno and recently released his second CD "Dos Orillas".

Heather Kamala Wong-Xoquic, a certified Yogic Artist and creator of YogaRhymes for :Ki|Do), the rhyming interactive yoga book, learned at age 8 from a wise crone that we have the power to remain flexible with radiant health our whole lives if we never give up our sacred yoga practice. woxok@yahoo.com www.YogaRhymes.com www.YogicArts.com

Ikhlas is a graduate of Gwen Burton’s Professional Ballroom Teachers Academy, the only DVIDA-Certified Teacher Training Program in the Greater Sacramento Area. He is a member of and has performed and competed with the West Sacramento-based Spirit in Motion Dance Company. Ikhlas is passionate about ballroom dance and enjoys sharing his passion with others.

Janice's love for latin music and dance brought her to Zumba. She started with ballet as a young girl and has studied other forms of dance such as modern, jazz, Sevillanas, tango and salsa. She studied Afro-Cuban dance in Cuba and with Juan Carlos Blanco in San Diego for four years. She has also taught salsa classes to adults and children in the San Diego area. Janice shares the love of dance with her family and would like to share it with you in the form of a great workout!

His Spanish teacher in High School first introduced JC Labio to salsa in 1997 and attended his first Salsa Congress in Los Angeles, California in Spring 2001. Inspired by various dance artist, JC started to take dance classes with Gabriel Romero, director of Mambo Romero Dance Co. Shortly after taking a few months of dance classes, he started training with the Mambo Romero Dance Company in the end of 2001. Under the direction and training from Gabriel Romero, Eugene Gleser, and Fiona Cheung, JC slowly matured into a dancer. Six months after stepping into his first dance rehearsal JC Labio debuted in L.A. Salsa Congress in 2002 with the Mambo Romero Dance Co. Dedicating 4 years of his dance career with the company enabled him to perform at the Ethnic Dance Festival in S.F., New York, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and many other venues around the country.

Jenny has been dancing Folklorico for 11 years. She has studied with many different groups, and her focus has been on the traditional style. She loves everything about it: the traditions behind each dance, the way everything has its place, and the way everything fits together on stage. Jenny enjoys learning and teaching Folklorico. Although she is still a student herself in both Folklorico and at UC Davis, she is happy to have the opportunity to give others the chance to discover the Folklorico music and dance genre and the Mexican traditions associated with it.

Jenny began her Chinese dance training under the very accomplished dancer, choreographer, and teacher Yong Yao at YaoYong Dance in San Jose, California, at the age of 6. Following the strict curriculum of the Beijing Dance Academy, she has trained under Yong Yao for the past 14 years. Jenny won first place in both the 2007 Singtao Expo Chinese Dance Competition and the 2006 CPAA Chinese Dance Competition. She is very active in sharing Chinese dance and culture, and is currently the president of the UC Davis Chinese Dance and Arts Club.

Joya began her dance training when she was 5, and has been dancing professionally since the tender age of 8. She’s studied all seven forms of Indian Classical Dance and later studied jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, salsa, and of course Bollywood. She is the Founder of Toofan Dance Company, Davis’s very first Bollywood Dance Company. She coaches UC Davis’s competitive intercollegiate Bollywood dance team, and continues to choreograph stage productions for NAACH Dance Company, the largest Bollywood Dance Company in the nation.

Katya has studied many different types of dance such as festejo (traditional folkloric dance from Peru), saya (traditional folkloric dance from Bolivia), salsa, tap and hip-hop, just to name a few. She loves learning about other cultures and how they incorporate dancing to their everyday lives. She has been dancing since the age of five and keeps enhancing her dance techniques each year. Katya loves the whole concept of dancing fitness because its a fun way to loose weight and stay healthy, she is Zumba certified and can't wait to start teaching.

Khurshid is a student of the Shakti School of Dance in Los Angeles. She has performed as part of the Shakti Dance Company in Washington, D.C., Florida, Texas and Southern California. Since completing her Arangetram, solo dance debut, in 2007, Khurshid has been teaching beginner students of the Shakti School of Dance, and looks forward to teaching and learning new techniques in Davis.

Kina Mendez grew up in the Mendez clan of Gypsy artists from Jerez. She began singing under the influence of her aunt, legendary singer LA PAQUERA DE JEREZ. Her professional career began when she joined Manuel Morao's company. She later worked with Mario Maya and toured internationally with Salvador Tavora's productions Carmen and Carmina Burana. Performing in festivals such as La Fiesta de las Bulerias and Las Fiestas de la Vendimia in Jerez de la Frontera, she has shared the stage with Agujetas, El Grilo, La Macanita and others. A featured artist at this year's Festival de Jerez, her solo CD De Sevilla a Jerez was released last year in Madrid. Kina recently returned to California after several months abroad.

I am a UCDavis alum. (got my master's there in Animal Bio.). Started taking Zumba classes a little more than a year ago, and when I felt like I wanted more out of the classes, I decided to get licensed to teach. I don't have a technical dance background, but I bring a love of "shakin' it" to my classes. I love bringing a positive attitude, an obvious joy and an encouraging word to my workouts. Zumba is my outlet to just let go and forget the stress of the day. I really love teaching Zumba--I'm so glad I found it.

Megha is trained in the YogaFit style of Hatha Yoga and has also practiced Integral Yoga in Yogaville Ashram, Virginia. Introduced to the practice in high school by her grandfather, Megha has deepened her practice since and has been teaching for the past two years in Davis. She loves integrating vinyasa, ashtanga and hatha ideas to create a diverse and spiritually uplifting class. Classes are centered around self-awareness and realizing the potential of energy within our body through exploration of the chakras. We will bend, twist, tone, meditate, smile and most importantly, BREATHE! Deep relaxation and meditation are also an important aspect of yoga for both the new and experienced practitioner. All techniques are explained in detail and everyone leaves feeling stronger physically and lighter mentally. Megha also teaches a Yoga for Veterans class to give back to the student veteran community in Davis and Sacramento regions. She is interested in helping charities and bringing diverse communities together through the power of yoga. Yoga welcomes people of all physical abilities and fitness levels.

Michelle Fox, founder of I Can Live My Dream!, is a former competitive gymnast and professional dancer who has been studying the movement arts for 30 years. She competed through her Level 9 season of gymnastics before leaving the sport behind to focus on dance. With extensive training in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, salsa, and yoga Michelle loves to dance, teach, and perform. A former Miss San Francisco, Michelle has performed choreography for Arturo Fernandez of San Francisco’s LINES Ballet, and danced with Embaje Dance Company in San Francisco and Full Circle Dance Company in Sacramento. She has taught dance to children and adults in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Grass Valley, and, as a UC Davis Alum, is thrilled to be teaching in the Davis community!

Mike arrived in Davis over two years ago to teach environmental policy at the university. He has been dancing salsa for the past decade and still remembers that early eureka moment when the strange syntax of salsa suddenly became clear. His goal is to get others to that stage on their own terms, where salsa is in the bones rather than the brain.

MOMENTUM UNLEASHED are two words that describe what Nick Montoya is about. Whether he is teaching yoga, giving a keynote, coaching executives or parenting his three daughters - Nick has one clear objective: To unleash the momentum that is within each of us to live a happy, fulfilling, passionate life. Nick discovered yoga after retiring from a 27-year career at Intel Corporation. His eldest daughter recommended he attend a class to ease the chronic back he had been experiencing for years. After his first practice, Nick knew that yoga would lead to increased flexibility and strength. What he did not expect was that yoga would unleash a new passion as he began to experience the benefits of the asana practice and immersing himself into the study of yoga. Nick completed 200-hours of yoga teacher training from Zuda Yoga and is now a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).

Nick teaches Vinyasa Yoga and his classes focus on basic technique and also contain many variations and occasional longer sequences to challenge the more seasoned practitioner while allowing all students to explore their own boundaries. All levels and ages leave Nick’s classes with renewed energy and inspiration. Their momentum is unleashed.

Nyla is a multi-award winning professional belly dancer and co-director of Scimitar, a belly dance performance troupe based in San Francisco. She has a background in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and cheerleading which influence her unique style of belly dance. In September of 2008, Nyla was invited to perform in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan and teach a week long belly dance workshop series in Reykjavik, Iceland. Other notable 2008 performances include SanDisk's international fair, the Turkish Arts & Culture Festival in Monterey and the San Francisco Tease-o-rama show presented by Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity. She has received extensive training in Egyptian and Turkish styles from world-renowned instructors and enjoys sharing her knowledge and her passion for Belly Dance with others. Check out Nyla's website for more information on Nyla including show schedules for Marrakech, Maalouf's Taste of Lebanon, Andaloussia and Kasbah Lounge, all located in Sacramento.

I have been working as a Personal Trainer for three years in El Dorado Hills. Before becoming a Personal Trainer, I graduated with a degree in Physical Education in 2001 from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. I worked as a swimming and gymnastics instructor for children at a local sports club at the University. During this time, I worked actively as a volunteer, helping with the organization of sporting events as well as participating in the events.I am dedicated to making a positive impact on people's lives. I look forward to making healthy changes in the lives of my clients through the teaching and coaching of healthier patterns of living with proper exercise and nutrition. I am committed to explaining the importance of exercising regularly, healthy eating patterns, and working on the improvements of the self-esteem and overall wellbeing of the clients I train. I have a strong passion for life and my work and I strive to bring this energy and drive to all those with whom I work.

Ramin is a certified Trance Dance facilitator (International Center for Trance Dance). He is dedicated to supporting each individual in personal and spiritual transformation to reach their highest potential through shamanic dance. He also apprenticed under the Toltec shaman don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements in 1993 and studied in Mexico with Victor Sanchez, author of The Teachings of Don Carlos. He has been teaching at the U.C. Davis Experimental College since 1995 and has facilitated hundreds of workshops for individuals in search of personal growth and transformation. Ramin has a PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering from U.C. Davis and conducts research in the field of bioenergy, renewable energy, composting, and organic waste management.

Rebecca Tryon, RYT, has been teaching yoga for over 10 years. She has studied yoga in India, Costa Rica, the Pacific Northwest, and Southern California. Rebecca gets her inspiration for teaching from sharing those 'a-ha' moments with students when they have a breakthrough in practice. Rebecca's approach to yoga is 'down to earth' and innovative; she loves to find creative ways to integrate the traditional poses into a Vinyasa flow practice and loves to guide her students in taking the yoga practice 'off the mat' and into their daily lives. Outside of yoga, Rebecca is a certified Wellness Coach, certified nutritional counselor and a graduate student in Nutritional Biology at UC Davis. She enjoys teaching people to discover the joy of eating healthy foods, feeling good inside and out, and teaches cooking classes and coaching sessions to facilitate healthy behavior changes. To learn more about Rebecca's approach to nutrition, visit her blog at: www.offwhiteliving.com or email her at rebecca@offwhiteliving.com.

Ria DeBiase has been dancing and teaching Lindy Hop for over thirteen years, in the USA and worldwide. In Spring/Summer of 2003, Ria toured Canada and the USA with the Harlem Hot Shots, a Swedish lindy hop performance team. Her accomplishments include first place at the US Open Swing Dance Championships, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, National Jitterbug Championships, and the World Lindy Hop Championships. As a teacher, Ria is known for teaching innovative classes with a focus on solving student's underlying problems through unique exercises and a contagious enthusiasm for the dance.

Ria, hailing from Sacramento, has been dancing and teaching Lindy Hop for over ten years, both in the USA and worldwide. She has also studied Historical Jazz, Ballet, Gymnastics, and Hip Hop. Her dancing style is energetic and musical, passionate and playful. Ria has been competing and performing since 1998. In Spring/Summer of 2003, Ria toured Canada and the USA with the Harlem Hot Shots. Over the last couple years alone, she has won competitions at the US Open, Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, National Jitterbug Championships, and the World Lindy Hop Championships. Despite a healthy competitive attitude, Ria loves Lindy Hop in its natural habitat, the social dance floor.

Riha is a second year Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies and Political Science double major. She is proficient in Hindi and is learning Japanese. She was on Dastaan Hindi Film dance team her Freshman year and has performed as a background dancer for the guest singer at Toofan’s Triple Threat competition. Riha is a Hindi Film dance instructor for Arya Dance Academy, the largest South Asian dance academy in the United States. She is also a choreographer for UC Davis Studio 301’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the musical Hair. Riha has also studied jazz, hip hop and Japanese folk dancing.

Rommel has been teaching and choreographing for over 20 years. He headed the Hip Hop department for the Sierra Dance Academy for over 12 years and has also taught at Step 1 Dance & Fitness, Northern California Dance Conservatory (NCDC) and choreographed for youth dance groups, non profit performing arts organizations, beauty pageants, for local community events and fundraisers. He is now the Head Instructor, Events Coordinator, and Co- Artistic Director for AGSD, a Recreation Program Instructor of Dance at the Department of Campus Recreation at UC Davis, and a current member of CAHPERD (California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance). He has trained under Dale Scholl, Dr. Linda S. Goodrich, Pepper Von and Bo Horn to name a few. His performance background includes Sacramento Black Art of Dance (S/BAD), Dale School Dance Art (DSDA), Jazz-E, Sacramento State University Dance Company, FlyStyle Funk Patrol, and Recording Artists Spanish Fly.

A native of Maryland, Sarah studied flamenco extensively with Natalia Monteleon in Washington, D.C. over the last six years and has performed in Natalia's company, Arte Flamenco, as well. In D.C, Sarah performed at several restaurants as a soloist as well as many events with Arte Flamenco. Most notable venues include: Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Washington D.C.; the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore; the Washington Folk Festival, Glen Echo; and the Feria de Sevilla at Strathmore, Rockville. Sarah has attended workshops with "La Tati", Carmela Greco, "La Truco", Nelida Tirado, and Defne Enc. She also furthered her flamenco studies with Edwin Aparicio and Genevieve Guinn. She is currently studying in Sacramento with Drea Pacot and has performed with Drea's company "Flamenco Puro". Since moving to Davis, Sarah has performed locally at: Lunas Cafe, Sacramento; the Sacramento World Festival; and the Ashkenaz, Berkeley.

Sarah is currently working on receiving her national dance certification from Gwen Burton’s Professional Ballroom Teaching Academy. She is a member of a performance/competition dance team in West Sacramento, the Spirit in Motion Dance Company. When she is not studying for her certification or performing, she loves Country Line Dancing. Sarah has been line dancing for well over five years and loves sharing her love of dance and passion with others.

Saroja has studied yoga both in India & the U.S. She obtained her teacher's training in Integral Yoga in 1994 and Stress Management in 2006. She has taught yoga and stress management courses in the US and abroad and in various settings including at UC-Davis extension, Sacramento Balvihar, Peak Performace gym and St. Mary's College of CA. Her style of yoga is classical, calming and meditative.

Sequence (Kieu) introduces hip-hop movement, pin pointing such basics as spacial awareness, isolations, strength, balance, groove, and technique. So whether it's for cardio, skill enhancement, or it's your first time and you want to try something new, come join Kieu as he brings some of his many talents to the classroom!! He is a native Californian and has been dancing since the age of five. Discovering that dancing was his fortay, he began to study dance formally at the Easy Bay Center of Performing Arts, where he was introduced to Indian, African, Ballet, Modern, Laotian, and Mexican styles of dance, adding to his already rooted Latin and Hip-Hop skills. Kieu went on to compete locally and nationally in such competitions as Broadway Magic, and Headliners. After "whoahing" the judges in Rhode Island, he and his team went forward to compete in the International Hip-Hop Competition in Bremen, Germany in 2003.

Sky teaches group fitness because it is fun! He says that people are more likely to adhere to their exercise programs and see the beneficial results they desire if they enjoy it. As an energetic instructor he is in the position to inspire every participant to lead healthier, happier days. He received his BS. in Exercise Biology from the University of California, Davis. His fitness background includes running Track and Field at the collegiate level, competing in many field sports, training for endurance races, and dancing. He is certified to teach Turbo Kick, Macumba, and strength and conditioning classes to all levels. It is his goal to improve the health, fitness, or performance of any individual who is willing to help his or herself. As a Fitness instructor he is committed to enriching quality of life through physical activity and education. With the possible exception of diet modification, there is no single intervention with greater promise to reduce the risk of virtually all chronic diseases simultaneously. Enrich the quality of your life. Live healthy; live happy.

Stephanie is a recent UC Davis graduate and avid percussionist who has been playing the drums since she was eleven. While attending UC Santa Barbara between 2001 and 2002, Stephanie took up Middle Eastern percussion and joined the infamous UCSB MIddle Eastern Music Ensemble. She has been playing darbuka (Middle Eastern drum) ever since, and hopes to share her love and passion for the instrument with others. Stephanie also loves to dance, draw, work with children, play soccer and travel. Stephanie has been taught by world- renowned Darbuka teachers such as Souhail Kaspar and has attended the Men- docino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in 2002 and 2003.

Susan began training capoeira in high school, and after a 5-year break, has been training consistently in California for the past seven years. She is a student of Contra Mestre Galego a.k.a. Patrick Hilligan, with the group Agua de Beber in Sacramento. Susan began teaching capoeira three years ago and has developed a stable chapter of Capoeira Agua de Beber in Davis. She has also taught at the UC Davis ARC, and has taught kids and adult’s classes at the Capoeira Arts Academy in Sacramento. Susan also has experience training and teaching gymnastics.

Tellina has been dancing in some form or another her entire life. She was first turned on to salsa in her hometown of Houston, Texas back in 1999. Her true training came about when she moved to California in 2000. She briefly trained with The Latin Symbolics, and then joined Mambo Romero Dance Company in 2002. After performing as a principal dancer, traveling and teaching with the company for 3 years, she decided to collaborate with her old Mambo Romero dance partner, Jayc Labio. She is currently the Co-director of Afinkao and enjoys doing collaborations with other Bay Area dance groups and directors. She loves dancing and visiting with all of the local salseras and salseros at her companies social called Latin Fever Fridays the second Friday of every month. This gives her the chance to continually stay connected to her dance community and enjoy great music. Outside of dancing, she spends time practicing Real Estate as a consultant and sales manager for Keller Williams Realty in Berkeley. One of her favorite quotes to live by is, “ The wasted of all days is one without laughter “—E.E. Cummings.

Bryn (known as "Tigresa" in the Capoeira world) began learning the Brazilian art form of Capoeira as a kid in Santa Cruz, CA with Mestre Papiba, of the group Raizes do Brasil. Over the last ten years, while she continues on her journey of learning the beautiful complexities of Capoeira, Tigresa has taught both children and adults. She absolutely loves sharing her passion for the music, movement and culture of Capoeira, and enjoys nothing more than watching people of all ages and abilities grow in their understanding and appreciation for the art.

Ting Ting has been dancing with the hip hop crew Cookie, a co-op hip hop dance company. She also has a background in modern dance and has danced with Paradigm Alley, a modern dance company under the direction of Ashanti Newton. Aside from these, she also likes to salsa, West Coast Swing, and is looking to take up the hula. She’s open to all types of dance and would like to bring that openness to her choreography and class.

Valeriya is a native of Russia who has over 11 years of dance experience in Ballroom, Latin, and Belly dancing. She began performing these and many other forms of multicultural/world dancing at the age of 13, and continued avidly performing in the Bay Area dance scene until she moved to Davis to continue her studies in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at UC Davis. Valeriya began teaching Latin and Belly dancing classes to women of all ages over 5 years ago, and has now taught over 300 women. Her focus is less on technique, and more on the importance of understanding the female body, particularly through movement and learning to isolate and control various body parts. Because of this, dancing tends to come naturally and quickly to her students. Her goal is not to teach an excessive amount of dance steps, but to have dancers become confident in the movements that they will not forget. Her Latin dancing focuses on how to dance Salsa, Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha, and Merengue—both as separate dances and all together. Her style of Belly dancing finds its root in sensual, meditative dance that creates the perfect fusion between energizing Latin rhythms and calming New Age and Eastern beats.

Yunia is a native of the Caribbean island of Cuba. She lived in Cuba for 19 years, and she studied popular and folkloric Afro-Cuban dance at Corporación Gaviota. Yunia’s passion for dance began at an early age, and throughout her upbringing, she was heavily influenced by the Batá drums. In addition to Afro-cuban rhythms, Yunia is also proficient in other Caribbean dance genres that include merengue, bachata, salsa and reguetón. Yunia looks forward to sharing her passion for music and dance and wants to share her experience of growing up in an environment rich with a mix of African, West Indian and European (Spanish and French) cultures. She complements her formal dance training with her personal experiences to create a class that incorporates cultural and historical information in addition to introducing the student to Afro-cuban movement.