RAMYA HARISHANKAR combines the elegance, grace and suppleness of the Vazhavoor School of Bharata Natyam with the distinctive ability to express all shades of emotion with sensitivity and intuition. She has imbibed these qualities under legendary gurus: the late Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. In 1982, Harishankar established the school, Arpana which has grown to become a premier school of Bharata Natyam in California. In 2007, the 25th anniversary of the Arpana School of Dance was recognized with several citations and awards from the State Senate, County of Los Angeles and cities and organizations in Southern California, as well as the Helene Modjeska Cultural Legacy award from Arts OC, the countywide arts organization in Orange County. The Arpana Dance Company (ADC), made up of the graduates of the school, has performed under her guidance in the US, Europe and India.
Harishankar and ADC have also received several grants from the California Arts Council, the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, the Fund for Folk Culture and the National Endowments for the Arts (NEA). As an artist on the Arts Teach and Arts Connect roster of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, she has been sharing her art with school children all over Southern California. Her solo career spanning more than three decades has taken her all over the world – performing extensively in India, South East Asia, the Far East, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the USA. www.danceramya.com
CONTRAMESTRE VERSATIL ISMAIL of CAPOEIRA BATUQUE has over thirty years experience in the martial arts and twenty years in Capoeira. As a Contramestre, Versatil is one of a select handful to have reached this rank in the United States. Versatil is one of the top ranked American born practitioners of the art of Capoeira and regularly teaches in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas of Southern California, as well as, throughout the USA, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. He is known for his detailed yet motivating teaching style and knowledge of the seemingly disparate aspects of dance and combat. He is also a capoista of Capoeira Batuque, an acclaimed school of Capoeira directed by Mestre Amen Santos in Los Angeles. http://youtu.be/JgTaifmlX5w
ILIMA PUMPHREY, lead dancer of the renowned group NONOSINA, is a professional Polynesian performer, dancer and choreographer. She has over 20 years experience―both as a soloist and group performer. In addition to being a 4th generation of her family's establishment, NONOSINA, she is also a recipient of many awards in the Polynesian dance community. As a professional dancer she has shared her talents on television, film and theatre .Her career has offered her opportunities to travel internationally to special events in Chile and Canada, and also within the USA to Louisiana, Florida and Hawaii. By invitation she also danced for the President of Tahiti. Ilima has trained nearly her entire life in Polynesian dance forms including, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan and Maori. For over ten years she had the honor to train under the direction of Kunewa Mook of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela. She has competed in many dance competitions including the San Jose Tahiti Fete, Heiva I Reno, Merced Tahiti Fete, Waikiki Shell Fete, Ia Oe E Kala, and E Hula Mau―often winning 1st place. Ilima teaches workshops in both dance and costume making for her community, local dance schools and at the Academy of International Dance in Santa Ana, California under the direction of Sonia Miskulin. It is an honor for Ilima to share her culture with others. http://youtu.be/xu5f5usI0AM
KUMU HULA LEILANILEIKUKUIOKALANI ISHII is the director of Kuhai Halau O Leilanileikukuiokalani, (formerly known as Halau Hula Ka Lehua O Ka La'akea), a traditional school of Hawaiian Hula. She has over 16 years of experience teaching Hawaiian Hula and has spent many years as a professional Polynesian dancer, performing with various troupes. She trained with several teachers and Kumu Hula who shared different styles and disciplines in Hula and other Polynesian dances. Teaching traditional Hula became Kumu Leilani's primary focus after she began rigorous training with Loea Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett in 2006. She completed her ‘uniki (a traditional graduation ritual to become a kumu hula) in May 2012, with Loea Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett, who comes from a long lineage of traditional Hula masters. He is an internationally recognized Hula master, judge, choreographer, award-winning composer, and a respected expert and elder in traditional Hawaiian Medicine, Hawaiian culture, protocols, and traditions. As traditional instructors we strive to provide a deeper understanding of the Hawaiian Hula, which includes history, legends, Hawaiian language, songs, 'oli or chants, crafts, lei and costume making. More than just a dance, Hula is a tradition that allows us to preserve a rich culture and share the beauty and spirit of aloha with everyone we meet. Classes are taught in an open and fun environment. We look forward to sharing the joy, beauty and power of the dances, songs and culture of Hawai’i! http://youtu.be/iHLY0tUuMWg
ANGELIKA NEMETH has earned certificates in Dance and Theatre Arts and Related Technologies, holds a BS degree in Education and an MA in Psychology specializing in the Transformational Arts. She performs and teaches Raqs Sharqi, popularly referred to as belly dancing, and folkloric dance styles from the Near and Middle East. Angelika is currently on the dance faculties of two southern California colleges where she teaches accredited classes in Middle Eastern dance. She also regularly organizes and leads dance study tours to the Middle East. She was influential in the creation and development of Orange Coast College’s World Dance Certificate Program, has produced and directed numerous world dance concerts, and co-produced two historic International Conferences on Middle Eastern Dance held on the OCC campus in 1997 and 2001. Angelika trains and mentors many of today’s young dancers specializing in Middle Eastern Dance, lectures at colleges and libraries, and adjudicates belly dance competitions worldwide. She has appeared on numerous dance videos and magazine covers, is in demand internationally as a workshop instructor and soloist, and is on the teaching staff at the annual “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” dance festival in Cairo, Egypt. She is artistic director of the Angelika Nemeth Dance Ensemble (ANDE) for which she has received awards and recognition for both her dancing and choreography. Her work which combines traditional forms with contemporary staging has been performed in diverse settings from intimate supper clubs to large theatre stages in the USA and abroad. www.AngelikaNemeth.com
MONIK C. JONES joined the Irvine Valley College dance faculty in 2006 where she currently teaches African, Intro to Dance, Hip Hop, and is one of the Dance Production Coordinators. She also serves as the IVC Benefit Dance Concert Coordinator, works as a faculty advisor for the certificated and dance major students, and develops curriculum for the department. As a dancer, she trained at the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts and danced with the Ka-Ron Lehman Dance Company. She studied West African dance under Nzingha Camara and performed with UCLA’s African Art Ensemble and Modern Dance Group. She danced with Dancer’s Array “N” Christian Evangelism and The Gospel Music Workshop of America Liturgical Dance Company. Ms. Jones received her BA in World Arts and Culture, concentrating in dance, with a minor in Education from the UCLA and her MFA in Dance from UCI, where one of her mentors was the legendary Donald McKayle. As a teacher, she founded Monik's Creative Movement Education Program, where she provides quality dance classes to school children who reside in underserved areas and do not have access to arts education. Ms. Jones teaches all forms of dance, but she is best known for her reputation as a liturgical dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She is the Artistic Director of Vessels of Praise Liturgical Dance Ministry from Judson Baptist Church where Dr. Johnny V. Baylor is Pastor/Teacher. Under her leadership they have been featured nationally and internationally from Washington D.C. to Ghana, West Africa. Ms. Jones has developed a liturgical dance curriculum that she teaches across the country. The research for this curriculum is based on her graduate thesis "A Comparative Study on Pedagogical Techniques of two Liturgical Dance Instructors in African American Baptist Churches" which has been published.
DANCE IMPRESSIONS PRODUCTIONS (formerly Lan Ling Dance Studio) was established in 1994 by Ms. Anne Ma. Our mission is to promote the art of Chinese folk dance, and motivate the younger generation to better understand their Chinese heritage. Dance Impressions Productions also focuses on entertainment performance art. Our dancers are trained in but not limited to many dance forms, including Chinese classical dance, folk dance, martial arts, ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, as well as flexibility discipline. We highly encourage our dancers to be well rounded in every form of dance. Dance Impressions Productions has played a very important role in promoting Chinese culture by performing in various events around Southern California. Many of our dancers also perform at various concerts outside of the local area. Under the leadership of founder/Artistic Director Ms. Anne Ma, Dance Impressions Productions was invited in 2011 to a commemorative tour called the “Taiwan Dance Performance & Culture Exchange Program” that lasted with four large productions throughout Taiwan. In addition, Dance Impressions Productions has performed over 50 shows for the celebration of Lunar New Year Festival from 2011-2013. Dance Impressions Productions is directed by Ms. Anne Ma, a graduate of the Dance Department of Taiwan Tainan Woman’s College of Art & Technology. For many years, Ms. Ma has been very active in the dance industry throughout Southern Califronia and has been the artistic director and choreographer for many well-know artist from Asia, such as: Lee-Hung Wong, Phil Chang, Jenny Tseng, Wen-Yin Liang…etc. Ms. Ma has also been involved many years and took over this year’s vice-president position of America Chinese Dance Association. Besides being the the Artistic Director of Dance Impressions Production, she is also involved with the Lan Ling Dance Studio, Southern California Chinese Folk Dancers, South CoaDst Chinese Culture Center and UC Irvine Chinese Association. http://youtu.be/5HC9RAo7C0E
ANGELICA VAZQUEZ was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and as a child commenced her studies in classical Spanish dance and Flamenco at the renowned school “Las Cabales”. There she earned her title as Ejecutante de Danza Española and became a professional dancer at the young age of sixteen . She furthered her studies by moving to Madrid, Spain to attend the famous “Amor de Dios” school of flamenco dance. In Spain she studied classical Spanish dance and Flamenco with great artists such as; Maria Magdalena, Paco Romero, Domingo Ortega, Jose Maya, Antonio Reyes, La “ China”, Belen Fernandez, Yolanda Heredia and Alejandro Granados, to name of few. Ms. Vazquez performed throughout Mexico as a dancer with the “Compania Nacional de Danza Las Cabales” and with “Almoraima”. In addition, she toured with flamenco companies “Basilio Diaz” and “Juan Principe” , and “Estrella Mundo” in the Canary Islands, Spain. Currently, Angelica performs at “La Luna Negra” in Pasadena, “Alegria” and “Café Sevilla” in Long Beach and “El Cid” in Hollywood.
MINA was raised listening to Persian music as a child. Her love and fascination with not only the music but also the dance of ancient and modern Iran continues to this day. According to dance researchers, there are four distinct categories or styles of Persian dance: spiritual, classical, folk and modern or post-Qajar dynasty. Mina's study of these four genres, combined with formal dance training and her cultural roots, have created a style that is uniquely hers while still honoring the movements and gestures that are the essence of Persian dance. Her dance professors include Anna Djanbazian, Angelika Nemeth, Dr. Robyn Friend and the Ballet Afsaneh dance academy. Her Splendors of the World performance will be a traditional Persian dance with elements of the classical lyrical style. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rn4_Qa6E3M
E.V.A. Dance Company is a contemporary based dance company made up of dancers all over California. Director, Anthony Aceves, began the company in hopes to create a young group of talented and diverse dancers who captivate, motivate, and inspire other artists all over the world. Aceves has been choreographing and performing throughout Orange County and Los Angeles for over ten years. For the last four and a half years he has been performing as a dancer in various shows and parades at Disneyland and California Adventure Theme Parks. He's choreographed numerous musicals, competition dance teams, has worked with and for iNC the Company - a fellow contemporary dance company, and has taught countless master classes in various cities throughout CA and NY. With his company just getting well into their first season, Aceves has high expectations for this talented group of artists. http://youtu.be/xzuHWE6PVtU
EMILIO DOMINGUEZ has been dancing from the age of 3 under the instruction of his cousin Alma Velasquez in the Mexican Ballet Folklorico. He began studying Flamenco and Classical Spanish at the age of 19 under the Gisell and Blanca Luz. Emilio has studied with Flamenco artists such as Yolanda Arroyo, Juan Talavera, Robert Armarl, La Chacha, Manuel Gutierrez, Melissa Cruz, Yalisa, Clarita, Christiana Hall, to name a few. He has also worked with the following dance companies: Juan Talavera's "Men of Flamenco" and "Bravo Flamenco", "Yolanda Arroyo Flamenco Dance", Clarita's "Arte Flamenco", the Fountain Theatre "Forever Flamenco", Rumba Flamencos "Cafe", Lois Ellyn's "Nuevo Chamber Ballet", and others. Mr. Dominguez has danced in danced in the L.A. Opera productions of "El Gato Montes", "The Barber of Sevilla", and most recently "Carmen". Currently, Emilio is proudly working with Inesita Flamenco Dance Company.