MINI SERIES | April 2023 - June 2023
The 2023 Spring Showcase Series is in full swing and were so excited to see our amazing dancers and mentors begin their training. We know for some that eight weeks is a large commitment so we've decided to add in a 5-week mini-series featuring various instructors and styles. Come take part in this wonderful series featuring a variety of classes such as Twerk, Bachata, Drenched, Hot Choreo and Contemporary. This workshop includes 5-weeks of rehearsal. Single ticket drop-ins are allowed for the first two classes for students to test out the class. Classes are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot in advance. Join one of our artists in a training series for the chance to perform for our 3rd showcase on June 4th and our very first time performing at The Great Star Theatre! Please note, performing at the showcase is not required, but highly encouraged. For those that are unable to attend the showcase, or do not want to perform live, you are still able to sign up for the series. Now, let's begin!
Location for Rehearsals:
Rae Studios, 414 Mason St., #705, San Francisco CA, 94102
Workshop Rates:
$35 Single Session | $150 Full Mini Series + Showcase
(Sales end 05/14)
Performance Workshop Show Date & Location
Sunday, June 4th, 2023 at Great Star 636 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Check here for more information on the full 8-week showcase series.Train with one of your favorite instructors and showcase your journey.
Each workshop series instructor is highly trained and knowledgeable in their practice and will guide you through a series of rehearsals to build a deeper relationship in their movement background. At the end of the series, Rae Studios will host a live showcase featuring all of our performance workshop instructors, students, plus special guest performers.
As a participant, you will receive personalized training, feedback, and resources from our instructors. You'll learn, rehearse, and perform a set personally made for your cohort. You'll also have the chance to show your friends and family all the progress you've made in your workshop series.
Guidelines and Policies:
Students are expected to attend all the weekly sessions for their registered workshop series. Students are not required to be at the showcase.
Attendance policy - Any missed session will be forfeited and credits are not transferable. Missing multiple sessions may result in being removed from the workshop series and/or showcase date.
Students are expected to provide their own makeup and outfit for the showcase unless indicated otherwise by the instructor or management team.
Students are encouraged to invite friends and family to see the showcase.
Specials Partners, Vendors, and Amenities:
The showcase location will be announced closer to the show date.
Each student participating in a workshop series will receive a special discount code to share with friends to receive 30% off on tickets for the show. Discount code will be available when ticketing launches.
Participants get to attend the Rae Studios Showcase for free.
The showcase event features other performance workshop series groups and guest artists with a featured host.
Meet our team of amazing instructors and learn more about their workshop series:
Jazmyne Blackston
Twerk [All Levels]
Friday, 9:00pm - 10:30pm
Dates: 5/5, 5/12, 5/19. 5/26, 6/2
Born and raised in the heart of the Bay Area, Oakland California. Jazmyne AKA your twerk goddess Twerk-a-rella, would like to think the inner city movement had a lot to do with becoming the twerk goddess she is.
Jazmyne began her dance journey at 10 years old when she joined the dynamite cheer and dance team. At age 15 she started working as a professional dancer. She has worked with artists such as Traxamillion (The Handstand video), Juvenile (Dirty South Tour). Twerk has always been her passion and she is excited to share her passion and knowledge with the Bay Area dance community.
Workshop Description:
Twerking is a type of dance that came out of the bounce music scene of New Orleans in the late 1980s. Twerking is rhythmic rotating, revolving and waving movements of the pelvis to make the booty shake. During your lessons, you will learn the twerking techniques. Each class includes a booty camp, which focuses on glute and leg activation. Plus isolation exercises to help tone and strengthen the hips, legs, glutes and back. You will also work on “core” twerk moves to develop twerk skill. You will then learn different twerk moves, shapes, holds and techniques that will be combined into a short sequence so that you and the whole class can shake your booty’s together.
SIGN UP: HERE
Grace Dong
Contemporary [Intermediate]
Sundays, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Dates: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
Born and raised in the Bay Area and now based in San Francisco, Grace has been training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz since childhood. She has worked with choreographers like Sonya Tayeh, Keri LaGrand, Jon Bond, and Brooke Pierotti.
Grace went on to attend Stanford University, where she served as the Director of Innovative Styles, Stanford's student-run contemporary company, and Jam Pac'd, Stanford's only dance group catered to women, femmes, GNC, NB & queer folks. Grace was also one of five Stanford Dollies in the 2017-2018 season, where she performed with the Stanford Band at the Valero Alamo Bowl, NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four, and other Stanford Cardinal events.
Workshop Description:
Contemporary dance originated from Europe and America in the 19th and 20th century with various styles of expressive dance that combines modern, ballet, lyrical jazz and today, other forms of street dance movement. In this class you will begin center floor with a full body warm up into a loner and more intense class combo. Your class goals are to strive to connect the mind and body through fluid dance movements.
SIGN UP: HERE
Kemari Harris
Hot Choreo [Beg/Int]
Sundays, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Dates: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
Kemari Ken Harris is an African American choreographer, creative director, model and business owner. Born and raised in San Pablo, CA and currently reside in Oakland California. Kemari's first dance lessons were in front of his family performing with Tevin Campbell, Michael Jackson and James Brown. He was always told to come do this song or do this move once he started it was no letting up lol. Being born in a very musical family Kemari always had a love for music, singing, and dancing, dancing most of all. From elementary to high school Kemari was a part of several dance groups and always was the last man standing. In high school he created his own dance team at school along with his two younger brothers competing in local talent shows taking home first, second, and third place trophies. In his early adult years he wanted to be more behind the scenes so he started coaching cheer and majorette dancing which led up to him teaching dance classes throughout the Bay Area in local studios. One of his biggest accomplishments was his video being chosen to be on Beyoncé's I Am World tour amongst several other great and talented dancers. Looking to make a huge difference in the dance world starting with building confidence and self love in each person he comes across. Catch Kemari every Sunday at 1:50pm at Rae Studios.
Workshop Description:
This class will teach students how to amp up their inner sexiness. This class is influenced by various music genres including hip hop, rap, and R&B. This class is geared towards providing folks with the skills to perfect movement specifically working on fluidity, smoothness, textures, musicality, and sex appeal. Class starts off with a warm-up, followed by learning a sexy choreographed combo.
SIGN UP: HERE
Rudy Namikis
Bachata [All Levels]
Sundays at 3:00-4:30pm
Dates: 4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
Rudy Namikis of Red Bear Dance is a lifelong teacher and dancer who fell in love with bachata in 2021, and decided to devote his life to growing the bachata community and bringing the love of bachata dancing to the world by launching Red Bear Dance in January 2022. Rudy began teaching academically at the age of 17 and continued professionally tutoring through all of high school, university, and into graduate school. In addition to academic tutoring, Rudy has also taught motorcycle riding (street and racetrack, private lessons and workshops), motorcycle maintenance workshops, and beginner sailing. Through the many years of teaching varied topics to diverse students, Rudy has developed a strong understanding of the principles behind effective teaching and learning.
Workshop Description:
Bachata is a dance from the Caribbean and Dominican Republic known for its sensual hip movements. The Bachata dance was originally used as a “mating call” where the connection of the couple could be seen from afar by the frequency or sensuality of their hips moving along with smooth body movements and transitions, which characterize this dance as the most romantic of the various Latin styles. In this class, you will learn basic Bachata footwork, terminology, lead and follower foundations, and basic partner dance steps.
SIGN UP: HERE
Anna Bolender
DRENCHED! [All Levels]
Saturdays, 4:30pm - 6pm
Dates: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3
Anna (she/her) was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany and has lived in San Francisco since 2016. Dance and movement have always been an important part of Anna's life. She started training and competing in Rhythmic Gymnastics when she was seven years old and has won various competitions, including the German Championship, during her 13-year journey in this sport.
In 2012, Anna started training in other dance styles, including hip hop, pop, contemporary, ballet, and jazz. She was also part of the cheerleading team at her university in Germany and performed at different local events as well as the Euromasters, a European cheerleading competition.
After moving to San Francisco in 2016, Anna continued to train in different dance styles in San Francisco and LA and joined RAE Agency as a dancer and model. She was a backup dancer for Bebe Rexa as part of Salesforce in the San Francisco pride parade and performed at various corporate events and holiday parties for companies such as Google, Oracle, Samsung, Apple, and the Golden State Warriors. Given her Rhythmic Gymnastics background, Anna’s specialty as a talent continues to be ribbon dancing and dancing with other props, such as the ball, hoop, clubs, and rope.
Anna also joined RAE Studios as a student in 2016 where she discovered her passion for cardio dance — a class format that brings together both dance and fitness. She has been teaching DRENCHED, a fun and sweaty all-levels cardio dance class, at RAE Studios since 2020. Dance continues to be Anna’s biggest passion and she is excited to share that with others in her class and in classes she takes as a student.
Workshop Description:
DRENCHED! is a signature Rae Studios cardio dance-based class created by Jessica Rae featuring pre-choreographed dance combos. Music genres include Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Dancehall, Afro Dance, Reggaeton, and Pop. In this class, prepare to bring a towel and bottled water. Class will continuously move with three levels of movement. Levels 1-2 are easy to follow with Level 3 designed to move vigorously while pushing choreography retention.
SIGN UP: HERE
Thara Ashley
DRENCHED! [All Levels]
Saturdays, 4:30pm - 6pm
Dates: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3
Born in the Bay Area, Thara has always had music and movement hold a large part of her life. Her passion for dance started in competing in cheerleading at a young age. She has since been training in other dance styles including hip hop, ballet and jazz. Thara's passion for fitness has also led her to enjoy running, hiking and yoga - where she also received two teacher training certificates from The Yoga Company and Corepower Yoga. Though cardio dance has really united her joy for fitness, love for music and passion for dance. DRENCHED is the embodiment of those three things she holds close.
Workshop Description:
DRENCHED! is a signature Rae Studios cardio dance-based class created by Jessica Rae featuring pre-choreographed dance combos. Music genres include Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Dancehall, Afro Dance, Reggaeton, and Pop. In this class, prepare to bring a towel and bottled water. Class will continuously move with three levels of movement. Levels 1-2 are easy to follow with Level 3 designed to move vigorously while pushing choreography retention.
SIGN UP: HERE
Diamond Genesis
DRENCHED! [All Levels]
Saturdays, 4:30pm - 6pm
Dates: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3
Diamond (she/her) was born and raised in San Diego, CA. At the age of 18 she moved to San Francisco to pursue a degree in Fine Arts. Throughout her time in the city she has grown as an artist and has looked to explore many avenues of creativity and expand her artistry. Diamond’s journey as a dancer began in late September, 2021 when she became a Studio Host at Rae Studios. Since her time she has grown as a dancer and is still looking to push her education. As she looks to find her voice as a dancer she continuously grows appreciation for multiple different forms, styles and cultures. Diamond currently teaches and trains as one of the instructors for DRENCHED! Eventually she would like to see herself grow as a choreographer and freestyle performer.
Workshop Descriotion:
DRENCHED! is a signature Rae Studios cardio dance-based class created by Jessica Rae featuring pre-choreographed dance combos. Music genres include Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Dancehall, Afro Dance, Reggaeton, and Pop. In this class, prepare to bring a towel and bottled water. Class will continuously move with three levels of movement. Levels 1-2 are easy to follow with Level 3 designed to move vigorously while pushing choreography retention.
SIGN UP: HERE
Spotlight Artists: Jazmyne Blackston | Grace Dong | Kemari Harris | Rudy Namikis | Anna Bolender | Thara Ashley | Diamond Genesis |
IG: @twerk.a.rella | @gxdong | @kemarikenharris | @redbeardance | @annalexbee | @tharaashley | @dia.mondgenesis
Location: Rehearsals and Showcase are at Rae Studios, 414 Mason St. 705 San Francisco, CA 94102
DATES:
Rehearsals are held from April 30th - June 3rd. Once a week with your favorite instructor(s)
The show date is Sunday, June 4th, 2023
Workshop Rates:
$150 Workshop Mini Series Admission (8 rehearsals + Showcase date)
$35 Single Session (Drop-in available for first 2 sessions)
Registration is required for this workshop series.
Check here for more information on the full 8-week showcase series. Our mission is to merge the ideologies of popular dance culture by bridging fitness gym and traditional dance studio mentality into a place that welcomes all levels of dance & fitness in a healthy progressive environment. Our goal is to provide San Francisco dance seekers with community, growth, and participation through artistic outlets of music + movement. Our culture is simple; create a space for dance and community to thrive, water the roots of our passion, fuel our dreams by action, and inspire others to do the same.
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